The final decision on an application to construct a new 138-room four-star hotel adjacent to Bay Street is set to be decided this Thursday.
While the case officer had recommended that the project be approved, the majority of the Planning Board members in the last sitting on 6 December expressed their intention to go against the recommendation of the case officer and thus the application was deferred as per regulations.
The site, as per the last meeting, is proposed to have six underground levels for parking, which will also house a gym, sauna and pool, a conference room and games room. It will also rise to 11 levels above ground, which includes the ground floor.
The main concerns raised by the members were, according to the updated case officer's report following the last meeting: "unacceptable traffic impact through the traffic generation associated with the proposal and the access to and from the site; that the proposed use as a hotel is not compatible with the designation of the area as a buffer zone between the commercial and the residential areas; that the proposal would have negative impacts on the quality of life of the residents; the lack of a master plan for the area to guide and plan future development and related infrastructure in the area in a holistic manner; that the public open space was being taken up by tables and chairs in connection with catering establishments rather than retaining it for public use; the adverse impacts on the neighbouring grade 2 (St Rita Chapel/St Augustine Convent) buildings; and the inadequate treatment of the blank party wall."
Since that meeting however, the architect has changed plans to include a bus bay on the hill going down the road between Bay street and the site, near St Rita's chapel. Plans also indicate the removal of tables and chairs from the piazza.
The application caused quite some controversy. Archbishop Charles Scicluna had asked the Church's Environment Commission to look into the deal. The environment commission, in their report on 5 October, recommended that the plans be revisited because "the development is contrary to the Floor Area Ratio policy; The site is not amenable to the development of a tall building (i.e. a building higher than 10 floors. A twelve-storey façade overlooking Upper Triq Santu Wistin is excessive and badly impinges on nearby residents and users of the street. The proposed twelve-storey building is excessively close to the priory which is a scheduled Grade 2 building," it had said.
The provincial of the Augustinian order, which owns the land in question, has defended the project. Fr Leslie Gatt had said that the income from the deal would help the order invest in its religious, social and educational efforts. He added that the money would also go towards the restoration and upkeep of several historic buildings owned by the order, which are part of the country's heritage.
from The Malta Independent http://bit.ly/2Ga4f8T
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