Citizens' decision on the industrial area in Taucha: what happens now!

Citizens' decision on the industrial area in Taucha: what happens now!

in Taucha, a city near Leipzig, is boiling in the political environment. The planned citizens' decision to continue the planning for a new commercial and industrial area in Merkwitz ensures plenty of conversation. As the lvz did not take place in August because necessary two-thirds majority missed. Only 12 of the 21 city councils voted for what indicates that there are different opinions within the city council.

The resistance of the residents is particularly explosive. A citizens' initiative has formed and has collected signatures against the plans. Unfortunately, the citizens' request was classified as inadmissible. Mayor Tobias Meier (FDP) then proposed a council request that met with resistance - especially on the part of the AfD and the merger of the SPD, the Greens and the left. These voices also raised doubts as to whether the citizens' decision is the right means to take into account the concerns of the citizens. SPD City Councilor Dana Goder expressed concerns and emphasized that the planned citizens' decision was not in line with the wishes of the initiative.

Information event and citizen participation

An information event on the planning attracted around 70 interested citizens who wanted to learn more about the project. The commercial and industrial area is currently still at the beginning of the planning, with an intended area of ​​around 46 hectares. An important point for the residents is the distance to residential buildings, which was increased from originally 200 to 300 meters, a step in the right direction, just like the height specifications for the buildings - up to 15 meters for businesses and up to 20 meters for industry.

At the moment there is no concrete investor, which the community presents with challenges. The city administration plans a development plan to facilitate potential companies. Causes were expressed - especially with regard to possible armaments production - but these were rejected by the city administration.

further developments and challenges

The growing criticism of major urban projects and the desire for more citizen participation are topics that not only affect Taucha, but also focus on Germany. As the Difu , urban development is under strong pressure to legitimize. Citizens don't just want to watch, but actively help shape.

The events in Taucha show that a lot is on the move and the voices of the citizens gain weight. The question remains whether the city administration can and wants to accept the challenges of citizen participation. A game of patience that will require the local politics a lot in the coming months.