Uckerfelde says no to the industrial area: Citizens' protests!

Uckerfelde says no to the industrial area: Citizens' protests!

Hohengüstow, Deutschland - The decision not to realize the planned industrial area in the Hohengüstow industrial and commercial area causes excitement in the municipality of Uckerfelde. In a meeting, the municipal council decided not to show the southern construction field as an industrial area. This is a clear turn after in February 2023 and again in February 2024 there was already approval for a development plan with eleven commercial space and an industrial area. The discussion has flared up by increasing criticism from the population, especially from the Hohengüstow district. Concerns such as noise, traffic, odor loads and the loss of value of neighboring residential properties were expressed loudly, especially with regard to the proximity to the planned biogas plant.

The decision is not without consequences. Mayor and proposal warn of missed opportunities: This will lose hope of new income from trade tax, creation of jobs and infrastructure investments. The project developer is now faced with enormous pressure because traffic concepts, noise protection and environmental reports have to be revised. This leads to a delay in the development plan by at least a few months, possibly up to one year. However, the majority of the municipal council decided to do without the industrial area and instead favor the development of commercial space.

sustainability as the key to the future

In a conversation with Hanka Mittelstädt, SDP candidate for the state election, and Stefan Zierke, SPD member of the Bundestag, was discussed on the future concepts for the settlement of companies in the Uckermark. Both emphasized the growing importance of sustainability in the designation and development of new commercial areas. Mittelstädt reported discussions with companies and visits to countries such as France, Hungary and Poland, where the integration of renewable energies - for example by biogas, solar and wind - is already promoted. In the Uckermark, too, renewable energies will be used to attract new investments and at the same time to take into account the natural landscape and tourism.

The need for a dialogue with the population is urgently emphasized by Mittelstädt. Sustainability is no longer an option, but an essential prerequisite for economic development. This awareness goes hand in hand with the results of research on the sustainable further development of commercial areas, as documented in the publication of the BBSR. There, findings were collected there by urban planning model projects that deal with the combination of urban development improvements and sustainable urban development.

Think of the future

All of these aspects show that the future of commercial development in the Uckermark must be rethought. While the municipal decision about the industrial area in Hohengüstow could be perceived as a setback, the focus on sustainable commercial space offers great opportunities. A constructive discussion between the community, citizens and companies is required to implement the ideas and concepts of sustainability into reality.

The Uckermark has the chance to act as a pioneer for an environmentally conscious commercial area policy that not only takes account of the economic needs of the region, but also pays attention to harmonious coexistence with nature and the population. Having a good hand with you could not only benefit the region economically, but also ecologically.

For all interested and committed people, it remains exciting how the discussions and plans will develop, while the municipal council continues to listen to the votes of its citizens. In this dynamic phase, it is important to weigh up clever and future -oriented - here is definitely what for the Uckermark.

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