Planning Authority will not sanction Gaffarena’s petrol station illegalities

The Planning Authority has roundly dismissed an application by developer Joe Gaffarena to sanction widespread illegalities from his petrol station in Qormi.

The PA in March 2014 had granted the J. Gaffarena Service station to continue operating on condition that it removed or sanctioned the illegalities within three years.

That time period has now elapsed but the PA case officer warned that Gaffarena has still made no changes to the illegal structures.

Will @JosephMuscat_JM 3-men appointed tribunal overturn, as in countless others? https://t.co/M1Er2Dxk6L

— Ryan Callus (@RyanCallus) March 9, 2017

Gaffarena was awarded a permit to erect the petrol station in 2007, but subsequent additions were made without a permit. 

In their meeting today, the PA’s members all voted against Gaffarena’s request to sanction the illegalities, except for CEO Johann Buttigieg who does not have a vote.

Labour MP Joe Sammut, who is the government representative on the Planning Board, did not turn up for the meeting and MaltaToday is informed that he did not formally submit a review for refusal.

The PA’s decision does not spell an instant end for Gaffarena’s petrol station as the developer still has the chance to appeal.