The Olomouc Šantovka Tower has obtained a land-use decision

Olomouc - The controversial building Šantovka Tower in Olomouc has received a zoning decision, issued by the building authority on Tuesday. This is reported by the regional edition of Mladá fronta DNES (MfD). The construction of Šantovka Tower has been discussed for years in Olomouc. Heritage conservationists and some experts disagree with it, arguing that it would damage the city's historical panorama. The zoning decision is an important prerequisite for obtaining a building permit.

"The decision is still not final," pointed out Eva Hyravá, head of the construction department. However, the developer welcomes the issuance of the zoning decision regarding the location of the building. "Of course, we greatly appreciate it and are pleased that we have taken another step towards the successful realization of the project," said project spokesperson Juraj Aláč to the newspaper.

The Olomouc city council plans to discuss a change to the zoning plan of Olomouc, which will set height limits for properties in the vicinity of the historical city center, thus preventing the construction of Šantovka Tower. The height limits were previously abolished by the court following a lawsuit from entrepreneurs, and the city has filed objections in the zoning process.

"We did not take the objection into account. It was conditioned by the change in the zoning plan, and it was not documented by anything, so we dealt with it. The city can certainly still appeal," Hyravá stated.

According to MfD, the city council will make decisions on further steps on Monday. "Given that the decision has not yet taken legal effect, we will see what the discussion of the zoning plan will look like," said Mayor Miroslav Žbánek (ANO).

The change to the zoning plan has already been publicly discussed and is ready to be submitted to the city council. The land in the Šantovka area will set a height limit for buildings at 23 meters, while Šantovka Tower is planned to be 76 meters tall.

According to a previous statement from the magistrate, it has not yet been possible to discuss the change to the zoning plan because the Ministry of Culture unexpectedly announced at the beginning of this year, at the request of the Šantovka Tower investor, that it is reconsidering its earlier opinion on the prepared amendment to the zoning plan, which should re-establish height limits.

The Ministry of Culture, led by former Olomouc mayor Antonín Staněk (ČSSD), was to inform Olomouc by the end of April whether it would confirm its previous position or issue a new one. "The procedure is governed by the law, which states that the material is submitted at the moment when the process is completed. This moment has not yet arrived," said Marek Černý, head of the concept and development department, to the councilors in March.

City spokesperson Michal Folta told ČTK in the second half of May that the city had not yet received a statement from the Ministry of Culture. "The zoning planning office has already requested a response from the ministry twice, but without success," he stated. According to him, the city is preparing documents for the discussion of the change to the zoning plan of Olomouc. "They will be presented at the nearest city council meeting," he added.