Labour to vote against Zaren Vassallo supermarket unless planning issues are solved

Labour MP Roderick Galdes has declared he will vote against the permit for a supermarket owned by construction magnate and PN donor Nazzareno Vassallo, if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority does not solve pending planning issues related to the permit.

Galdes is Labour's spokesperson on planning issues and also the party's appointee on the MEPA board, apart from being an employee of the self-same authority.

"Labour is not against such developments, but it cannot accept that specific planning issues concerning the local plan are ignored so that this development gets approval in such a short time," Galdes said.

MEPA will not be taking a break from approving controversial planning applications during the festivities and the declared political truce, and will be meeting five days before Christmas to approve a major supermarket development in Qormi proposed by Vassallo.

The application for the re-development of the former Lowenbrau factory has been processed in a record six months since it was validated by MEPA. Preliminary screening for this application started in June 2011 and the first plans were submitted in February 2012.

The case officer report recommending the development acknowledges that the proposal does "not strictly comply" with the policies set in the Central Malta Local Plan, which designate the area for industrial use.

But the development is deemed to "increase and enhance activity in this area" and is considered as an improvement over the existing building.

The new two storey development located a short distance from the Pavi supermarket will include a 2,095 square metres supermarket, a 1,768 square metres function hall, four retail outlets, an already existing industrial kitchen and a surface parking area for 194 vehicles.

The developers have not submitted a retail impact assessment arguing that since the development is suited outside the town centre it is unlikely that it will create further trade diversion from town centres. 

A retail impact assessment had been presented when the Pavi supermarket application was processed.   

As regards parking although MEPA's own calculations indicate an "under provision" of parking spaces the 194 parking spaces offered were deemed "sufficient for the busiest shopping times" by Transport Malta. Transport Malta also noted that if the permit is granted parking for a maximum 350 guests in the multi purpose falls has to be catered for through the use and rental of the adjacent park and ride site, owned by Arriva.

The Qormi Council had objected to the project expressing its fears that vehicles will end up parking elsewhere in the locality. 

 "This case clearly shows how MEPA does not act equally with applicants, so much so that the government is ready to use its powers to help such persons without any problems from MEPA... this is a case of inconsistency which shows that not everybody is equal before 'GonziPN'." 

Galdes pointed out that MEPA will have to consider pending planning issues related to parking, traffic congestions, and the retail impact assessment.

Vassallo acquired the 21,000 square metres of land in Qormi formerly occupied by the Lowenbrau brewery in 2009. Originally, he had earmarked the area for a 20-storey business centre and retail areas instead of the factory.

Vassallo had asked MEPA to re-designate the area to permit "mixed use" development in its recent revision of policies regulating development in the neighbouring sports facilities.

The request was turned down by MEPA. In 2010 an application proposing a master plan for a mixed-use development was submitted but the application is still pending the finalization of the 'Floor Area Ratio Policy' regulating high-rise development. In June 2011, MEPA approved an application for the introduction of industrial catering unit in part of the factory. Subsequently, Vassallo applied for the development of a supermarket and a multifunction hall, which is being recommended for approval by the Planning Directorate.