Stará Bělá has completed an urban planning study of its center

Ostrava - The Ostrava district of Stará Bělá has completed an urban study of its center. It aims to help manage the growing traffic load and further development of this urban area associated with new housing construction. The study addresses the overall transformation of the district's center, taking into account its rural character, said Zuzana Kotyzová from the City Institute of Spatial Planning and Architecture to ČTK.

The study proposes calming traffic on Blanická Street, which sees around 2000 cars daily, including vehicles heading to the industrial zones of Hrabová and Mošnov. The road runs through the center of the district and is dangerous for crossing. Therefore, the authors of the study propose transferring transit traffic to Mitrovická Street and modifying the related intersections.

"We do not want to drive cars out of Stará Bělá, but we strive to ensure that they move through the center considerately, with regard to creating a safer and more pleasant space for residents and visitors," said architect and co-author of the study Jitka Molnárová.

The study also counts on transforming Blanická Street, where calming traffic will be aided by reducing the speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour and further construction modifications. "A new line of trees will be added along the entire length of the street, along with measures for retaining rainwater, sidewalks will be widened, and paths for cyclists will be adjusted. A proposal for a new square around the church follows this calmed street," Kotyzová noted.

Part of the proposal also includes the gradual transformation of the former JZD complex in the district center. Unused agricultural halls and logistics buildings could, in the future, be replaced by apartment buildings, including a care home.

Architects also propose revitalizing other public spaces, such as the park in front of the school. The concept also includes creating a network of walking paths that will connect important places. The paths and sidewalks will be lined with newly planted trees. The study also focused on improving the operations of the school, which does not have its own cafeteria, requiring students to walk to the cafeteria of the nearby kindergarten, located across a busy road. The proposal recommends building a cafeteria between the elementary school pavilions.

"Stará Bělá is already an attractive location for investors. The study will help us make decisions without pressure and with appropriate connections to services and infrastructure. We want to seek a balance between development and quality of life together with the residents. We face many challenges that we must prepare for today,” said the mayor of Stará Bělá, Mojmír Krejčíček (SNK Stará Bělá 2022).

The study will serve as a basis for further decision-making. It will help the district better coordinate investments, plan specific projects, and set the direction for development. The study and additional information about the project are published on the website MAPPA.