The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board earlier today approved a minor change to the 2006 approved local plan, for a site area in St Julians, between the St Julians Parish Church and the Primary School on Triq Mikiel Ang Borg, which was designated as a Public Car Park.

MEPA sais that the objective behind this amendment was to “significantly increase the feasibility of a proposed car park project for the area. The architect argued that for such a project to even be considered feasible, the public car park had to include other uses such as retail (class 4) and office space (class 5).” The space and density, if any, allocated for such uses can and will only be determined when a full development planning application for the project is submitted to the Authority.

The planning control application also established the planning parameters for the height of the proposed car park from Triq Mikiel Ang Borg. MEPA said that “to ensure that the site is not over developed and to safeguard the interests of the residents living in Lapsi Street, the Board decided that the car park, from Triq Mikiel Ang Borg, cannot be higher than the street level of Lapsi Street.

“As a result, the height of any proposed development behind the properties in Triq Lapsi has been reduced by three floors. This will ensure that the degree of lighting and ventilation enjoyed from the backs of adjacent third party properties above Triq Lapsi will be minimally affected.”

MEPA continued, “the amendment to the local plan does not change the zoning for any possible development in Lapsi Street. The street was and is to remain zoned for residential development only, which the 2006 local plan had designated at 3 floors.

“The amendment to the local plan was only considered, after according to planning law more then 75% of the owners of surrounding properties had to give their consent. The St. Julian’s Local Council were also strongly in favour of this change to the local plan as they eager await that the planning application for this project will get submitted and approved to ease the traffic congestion around the area.”

“Now that the 2006 local plan has been amended to include this new designation, the site owner can submit, for MEPA’s consideration, a full development planning application for this project. The Authority will, through a screening letter, advise the applicant what studies need to be carried out prior to processing and evaluating the project,” MEPA concluded.

Permalink: Changes to St Julian’s local plan to include retail & office use