People disagree with the logistics center in Ostrava's Poruba

Ostrava - At least 700 residents of Ostrava's Poruba and neighboring Klimkovice disagree with the expansion of the logistics center being built by a private investor southwest of Ostrava. People are protesting against the conversion of approximately 24 hectares of agricultural land into an area for light industry, said Anna Pazděrová from the association Klimkovice-Václavovice, a place for life. Today, the public expressed their opinions on the future change of the zoning plan at the Ostrava city hall. They reacted with surprise to the entirely new solution that involves the construction of a transformer station instead of the originally proposed green space.
    A petition against the expansion of the logistics center has been signed by 725 people so far. "The residents of Klimkovice who live near the affected area are fundamentally opposed to further construction, which will severely disrupt the environment. It is forgotten that a large number of trucks will arrive at the site, which will use the nearby highway access. We feel threatened by increased noise and the amount of airborne dust. Moreover, the view of the storage halls in the landscape is desperate," said Pazděrová.
    The leadership of Klimkovice is also concerned about the expansion of the industrial zone and disagrees with the change in the zoning plan. "We have no guarantee that light industry will not progress up to the grade-separated interchange with the highway, which is already in our cadastral area. We want to create living spaces for the Ostrava agglomeration. Klimkovice should be an oasis of peace, considering the existing spa," said mayor Pavel Malík (ČSSD) previously to ČTK.
    The public and experts were surprised today by the chief architect of the city of Ostrava, who presented a completely new proposal for changing the zoning plan that includes the construction of an electrical substation. People previously believed that about two hectares of greenery would arise on the site, which would expand the existing biocorridor. "Ostrava has a problem with a sufficient supply of electricity during its rapid development. We have the chance to place the substation as a public benefit project near the logistics center, meaning outside the residential area," said city architect Jaroslav Sedlecký.
    However, experts find the new variant with the transformer station unacceptable due to environmental concerns. "The appropriation of quality agricultural land was generously compensated in the May proposal by enlarging the biocenter. However, the transformer station would worsen the situation as it would require about 40 meters of protective zone where only bushes could grow. The environmental impact assessment we prepared for the initial concept from May 2007 cannot be applied to today's proposed plan," said co-author of the assessment Jaroslav Kotík.
    He added that the new proposal for changing the zoning plan will need to be re-discussed and the impact of the change on the environment re-evaluated, a process that could take until summer. The investor Development OVA West insists on the expansion of the logistics center and the construction of the transformer station. "The whole process will be complicated, but we have agreed with all the landowners. We started acquiring properties back in 2006. The city also wants the change in the zoning plan. If the council does not approve it, the land will remain ours, and until we sell it, no one will build anything on it," said Luděk Kleibl from the development company to journalists.
    The first part of ProLogis Park Ostrava already consists of reinforced concrete storage halls. The site will have its own parking areas and service roads, along which approximately 200 trucks should arrive daily, claims the investor. Approximately 200 people are expected to find work there.