Latvia’s Minister of Environment Protection and Regional Development Māris Sprindžuks will lift the decision made by his predecessor – Artūrs Toms Plešs – on halting Riga’s territorial plan, as announced by the minister at a press conference organised on Wednesday, the 15th of February.
Mayor of Riga Mārtiņš Staķis announced that an extraordinary meeting of the city council will be organised on Thursday, the 16th of February,
during which it will be decided on recalling the plea previously submitted to the Constitutional Court,
now that all the disputes related to the plan have been settled.
The minister that that in two months’ time, which he spend analysing opinions from the Ministry of Justice, Riga City Council, Space Planning Association and Latvian Local Governments Union, he concluded that Plešs’ original decision was imbalanced, which is why he decided to cancel it. He stressed that the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) intends to become a cooperation partner for various municipalities, not their controlling institutions.
He also said the ministry’s goal is honestly following the law, adding that only through cooperation is it possible to accomplish results and ensure more rapid development of the country. Sprindžuks explained that, according to lawyers, the argument used by his predecessor – that two territorial plans cannot exists – was unreasonable.
Sprindžuks stressed at the press-conference that his decision will basically ‘unblock’ Riga’s development. This means from now on, everyone who wants to do or build something in Riga will have clear legislative guidelines and a framework to follow.
Staķis, on the other hand, reported that with his decision, the new minister has brought back justice, adding that this also means the decision of the previous minister was unjustified. The mayor also said that now businessmen and residents will finally have some clarity as to what they are allowed and not allowed to do. The mayor also said the minister’s decision means every decision has consequences, including political consequences, because the ones who made the previous decision are no longer in politics.
When asked about possible losses the previous minister’s decision may have caused for Riga, Staķis said it is difficult to calculate losses. Businesses wanted a plan. Halting the development plan meant dropping it in its entirety, freezing it or coming up with local planning, which would mean additional investments of at least EUR 100 000 and at least one more year of work.
Staķis said that
because of the decision to halt the plan, construction of at least nine new apartment buildings failed to commence last year.
The decision by the previous minister also had an effect on the new factory of Grindeks pharmaceutical company even though later on the company picked the local planning path.
At the same time deputy mayor of Riga Vilnis Ķirsis said that Sprindžuks’ decision marks the end of the ten years-long territorial plan development period in Riga. The city council, he said, never had any doubts the plan is of high quality and that Riga needs it. This is why «it was sad to see it crossed out for incomprehensible interests». He added that the new territorial plan provides more flexible construction rules, as well as certain simplified requirements.
When asked about the fate of gambling in Riga, Staķis said that the situation is clear now – if the plan provides for issue of gambling hall licences, it will be done; but if the plan does not – no licences will be issued. Staķis predicted that approximately 90 gambling halls may lose their licences. He also said there is a possibility of long lawsuits involving Riga City Council.
Leader of the Combined List Saeima faction Edgars Tavars said at the press conference that «settling of such narrow interests at the expense of all of Latvia is unacceptable».
«This is the first time the 14th Saeima has resolved a previous mistake.»
«We have to work together, not against one another,» said Tavars.
Also read: Latvian Saeima considers unblocking Riga’s development plan