Innsbruck (OTS) – Paper is patient and a strategic plan is not law. Nevertheless, the forthcoming declaration of intent by the Zillertal municipalities to press ahead with the dedication policy in a rigorous and restrictive manner is to be welcomed.
Permanent traffic jam on the road. Mass tourism at bargain prices. Build like there’s no tomorrow. It is these images that many associate with the Zillertal. A valley that was never able to free itself entirely from its Piefke Saga image. But also one that demonstrates unity with its uniform costume and stands for economic success and a pioneering spirit. While the latter is not solely in the hands of Zillertal when it comes to hydrogen trains, the 25 mayors of the valley are now showing courage and pioneering spirit where nobody from outside can interfere: with the Zillertal strategy plan. Admittedly only an orientation paper and not a law. Just like the Zillertal Planning Association is only an advisory body and not an authority. However, with the assertive and eloquent Rieder Mayor Hansjörg Jäger at the helm, the association was always able to set strong signals, while other planning associations disappeared into obscurity. A guideline, which is given to the municipal councils of the valley with the new Zillertal strategy plan, has it all: When rezoning open land from 1000 m² for residential areas, only more valley residents should get a chance. It doesn’t matter whether it’s affordable housing or space that can be freely sold on the market. Brave! The contractual spatial planning makes all this possible, emphasizes Jäger, who sees no legal problems here. Because nobody has a right to dedication. It will be interesting to see which communities in the Zillertal really show the desired consistency in the end. Whether loopholes open up or whether building land that has already been dedicated and hoarded for years is being mobilized by the massive restrictions on new dedications. There is plenty of it, even for non-Zillertalers. Speaking of which: the spatial planning strategy will be big, but difficult to implement on a small scale in the lower Zillertal, where a Wiesinger, for example, should not move into the newly designated residential area in the neighboring town of Strass. Incidentally, as far as tourism is concerned, a “quality and innovation-oriented development of the valley-wide accommodation establishments” will continue to be supported. The new strategic plan also provides for various restrictions for tourism. That was the case with the old one. Over the past ten years, over 2,000 new guest beds, mainly from foreign investors, have been prevented, emphasizes Jäger. Nevertheless, the hotels kept getting bigger and the traffic increased. Demanding a second valley road for the latter, as some Zillertalers do, resembles a strategy that has been outdated for 40 years.
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