Industrial zone Hohengüstow's expansion halted in Uckerfelde
Flippin' the Script: Industrial Area in Hohengüstow Canned
The once-set-in-stone plans for an industrial area in Hohengüstow's Industrial and Commercial Area? Gone, baby, gone. Ain't happenin'.
Council Aligns with Local Boards and Community
In their latest powwow, Uckerfelde's town council, after some heated debates, voted against the original blueprint for the southern construction area as an industrial zone. Instead, a fresh commercial area is on the horizon for the future.
The project developer's now scrambling for a new direction. Traffic concepts, noise protections, and environmental impact evaluations – all the juicy stuff – needs a complete overhaul. The building plan, which was almost baked and ready to serve, is gonna be stalled at least a few months, if not a whole year.
U-Turn Despite Previous Yays
As recently as February 2023 and again in February 2024, the town council gave the building plan a thumbs-up in its original form. Eleven commercial areas and one industrial area were in the pipeline. But with a growing chorus of dissent from the Hohengüstow district, and some shady procedural questions, the issue was up for review again.
People were uptight about noise, traffic, potential funky smells, and a potential drop in the property value of adjacent homes. "Who wants to live next to a biogas plant?" summed up one resident's disdain. A lotta folks found the proximity to residential buildings damn near unbearable.
Balancing Citizen Wishes and Economic Needs
The municipality had high hopes for the project: more moolah from trade taxes, local jobs, infrastructure investments – all that good stuff was expected from the industrial area. The mayor and supporters warned of lost opportunities. "If we say no, Gramzow's gonna build 100 meters further – and we'll be left twiddling our thumbs," a council member cautioned.
But in the end, the people got their way. The majority opted for the slower, more cautious path: No industrial area in Hohengüstow. A political statement with far-reaching implications – and a clear sign that progress ain't always winner takes all.
Project Developer Faces the Heat
This means plan revision city for the project developer. All those assessments need to be revamped. The basic goal of a commercial area remains, but sans the industrial use. The new plan? TBD.
Bonus Info
- The cancellation was mainly due to insufficient demand and infrastructure/environmental concerns
- The developer might face financial repercussions, with sunk costs in planning, marketing, and site prep
- Negotiation with local government might be on the table to revive or modify the development plans
- The area might be redeveloped with a focus on small businesses, retail, or residential properties
- Infrastructure projects, like roads, utilities, and public transport, might be revised to align with the new plans
- The town council, after reconsideration, voted against the industrial zone in favor of a commercial area in the southern construction area, causing a significant overhaul for the project developer.
- Citing concerns about noise, traffic, potential odors, and property value, many Hohengüstow residents expressed their opposition to an industrial area in their neighborhood.
- With the cancellation of the industrial area, the project developer now faces the challenge of revising their plans, possibly focusing on small businesses, retail, or residential properties to allay community concerns.
