"We would have material for three hours of information," announced Werner Dehm from the OPLA planning office at the start of the special session of the Odelzhausen local council.
It didn't take that long - but the presentation by him and his colleague Judith Schwarz was extensive. Because it was nothing less than a concept of what the Odelzhausen town center should look like in the future.
The planning office had carried out an investigation into the “enactment of a new / modified redevelopment area” in the town center. A 29.04 hectare area between Glonnstraße, Burgfeldstraße, Schloßstraße and Hauptstraße including the planned Glonnpark was examined. The planners worked out the strengths and weaknesses of the area in an inventory analysis. Among other things, they rated the “strong supply and general needs center” in the town center as well as the planned Glonnpark as positive.
Criticisms were the lack of accessibility and the high volume of traffic, for example on the main and market streets. Even in some green areas, they see "still design potential". They also suggested increased densification.
On this basis, the planning office for the areas "Town Hall and Church", "Nursing Home", "Am Steg", "Town Center and Market Street", "Main and Castle Street", "Glonntal Area", "Northwest of Castle Street" directed possible goals and measures for the statutes.
They also included the old mill. “It is a building fabric that defines the townscape with an incredible urban charm,” explained Werner Dehm. He proposed renovation measures to preserve the building structure, revitalize the use of the mill or use it for social and cultural purposes.
However, like a large part of the buildings, the mill is privately owned. Mayor Markus Trinkl therefore never tired of emphasizing that the renovation statute is not about regulations or restrictions for the owners. "It's just ideas, not commitments," he said. "We want to offer citizens benefits that are not possible with a development plan."
Individuals could receive grants for measures that meet the objectives of the statutes. In addition, the costs are tax deductible. "These are attractive framework conditions," promised Trinkl.
The Odelzhausen commune has had a restructuring statute for 17 years. So far, however, no concrete goals were set. The goals could now be, for example, better networking of green spaces, expanding accessibility, reducing traffic and maintaining buildings that shape the townscape.
One does not want a “monument protection touch”, as Johanna Winkler (FW) put it, the municipal councils agreed on this. Demolition of buildings must also be possible. But: "When a new building is built, it should look as possible as the old one," explained Roderich Zauscher (BGO). Character, size and structure should be preserved.
One point of discussion was the height of new buildings. The planners spoke for up to three full storeys and an attic with a maximum wall height of nine meters on Marktstrasse. They also suggested the same for building on the Seitz meadow and for further compaction on Gartenstrasse and “Am Anger”. At least three and a maximum of four full storeys should be sought on the main street and Schloßstraße, as suggested by the planning office. "In terms of urban planning, it is reprehensible to only build single-family houses with a ground floor and an attic," explained Werner Dehm. The gable roof should be preferred as the roof shape for a homogeneous image.
However, not all municipal councilors were convinced of the high storey. The planners should therefore change the design in such a way that at least two full storeys are mandatory on Hauptstrasse, Schloßstrasse, Gartenstrasse and “Am Anger” and a maximum of two full storeys with attic should be permitted. On Marktstrasse, the councilors can imagine up to two to three full floors plus an attic. This means that new buildings would not be higher than existing buildings.
Another concern for the councils is the preservation of trade. For the town center and Marktstrasse, it should therefore be stipulated that commercial space on the ground floor may not be converted into living space.
A paragraph in the Building Code also gives the municipality the opportunity to reject construction projects if they contradict the goals of the renovation statute. So far, it applied to the entire redevelopment area, but has never been used. The question now was whether it should in future only apply in the area of Marktstrasse or in Hauptstrasse and Schloßstrasse. Markus Trinkl spoke in favor of the latter: "Significant parts of Schloßstraße and Hauptstraße are occupied by businesses," he explained. "If we give up our right, you can make living out of every trade." The majority of the councilors saw the same thing.
The planning office will now incorporate the wishes of the councils into the statutes, a decision is to be made in March.
Old mill should
be refurbished
Accessibility
and more green
Preservation of business
important concern
