The opposition demands a review of the zoning decision for Šantovka Tower

Olomouc - Two opposition clubs in the Olomouc city council requested the regional office to verify the legality of the issued zoning decision for the planned construction of the Šantovka Tower high-rise building next to the historic center. "The building authority did not correctly assess the compliance of the building with the zoning plan. Therefore, it is necessary to review the zoning decision," said councilor David Helcel from the ProOlomouc movement, which approached the regional office together with the Pirate and Mayors club.

Helcel justified the submission of the proposal by stating that the councilors did not approve the proposal to appeal against the issued zoning decision concerning Šantovka Tower at the end of June. The zoning decision is an important prerequisite for obtaining a building permit. "The protection of monuments is a public interest, and therefore, although we are not participants in the proceedings, we are submitting this proposal," Helcel stated, according to whom the city council has an obligation to defend the public interest.

Spokesman for the Olomouc Region, Vladimír Lichnovský, told ČTK that the regional office received the proposal on Tuesday. "The deadline for processing is 30 days, that is, until August 8. At this time, it is not possible to anticipate the result of the review," Lichnovský stated.

The ProOlomouc and Pirate and Mayors clubs claim that the Šantovka Tower project does not comply with the valid zoning plan, the regulatory plan of the city’s heritage reserve, and the zoning study of the Šantovka locality. According to Helcel, the content of the proposal is identical to the appeal formulated by experts from the magistrate, which the council did not approve. "The proposal for review is a legally weaker option than the appeal of a participant in the proceedings. It is sad and serious that the opposition must substitute for an inactive council," added Helcel.

Mayor Mirek Žbánek (ANO) told ČTK after the June meeting of the council that the proposal to appeal against the issuance of the zoning decision for Šantovka Tower was simply acknowledged by the city council. According to the mayor, the councilors considered the positive statement of the monument preservation authority regarding the Šantovka Tower project as well as the fact that all objections were addressed before the issuance of the zoning decision. According to the councilors, it would be risky to submit an appeal under these circumstances. The city committed itself to cooperate on the Šantovka project with a contract from 2010, which was then endorsed by the city council.

The construction of the 76-meter-high Šantovka Tower has been discussed in Olomouc for years. Heritage conservationists and some experts disagree, claiming it would damage the historic panorama of the city. The investor claims otherwise. The Olomouc city council did not discuss the long-prepared change to the zoning plan in mid-June, which was supposed to set height limits for construction near the city center, which would have prevented the planned construction of the Šantovka Tower.

Years ago, the Ministry of Culture prohibited the construction of high-rise buildings in the protective zone of the heritage reserve in Olomouc. The ban was reflected in the new zoning plan from 2014. However, the court later annulled the height regulation. The city council did not discuss the change to the zoning plan last year, and the council did not approve a construction freeze either. Therefore, the investor can continue preparations for Šantovka Tower.