The Planning Authority has introduced a new protocol that will allow its Planning Board or Commissions to conduct their meetings in public using electronic or other viable means of communication.
In a statement on Saturday, the Authority said that it will soon re-start Planning Board and Planning Commission public meetings using video conferencing, this following the publication of a legal notice which has amended the way public meetings are to be conducted.
Applicants, architects, registered interested parties and any member of the public will, at the discretion of the Chairperson, be allowed to make submissions related to the case the board or commission will be discussing by electronic means.
Any member of the public who wishes to participate in the meeting held through electronic means will have to notify the Board or Commission of their interest at least one working day before the date of the meeting.
The PA said that, “this measure is being introduced to allow the Chairpersons of the Board/Commission to take any measures they deem appropriate to ensure the participation of the public.”
In another measure announced by the Authority, it has extended by an additional 3 years, all development permits which, today are still within their validity period but are due to expire by, or any date earlier to, the 31st December 2022.
The Authority said that “in the context of these extraordinary circumstances that the country is facing, the Authority is taking this proactive measure to prevent current permit holders from having to carry out a significant amount of works within short period, once normality is restored.”
The measure, which applies only to permits which are already in hand, will also ensure that the rights of those granted permits are safeguarded while at the same time will decrease the burden of works on the community, said the Authority.
It added that, he extension will also facilitate the completion of small household projects, as well as larger businesses, while reducing the administrative burdens related to the renewal of development permissions already in force and “importantly, it will help to avoid major disruptions which could lead to imbalanced construction across the island once the situation is normalised.”