People from parts of Brno that wanted to break away want less construction

Brno - Residents of Brno-Dolní Heršpice and Přízřenic criticize the proposals from the Brno city hall on how the future development there should look. They are concerned about the extent of the proposed industrial zone and that new roads are planned too close to family homes. They have submitted their comments to the city hall and are now waiting to see how they will be addressed, said Pavel Reich from the association Samostatný jih to the Czech News Agency. The association initiated a referendum two years ago about the separation of both areas from Brno. However, not enough people voted for independence.
The future form of Dolní Heršpice and Přízřenic will be determined by the Urban Study of the Development Area Brno-South, which will be discussed by officials and architects with the public on Tuesday. The discussion is organized by the Brno-South municipal district to which both areas belong. According to Reich, residents are waiting to see what document officials present to them and how they will deal with the conflicting issues within it. He added, however, that the version of the document they could study last year is unacceptable to them.
Locals disagree with the routes of the planned new urban road and bypass - both roads apparently lead too close to family homes on maps, with the road right next to the last house. "If I build it right next to the house, it will disturb. If I build it in the field and new buildings at an appropriate distance from it, it won’t disturb," said Reich. They also object that the study does not include sound barriers near the D1, D2 highways, the R52 expressway, or the railway line. "The city claims that the industrial zone will soundproof this area, but it would have to be an airtight block of buildings," described Reich. Moreover, residents reportedly do not want the industrial zone along the railway line, preferring it closer to the highway.
Residents of Přízřenic and Dolní Heršpice are also anxiously waiting to see how Brno intends to use the land in so-called Slunná louka, which it obtained in a swap with a developer. The developer planned to build apartment buildings in the area, which ignited protests among locals. This issue was eventually at the beginning of their efforts to separate from Brno. City representatives then, as a conciliatory step, exchanged the land with the developer for other areas so that the city could influence development in Slunná louka. Reich pointed out that the location directly connects to the current village development, and people want family homes there; according to him, only a quarter of the area is suitable for apartment development.
Přízřenic and Dolní Heršpice have about 1,500 inhabitants but a cadastral area of 800 hectares. Hundreds of them are or will be designated for development. Both areas have been part of Brno since 1919. Locals have not ruled out that they will again pursue independence in a referendum. Another possibility is that they would create a separate municipal district.