Petition for the third time? Resistance against Šantovka Tower in Olomouc reaches its peak

What leads the association Za krásnou Olomouc and allied initiatives to the decision to organize the third (actually the fourth in terms of targeted signature collection) signature campaign for one cause? A brief recap:
 
In May 2012, we submitted to the mayor of Olomouc, Martin Novotný /ODS/, the first petition Against High-rise Buildings in Olomouc with over 900 signatures, responding to the Proposal for a new zoning plan that includes a high-rise building for the future Šantovka Tower location - we do not yet know its form, but we already know that in this place and with the proposed height of 75 meters it would pose a great threat to the historical core of Olomouc.
In response, the mayor promised to ensure compliance of future administrative proceedings with the legislation. We are convinced that these steps have not been taken.

In December 2012, the investor publicly presented the Šantovka Tower project by the London studio Benoy in its current form, i.e., 91 apartments on 23 floors behind a glazed façade, with a total height of 78 meters and a shape contrasting with the traditional dominants of the historical skyline. In response, in February 2013, we quickly collected 700 signatures to request the council to discuss the Šantovka Tower.
The request was rejected by the same mayor with the assertion that the city of Olomouc would take a position on the primary protection of public, legally protected values only after the initiation of territorial proceedings. It seems to us that this would be a bit late.

Moreover, in March 2013, a joint request by the investor (Office Park Šantovka) and the statutory city of Olomouc arrived at the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Olomouc magistrate for a statement regarding the new construction of the Šantovka Tower. The city's self-government is passive in the proceedings, does not defend its objective course, allows the investor to challenge the materials of its own Department of Concept and Development, and does not contest apparent procedural errors.

The greatest fears are being fulfilled: in October 2013, the aforementioned Department of Cultural Heritage of the Olomouc magistrate (personified by Mgr. Vlastou Kauerovou) issued a positive statement regarding the Šantovka Tower construction project despite the fundamental disagreement of the National Heritage Institute (understand the professional component of state heritage care). (You might ask "first?" - yes, there will be a second and even a third in the future!). We could only respond with a public protest. In the same month, we organized, together with the Club of Architects of Olomouc and the newly founded initiative Citizens against Šantovka Tower, a demonstration. Over four hundred citizens gathered in front of St. Wenceslas Cathedral and at the town hall.
 
This was followed by the second official petition titled Olomouc Call. More than 2300 citizens opposed to the construction of the skyscraper signed it. Their appeal was addressed to the investor and the Olomouc council.
In response to the petition, the mayor pointed out the possible problem of lost profit for the investor and wanted to initiate personal discussions with him.
We have not learned anything more about these discussions to this day.

Two reviews by the Department of Culture and Heritage Protection of the Olomouc Regional Authority annulled the positive statements by Vlasty Kauerové (January 2014 and February 2015). In September 2014, the Olomouc City Council approved a new zoning plan that, at the instigation of the Ministry of Culture, prohibits any high-rise dominants across the city territory. It might have seemed at that time that we had won.

Unfortunately, the history of the Šantovka Tower continues. The investor sues the city, and the Regional Court in Ostrava, at his instigation, annulled that part of the zoning plan restricting the height of new buildings on the Šantovka Tower site. The Olomouc City Magistrate starts the process of amending the zoning plan of Olomouc with the aim of resetting height limits in this area - the authors of the proposal, moreover, professionally and very precisely document that the STW would have a negative impact on the historical and artistic values of Olomouc. (We recommend paying attention to those of you who have more time: follow the Textual section from page B13 + graphical annex: http://www.olomouc.eu/o-meste/uzemni-planovani/novy-uzemni-plan/zmena-2-up)

In September 2015, the city of Olomouc requested an extension for the amendment of the zoning plan - the Supreme Administrative Court rejected the request, stating that the city could resolve the situation with a temporary building ban and further stated: "it cannot be said that the investor could have a legitimate expectation regarding the unhindered future realization of his intention." If such a thing is said by the Supreme Administrative Court, why are our representatives so slow in matters of public value protection? Isn’t there something else behind their caution?

The Olomouc City Council initiated work on issuing a construction ban, but has not yet achieved the desired result. The legal vacuum over the STW location therefore continues. To top it all off, in April 2016, the Regional Authority underwent reorganization. The independent Department of Culture and Heritage Protection was dissolved. Mgr. Vlasta Kauerová issued a third positive statement and "at the Region" there is no one who could simply annul it (declare it illegal as in the two previous cases). On the contrary, the investor skillfully shifted the attention of officials (and politicians) to a long-concealed problem - he challenged the status of the protective zone of the reservation, which has been commonly operated in Olomouc since 1987! Does only the Šantovka Tower deserve an exception?! The same regional authority also granted the investor's appeal against the refusal of the exception from the setback distances from neighboring buildings and returned the matter to the building department of the magistrate for new consideration.

There is quite a lot. All the aforementioned facts favor the investor, who already holds almost all approvals for the resumption of the interrupted territorial proceedings.

Do you also have the impression that it is again time to speak up? Then do not hesitate and sign the third petition. More at www.zachrantepanoramaolomouce.cz
With a nationwide reach, we want to point out the fact that the cultural heritage of Olomouc belongs to all citizens of the Czech Republic and explain to local politicians that the case has reached a stage where it is necessary to take political responsibility, i.e., to use their powers and stop hiding behind other entities.