News
- 18.10.2011
Municipalities who say "that's enough." Regulatory plans zero growth
MILANO - A new neighborhood of houses that the City brings with it a road and two roundabouts. Or a shopping center that will yield a cycle track, a swimming pool, even a kindergarten. How will the municipalities when they have not enough money and need for public works? Almost always trying to achieve with the burden of urbanization. In Lombardy, however, there are those who have made a choice against the current. Municipalities are Cassinetta Lugagnano, Solza, Pregnana Milanese, and Ronco Ozzero Briantino. These five centers, all under 10 000 inhabitants, have adopted a master plan "zero growth". That is, a plan that does not allow multiple buildings on virgin land, nor does it allow to make variations to make an agricultural land for building. You can only build on the existing or on brownfield sites and make exceptions only for companies located in the industrial area and that they need to expand, because it benefits the labor market.STOP TO CONSTRUCTION - A pioneer in this field was the City of Cassinetta Lugagnano, a small town of 1,800 inhabitants on the Canal Grande, in the Ticino Park. Here the plan of government of the territory (PGT) "zero growth" has been in force since 2007. "We wanted to free the future of our territory to budgetary constraints. In Italy urban planning is practically absent, and where there are no rules to guarantee the general interest and the interests of a few prevail, those who dominate the market, "said Mayor Dominic Finiguerra and bloggers, who in recent years has been dedicated in the foundation of a national movement against the use of land. "It is a destructive mechanism, which provides funding for services to citizens in the construction industry. But this one-off revenues and because the land is not infinite, sooner or later will end. "
SAVINGS, AND EVENTS WEDDINGS - But how do you keep up a balance sheet giving a source of income so important? With this waiver is not necessary (no staff for the mayor, no municipal car, if no events are not sponsored) and then devoting much time to draw up plans for participation in public and private fundings. "Only for the new kindergarten have a mortgage from one million euros, covered with the increase of one point ICI on second homes, sheds and on the productive activities. A sort of tax purposes, "explains Finiguerra. The most original source of income in Cassinetta is, however, of getting married in the town you can also marry at midnight, and the mayor and councilors are everywhere to celebrate the wedding the couple wants: the country is full of eighteenth-century villa on the Canal, which can be rented for the reception. Obviously, the rates are high, but this has resulted in the municipal coffers nearly 20 thousand euros last year.
THE CRITICS AND THE OPINION OF THE BUILDING - "A plan like this can take up a village, but can not work in a city." It is a plan "nice idea, but impractical." "It's just a fad that will pass." These are the most frequent criticisms that the municipalities have faced. The Province of Turin, however, has recently adopted a plan Provincial Territorial Coordination (the equivalent of the PGT, but at provincial level) that seeks to limit the consumption of soil and similar rules are the norm in Germany. "If he does not see why Monaco of Bavaria can not do that an Italian city," says Finiguerra. "It is an attempt to curb the conurbation, which instead near Milan is becoming an unstoppable phenomenon." On the other hand, the need to curb the conurbation has intervened several times also the President of ANCI (National Builders Association) Paolo Buzzetti. "There is no need for a strategic vision in the medium to long term development of urban land," Buzzetti said to have been general construction. "We need new mechanisms to make planning possible, even from an economic point of view, the operations of urban redevelopment, the demolition and reconstruction, and replacement. And given the scarcity of public resources must, of necessity, found virtuous processes with the involvement of individuals. " In practice, it is necessary "the transition from one culture to a culture of re-expansion." Also according to the Reeds, 2010 marked the third consecutive year for a reduction in the construction industry, which from 2008 to today has lost 17 percent of the market.
THE MOVEMENT "STOP THE USE OF LAND" - disappear every year in Italy 500 square kilometers of land. Moreover, it is estimated that there are at least 2 million and a half of empty houses. Based on these data the national movement was born Stop the use of land, which the Constituent Assembly will be held Saturday, October 29 at Cassinetta Lugagnano. Adhere to the movement many associations, including Slow Food. The goal is to launch the campaign "Save the landscape" with even a popular bill to change things.
Giovanna Maria Fagnani