Town planning ‘scramble’,

DRAFT town planning regulations for the Gazimağusa, Yeniboğaziçi and İskele region are to be rolled out to the public this week as officials scramble to finalise the area’s first comprehensive zoning and development plan.

Town Planning Department head Türkmen Yiğitcan told Cyprus Today yesterday: “We are still working on the plan and the date of a public meeting to be held in the region will be announced next week, with a sixweek period for debate.”

A public unveiling planned for last week was abruptly cancelled but is to take place by Friday, ahead of the four-day Kurban Bayram holiday.

Planned Development Initiative spokesman and biologist Hasan Sarpten issued a written statement warning of “the bitter reality of Girne”, adding that some in the construction sector were pursuing short term and group interests contrary to the principles of sustainable development. The pressure group includes the Mağusa Town and Ecology Platform, the Biologists’ Association and members of the Chamber of Town Planning, which won an interim court order to prevent more delays and “last past the post” projects ahead of development limits to be introduced by the regulations.

Time was of the essence, he added, as a three-month extension had overrun but could not be further extended due to the court order obtained on June 17.

He added that the Initiative’s “common road map” aimed to protect biodiversity and future generations, while avoiding population relocation and problematic or unsuitable construction.

Interior Minister Ayşegül Baybars said that while it was impossible to please everyone, the process had been transparent and inclusive and a sustainable plan would be implemented by the end of the year.

She added: “We must also protect our fertile agricultural land which has been graded by a study, although it cannot be completely closed to development due to acquired rights.

“The 42km of coast from Palm Beach to Kalecik will allow parallel development but further from the coast in places. Green spaces will be preserved to EU standards per square metre per person in towns. Municipalities do benefit from construction levies but we must follow world standards.”

The Economic Associations Platform — made up of the Cyprus Turkish Construction Contractors’ Union, Chambers of Trade and Industry and Hoteliers’ Association — broadly supported the new plan but urged government to take a “more open and active” stance on socio-economic development. Estate Agents’ Union head Hasan Sungur urged government to upgrade the Estate Agents Law to create a problem-free and healthy homes and construction sector.

DETAILS of the upcoming meeting should be published on the Town Planning Department website, http://spd.gov.ct.tr/.