The Olomouc councilors did not decide on the construction ban at Šantovka Tower

Olomouc - Today, despite the original plan, the Olomouc city council did not vote on the proposal for a construction ban on the plots surrounding the planned high-rise building Šantovka Tower near the city center. CTK was informed today by the city hall spokesperson Michal Folta, without further details. The construction ban is intended to prevent the controversial building until the modification of the new zoning plan is approved.

"The council did not approve the decision to address the objections to the proposal of a general measure. Thus, the legal conditions for voting on the adoption of the general measure regarding the construction ban were not met. The process of discussing the proposal for the construction ban will therefore continue," Folta stated. Details will be published by the city hall leadership at a press conference on Wednesday.

The investor of Šantovka Tower previously raised objections against the planned construction ban. The councilors preferred to have two legal analyses prepared to avoid the risk of losing court disputes, which resulted in the postponement of the announcement of the construction ban. The investor announced that it would legally defend against the ban.

The height regulation for buildings near the historical center of Olomouc was revoked by the court as of December 31 of last year. The city hall was given time until the end of last year to better justify the allowed height of buildings in the new zoning plan. However, the preparation of the modification of the zoning plan was delayed by several months, so since the New Year, the height limits ceased to apply.

The city aims to use the construction ban, which was first discussed last summer, to gain time for additional modification of the height regulation in the zoning plan. Without the construction ban, the preparation for the construction of the 75-meter high Šantovka Tower can continue, even though the new zoning plan does not envisage high-rise buildings in the protective zone of the urban heritage reserve. The modification of the zoning plan is likely to be approved only at the beginning of next year.

Recently, the regional office did not comply with the request of the opposition movement ProOlomouc to issue the construction ban instead of the city hall, which, according to the movement, is unnecessarily delaying the preparation of the construction ban. However, the magistrate is proceeding quickly enough according to the regional office.

The building of Šantovka Tower has been the subject of long discussions in Olomouc. Preservationists and some experts oppose its construction, claiming that Šantovka Tower could damage the historic skyline of Olomouc. The investor holds the opposite view.