Oberammergau has too little space for business: Now there is food for thought to develop space

Where is there still free space for new industrial parks in Oberammergau?

The struggle for an answer has fallen asleep in the past few years - to put it mildly.

Now the parliamentary groups CSU, a sense of proportion and BIO are bringing the issue back on the agenda.

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Companies were able to settle in Unterammergau's industrial park - as this aerial photo from 2016 shows.

That is missing in Oberammergau.

© bartl

Companies are migrating because they cannot grow.

Other companies do not even get any space.

This is the problem that Oberammergau faces.

Now the community should go looking for a solution.

Oberammergau

- It's April 2016. A completely unexpected topic suddenly pops up in the Oberammergau building committee under “Other”.

What about the expansion of commercial space?

At least that is what BIO representative Florian Schwarzfischer wants to know.

He criticizes the fact that there is little room for maneuver for local businesses.

“People have migrated to Unterammergau for many years.” That could not be in the interests of the municipality.

The conclusion after a long discussion: there is actually nowhere.

That was almost five years ago and one of the last “real” debates about increasing the commercial space in the Passion Village.

The situation is the same now as it was then.

There is no place for new companies.

They migrate to the neighboring village or even further away.

The manageable but important industry in the village, on the other hand, cannot expand.

Oberammergau as a business location still moves in circles.

Create development opportunities

Simon Fischer and his colleagues want to change that.

The chairman of the CSU parliamentary group in the Oberammergau municipal council has worked out a cross-parliamentary proposal with his and the members of Augen Maß and BIO and submitted it to the town hall.

You want to create development opportunities for commercial space.

For this purpose, the needs of the existing companies in the village should first be queried.

What do entrepreneurs need in terms of new space?

Who wants to expand?

And how much?

What are the companies up to?

How can you help them?

Once all of these questions have been resolved, it should get down to business.

“We have already identified potential areas where business could arise,” confirms Fischer.

The parliamentary group chairmen have envisaged areas on Erlbachweg, Rainenbichl, Festplatz and Ettaler Straße.

It should be checked which approval and building law steps are necessary to make them available to companies.

And of course what it all costs.

With the results, the local council can then “deal intensively with the issue,” says Fischer.

In the best case scenario, the application leads to the designation of areas and the settlement of businesses in the area.

"At least it should be an impetus, a basis for discussion." The aim is to strengthen Oberammergau through "decisive action and strong local political impulses," says Fischer.

And to rapidly develop the economy in the municipality.

Tourism alone is not enough

For the parliamentary group spokesman, it is absolutely clear that Oberammergau will no longer be a major industrial location.

But the current crisis shows "how quickly the community can get into economic difficulties".

It is painful that she is currently having to forego income from the 2020 Passion Play and the lower trade tax income.

"Tourism as a formative pillar alone will not be enough in the future to be able to cope with the upcoming tasks." And one thing is already clear to Fischer: the corona crisis and its effects will continue to challenge the community for a long time.

"We don't want to bury our heads in the sand, we want to prepare the ground for the future of our home community."

With mayor and party friend Andreas Rödl, Fischer runs open doors with it.

He also knows the problem.

Oberammergau is limited simply because of its topography.

“There are also many protected areas.” Now and then he looks enviously at the neighboring village of Unterammergau.

"Nevertheless, we have to develop our business further."

List of rubric lists: © bartl