The representatives of Kroměříž approved the municipal plan

Kroměříž – The representatives of Kroměříž today approved a new zoning plan, a crucial document for the future development of the city. It is binding for decision-making in the area, stated Deputy Mayor Pavel Motyčka (KDU-ČSL). The previous zoning plan for Kroměříž is from 2006 and according to city officials it no longer meets current requirements for area development and legislative needs. Due to disagreements with the form of the new zoning plan, councilor Richard Kreml (Greens, for Healthy Kroměříž) resigned from his position.

The zoning plan has been prepared for the twenty-eight thousand inhabitants city since 2011. Today, 17 out of 27 present representatives voted for its adoption. "We were looking for the best possible solution. The result is a compromise that we reached with regard to the affected authorities, such as ministries or the regional office,” stated Motyčka. "We have addressed all objections and comments," the Deputy Mayor further said.

The leader of Healthy Kroměříž Kreml informed the representatives that he has resigned from the position of councilor as of today and the previously coalition Healthy Kroměříž is moving into opposition. "We consider the zoning plan to be extremely poor and harmful to the city," Kreml said. He unsuccessfully proposed that it should not be approved. He criticized, among other things, that the bypass of Kroměříž, known as the osrdečnice, was not included in the zoning plan. The city hall argued with traffic surveys, according to which the city does not need it.

The second representative elected for Healthy Kroměříž, Šárka Kašpárková (BEZPP), however supported the zoning plan proposal. The current coalition of ANO, KDU-ČSL and independents, ČSSD and independent personalities, Healthy Kroměříž, OK Citizens of Kroměříž, and ODS had 17 mandates in the twenty-seven member council. Even if both representatives from Healthy Kroměříž moved to the opposition, it would still retain a majority. In opposition, there is also a group Jaroslav Němec – Independents, as well as Právo Respekt Odbornost, SPD, and Pirates.

According to opposition representative Jana Janoušková (for Jaroslav Němec – Independents), the zoning plan is not good. She argued with over 200 dissenting comments and suggestions received. She also stated that it is being approved hastily. "I think it would only be good if we completely refrained from voting, as it is a contempt for the citizens," Janoušková said.

Some residents of the local part of Vážany, where over 1100 people live, have also spoken out against the new zoning plan and are considering detaching from Kroměříž. In addition to requesting the construction of a bypass, they argued that plots in Vážany were left out of the buildable areas in the zoning plan. These were flooded two years ago, and according to city officials, it is therefore impossible to build on them until flood protection measures are implemented.

The zoning plan determines where and under what conditions construction can take place. It defines, for example, locations designated for residential construction or industrial buildings. It also indicates where areas will be protected for parks, forests, or agriculture. "What is essential is that the new zoning plan does not specify detailed solutions for plots or individual buildings, but focuses on the development of the city as a whole and on the character and use of its locations," said Motyčka.

The latest date for the adoption of the new zoning plan is according to the building law December 31, 2028. If this does not happen, from January 1, 2029, the zoning plan would cease to be valid. Construction would then only be possible in already built-up parts of the city, and that limited and under strict rules. Outside the built-up area, construction would only be possible in exceptional cases, such as for technical or transport infrastructure. According to city officials, planned construction of the harbor, electrification of the railway, or flood protection measures could not be realized.