The preparation of the regional plan for South Moravia is the subject of a political battle

Brno - The preparation of the principles of territorial development (ZÚR) for the South Moravian Region is becoming increasingly a subject of political battle in the region, especially with the approaching autumn regional elections. The parties are at odds due to the region's plan to issue a spatial planning document that will leave unresolved routes for key interregional road and highway connections in the Brno agglomeration, which will only be designated as spatial reserves.
The region defends its approach as correct and feasible, citing building law and opinions from ministries. Brno, some city districts, and municipalities around Brno, on the other hand, criticize the region for leaving the traffic situation unresolved for several more years in areas where the air quality limits due to excessive traffic have already been exceeded. This chiefly concerns parts of Brno near the highways. The region wants to address the Brno agglomeration only through an update based on a study that it is preparing. The update could be completed in 2019.
The region, citing opinions from ministries, rejected Brno's request from last May to finalize the ZÚR. Specifically, to ensure that "...a corridor for R43 is decided upon during the approval of the ZÚR, along the entire length from the northern border of the region to the connection with the D1 highway, and that this is based on a thorough evaluation of the impact on public health," as stated in a resolution approved by the council.
The South Moravian Region is the only one in the Czech Republic that has failed to create a valid regional spatial plan during its existence. The only document was annulled by the Supreme Administrative Court four years ago. Now, the region's leadership aims to issue the spatial plan before the elections, but without resolving the route of the north-south R43 connection, including associated transport measures in southern Brno.
Regional councilor Antonín Tesařík (KDU-ČSL), who is responsible for the ZÚR preparation, sees behind the resistance to the region's approach the deputy mayor of Brno, Martin Ander (SZ). He even wrote on Facebook that "...(Ander) has decided that he will no longer paralyze Brno with the vision of its transformation into an open-air museum and the largest provincial city in the Czech Republic, but will now also paralyze the entire South Moravian Region with the vision of its transformation into a banana republic." However, the city's request was approved by the Brno councillors, and the most affected city districts also support Brno's approach.
"Themayors and councils of six city districts have turned to the council, asking it to firmly reject the postponement of the solution using the institute of spatial reserves and to insist on its demand to approve the regional spatial plan as a whole," stated city spokeswoman Zuzana Taušová in a press release. This involves Bosonohy, Brno-jih, Tuřany, Nový Lískovec, Chrlice, and Kníničky.
Regional councillors approved the route for the D52 highway last week along the existing road, and now the region is waiting for the planner to remove the alternative D52 route from the draft spatial plan. The region can then submit what is called an invariant proposal of the ZÚR for public comment. After addressing the comments, the document can be issued.