After several judicial episodes in summary proceedings, it is now the merits of the case known as the chestnut trees of Chartres that the judges of the administrative court of Orléans looked into on Thursday October 12. They deliberated their decision until Thursday October 26.
Three appeals
They studied three appeals. Two concern the non-opposition of the City of Chartres to the prior declaration made by the owner of land located on Boulevard de la Courtille, in Chartres, for the felling of trees, the famous chestnut trees. The third file concerns the contested building permit for two collective residential buildings on the same land formerly belonging to the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Eure-et-Loir.
Our articles on Chartres chestnut trees
The public rapporteur, whose observations are often taken into consideration by administrative judges, concluded that the building permit issued by the City of Chartres should be partially canceled or that proceedings should be suspended. This second possibility allows the project leader to regularize it.
Not in compliance with the local town planning plan?
The public rapporteur considers that the building permit issued by the municipality of Chartres is not in line with the local urban planning plan (PLU) on two aspects, but could be regularized. This concerns the location of buildings in relation to the public road and a problem of construction height.
Regarding the non-opposition of the City of Chartres for the felling of chestnut trees, the rapporteur pleads for a stay of proceedings.
To protest against their felling, planned by the owner, also developer, community activists and citizens mobilized and occupied the land day and night in August and September 2022, in the shade of the three threatened chestnut trees.
In the retro
– August 22, 2022. Around fifteen environmental activists (in particular members of the Chartres Écologie and Sykadap associations) are mobilizing against the felling of three chestnut trees on the site of a real estate project, boulevard de la Courtille, at the gates of the city center of Chartres. The mobilization continued for several weeks and the site, private property, was occupied.
– September 7, 2022. The developer launches a summary summons before the Chartres judicial court, demanding the expulsion of the environmentalists present. His appeal was dismissed, but considering the trees protected by the court decision, the occupants left the site at the end of September.
– 20 avril 2023. The Versailles Court of Appeal cancels the suspension of felling or pruning and the penalty of €500,000 per tree imposed in the event of non-compliance with these measures.
François Feuilleux
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