The Planning Authority board today decided to postpone a decision on an apartment block that would overlook Dom Mintoff's Tarxien Villa, which just weeks ago was granted Grade 1 heritage protection, the kind enjoyed by national monuments.
The application, on Triq Xintill, Gnien Joanna, Tarxien, proposes the demolition of the existing dilapidated terraced house and garages for the proposed construction of residential units overlying eleven (11) basement garages accessible from Joann Garden. Overlooking Joann Garden, four residential units are being proposed, with another five residential units being proposed onto Triq Xintil. The application was for an apartment block.
During the application process, the Heritage Planning Unit however, said that "the property (Nr. 110 The Olives) which is directly adjacent to the site subject of this application, is currently being assessed in order to propose its scheduling, on both historical and architectural merits, to the Executive Council. Any proposal adjacent to Nr. 110, The Olives has to be considered within this scenario in order not to prejudice its outcome." It was eventually given grade 1 protection weeks before this meeting to decide the application.
The case officer recommended that the project be refused, and said that "the proposed development will create an additional extensive blank party wall overlooking a site of historic and architectural importance."
During today's meetings, some revisions were made by the applicant's architect, including creating a stepping back effect to avoid the blank party wall situation. The architect said that when presenting their plans, they were never told that the site was meriting heritage scheduling or what type, but were only told that the site is of historical importance. He added that before the case officer's report was published, he had no way of knowing the site could be addressed.
The board debated whether to consider the new plans given that they were submitted after the case officer's report was published.
Labour Party President Daniel Micallef spoke on behalf of Yana Mintoff Bland who objected, and said the recommended refusal was made before the scheduling was formalised. They said that the site is a national heritage, aside from being a private residence. He argued about privacy issues as well.
An applicant's representative said that Grade 1 scheduling is reserved for properties in Urban Conservation Areas, and that this site is not. He said that despite this, the applicant filed revised plans to try and work with this. The objector highlighted that their objection was not solely based on the blank party wall, but had other reasons, following the arguments by the applicant, that the objector was trying to change their reasons for objection.
The applicant was offered by the board, and accepted to take some time to consider the situation, and change the plans further, possibly reducing the height by a floor to be in line with the other adjacent site, and to give time for the Planning Directorate to approve the plans.
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