The aim is to explore the possibility of creating a new regulation that would allow for the designation of residential zones based on the specific characteristics and needs of each area, rather than the general and rigid approach currently promoted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEN) Plan.
During his presentation to the Infrastructure Committee of the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), Mr. Kegkeroglou argued that the new Presidential Decree acts as a "Procrustean bed," imposing strict shrinkage of settlement boundaries without taking into account the actual development and prospects of each area. He pointed out that thousands of small property owners will lose the buildable value of their properties, with consequences that will negatively impact small and medium-sized ownership, while benefiting large landowners who have the capacity to proceed with large-scale private urban planning projects.
Reactions to the Boundaries
The Mayor of Minoa Pedias presented in detail the weaknesses of the proposed plan, emphasizing that the criteria used to define settlements are based on outdated parameters and fail to consider the developmental dynamics of each region. He highlighted that the settlement boundaries were established in 1985 and since then, there has been no substantial urban expansion, resulting in the new proposal ignoring the contemporary reality and the needs of the local community.
According to the YPEN plan, the boundaries are limited to areas that were built before 1983, disregarding current developments and the need for further growth in areas with dynamic prospects, such as the Municipality of Minoa Pedias, where the construction of a new airport is expected.
The mayor further noted that, under the new Presidential Decree for defining settlements with populations under 2,000 residents, the focus is on the past, not the future, raising issues such as:
What will happen to existing and legally constructed buildings that are within settlement boundaries today but will fall outside those boundaries tomorrow?
What kind of equality is created when neighboring properties within settlement boundaries, where one was built recently while the other will no longer be allowed to build in the future?
Informal expansions of settlements (whether sparsely or densely built) that occurred after 1983 will unfortunately remain outside settlement boundaries, despite the fact that they should be incorporated into these boundaries after 42 years.
Proposals for Amendments
Mr. Kegkeroglou proposed that Local and Special Urban Planning Schemes (T.P.S. and E.P.S.) should have the ability to define residential zones according to the developmental dynamics of each region, ensuring balanced and sustainable growth for settlements. The Mayor stressed that maintaining the autonomy of local governments and involving municipalities in the boundary definition process is crucial for the development and prosperity of local communities.
