The illegally built villa in Pardubice has a chance for legalization

Pardubice - After several years of effort, entrepreneur Miloš Holeček has the chance to legalize the construction of his villa in Pardubice. He built it without a building permit on a part of the land that was not designated as a building plot in the zoning plan. Today, the representatives approved a change in the land's status, which was originally designated only for recreation. The proposal gained a narrow majority.
    Representative Martin Bílek (Association for Pardubice) warned that this creates a precedent for structures built illegally. He also stated that the entrepreneur's legal representative did a good job convincing the majority of the representatives. For a long time, they had opposed changing the zoning plan. "We are voting for bending the zoning plan; I certainly will not bend it," Bílek said.
    The luxurious house is located near the park Na Špici, close to the confluence of the Elbe and Chrudimka rivers. The Supreme Administrative Court even decided on the demolition of the villa. However, last year the representatives decided that they would go ahead with the zoning plan change. Therefore, the construction office halted the enforcement proceedings. Holeček paid for the change to the architectural studio that the city hired.
    "I want to apologize to the city of Pardubice for the problems that arose with the case," said Holeček's legal representative Sylvie Georgievová. She also stated that the building is legally fenced and has all contracts with the Elbe River Basin Authority. According to her, the entrepreneur exchanged this piece of land for another, which allowed for the construction of flood protection measures worth 200 million crowns.
    After the change in the zoning plan, it will already be possible to legalize the building; the entrepreneur needs to obtain a building permit retroactively. Holeček received a fine of 200,000 crowns for the illegal construction.