Change of the zoning plan threatens dozens of settlements, gardeners are worried

Prague - Dozens of garden colonies are threatened by changes in the zoning plan in the capital, said today to ČTK spokeswoman of the Czech Gardeners' Union Zdeňka Jankovičová. The union is trying to establish new colonies, unfortunately, without much support from Prague representatives or councilors, added the spokesperson. According to the Deputy Mayor of Prague for Urban Development Petra Kolínská (Green/Three-Party Coalition), the city is trying to revise the plan that would designate new suitable areas for colonies. The material is expected to be developed next spring.

According to the union, there are approximately 8,000 registered gardeners in Prague who cultivate 457 hectares of land. Just twenty years ago, there were around 18,000 of them, and they managed 618 hectares. "The proposal of the Prague Metropolitan Plan does not offer any specific comprehensive concept of garden colonies as a significant part of the urban green system. Most of the garden colonies are included in recreation areas without a clear guarantee of maintaining their current use and arrangement or are proposed for complete transformation into housing or other constructions, thus leading to their extinction," said the spokesperson to ČTK.

According to Kolínská, the city is trying to help gardeners. Recently, the union has identified sites for new colonies, for example, in Písnice. "Unfortunately, this project has probably failed as a change in the zoning plan was necessary, and the owners could not wait," Jankovičová told ČTK. However, according to Kolínská, changes in the zoning plan in the case of private ownership are merely a formality.

The union is now negotiating for land in Prague 13, near Jitrocelová Street. The area is designated in the zoning plan as meadows and pastures, according to the union. "The situation can be resolved by submitting a proposal for a change in the zoning plan," adds Jankovičová.

Kolínská told ČTK that this was the first change in the zoning plan due to the construction of a new colony that she is handling as deputy mayor. "I estimate the change will take two years; I believe this is a timeframe that can be tolerated," she added.

The new Metropolitan Plan is expected to be approved by Prague by the end of 2022. The city districts and state administration are to discuss it in March next year. The Metropolitan Plan could come into effect from January 1, 2023. All construction in Prague is governed by it.