Representatives of Latvia’s Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development neither send letters in 2018 or 2021, nor provided no warnings during the interim administration’s term about the need to add changes to Riga’s territory plan, said Riga’s Vice-Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis.
He said in its correspondence with the previous city council VARAM in 2018 included to indications or warnings about any changes to the plan.
The politician cited the letter received from VARAM in 2018. In it the city council was asked to explain why it was decided to maintain the existing plan for the city’s historic centre. ‘I think a warning would sound something like this: «We are warning you that this is illegal – if nothing is done, we will not approve it’,» said Ķirsis, adding that no warning of this kind was received – only a request to provide explanations.
In October 2021 the ministry requested an evaluation of requirements related to Riga’s development plan pushed by the city council. This letter, too, included ‘not a word about any warnings, objections or anything like that,’ stressed Ķirsis.
Read also: Riga City Council to ask Constitutional Court to intervene with development plan situation
The politician said that around 2020, when VARAM was in charge of the interim administration in Riga City Council, representatives of the administration provided no notifications or warnings to employees of Riga City Council about any problems with the territory development plan.
Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister Artūrs Toms Plešs said at a meeting of the committee that the objective of VARAM’s interim administration was ensuring uninterrupted operations of the city council. It would be neither proportionate nor acceptable for three people to interfere with the capital city’s planning processes, considering they are political choices of Riga City Council what to develop and how much, said the minister.
Ķirsis commended VARAM for organising a constructive dialogue after the decision was made to pause the plan, adding that he still hopes a solution can still be found through talks. At the same time, Riga City Council is preparing to contest VARAM’s decision at the Constitutional Court.
At the start of his speech, Ķirsis said development of Riga’s territory development plan took nearly ten years and best Latvian experts, who held countless talks with the city’s residents and neighbourhood associations. Vice-chairman f Riga City Council stressed that experts developed one of the best plans for territory development Latvia has ever seen and that experts highly praise it.
Plešs, too, provided his opinion at the meeting of the committee.
Saeima’s Submissions Committee reviewed the request from the opposition regarding Plešs’ decision on pausing Riga territory development plan.
The majority of the committee rejected the request submitted by Ralfs Nemiro, Māris Mičerevskis, Ēriks Pucens, Kaspars Ģirģens, Ramona Petraviča, Māris Možvillo, Edgars Tavars, Uldis Augulis, Didzis Šmits and Jānis Dūklavs.
The request will need to be reviewed by the Saeima.
As previously reported, Plešs stressed that every official’s duty is ensuring compliance with the law. The minister said Riga City Council approved an unfinished plan. The politician stressed that he is always ready for a dialogue with Riga City Council to ensure the correct solution is reached in regards to the territory development plan.
Mayor: VARAM provided no warnings about changes to Riga’s development plan
