The city of Weilheim wants to create around 25,000 square meters of additional commercial space north of the Leprosenweg commercial area. But there is resistance from residents of Unterhausen to the extent of the plans.
- The city of Weilheim currently has 25,000 square meters of new commercial space near Unterhausen
- There are protests by residents against the development plan
- This will be discussed in the building committee in September
Weilheim - As early as 2015, the Weilheim city council decided to expand the existing industrial area on Leprosenweg - which includes the recycling center - to the north and to draw up a development plan for it. The reason, as the city building authority remembers, was a building inquiry at the time, whether accommodation for asylum seekers would be possible in this area. The local politicians agreed that an industrial park would be the wrong location for this and wanted to regulate what is possible there and what is not by means of a development plan. But then there was a “relatively long period of quiet” around the area, says building authority employee Stefan Kirchmayer. The first people interested in construction have since jumped off again.
An investor bought the land
But now there is an investor who owns the two properties north of the company “Dr. Müller Diamantmetall "bought and wanted to recycle. In total, it is about 25,000 square meters, of which, according to Kirchmayer, 80 percent is possible building ground. 70 percent of this area could in turn be built on with buildings. Whether the investor is “Dr. Müller Diamantmetall ”, the city does not reveal. The company itself did not respond to a request from our newspaper.
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On the other hand, there are clear reactions from Weilheim's Unterhausen district, on whose corridor the area is located. After the city council approved the draft plan for the development plan “Leprosenweg II - Extension North” in November 2019, the participation of the “public interests” and the citizens is currently ongoing. And among the residents of Kohlwinklstrasse, whose properties are only separated from the additional commercial space by the Weilheim-Augsburg railway line, resistance is forming against the plans.
This is what it looks like at the moment: View from the balcony of a house on Kohlwinklstrasse onto the field that will be commercial space. On the left are the buildings of “Dr. Müller Diamantmetall ".
© private
“We live here. Day and night. For a lifetime ”, it says in a joint statement from those affected to the city. The residents complain that the draft does not manage to cope with the “conflict triggered by the planning between an already existing residential development that is worthy of protection and a 'newly planned' commercial development”. And further: "It almost suggests that the interest of a property owner in renting or selling his acquired grassland as commercial property for profit has been inappropriately considered."
A biotope borders the commercial space
One of those affected is Hans-Peter Mascha, who has lived with his family on Kohlwinklstrasse for 24 years. In an interview with our newspaper, Mascha said it was to be expected that there would be expansion plans for the industrial area. He criticizes, however, that it is not only about the existing gravel area directly next to "diamond metal", but also that the "entire neighboring field is to be dredged away" - which, by the way, is adjacent to a biotope.
The dimensions of the planned commercial buildings are also too large. Mascha defends itself - like numerous neighbors - against the "almost maximum use of space (70 percent built, 90 percent sealed)" and gable heights of 11.70 meters: the planned, around three meter high noise protection wall could hardly have any effect. On the other hand, a single-storey building like the existing office wing of “Dr. Müller Diamantmetall “is an acceptable compromise. Stadtbauamts employee Kirchmayer, on the other hand, refers to the neighboring warehouse of this company and the post office building a little further away - and emphasizes that the wall heights of the planned new buildings would not be exceeded.
Residents complain about mistakes in the development plan
Another point of criticism from the residents, of whom around 60 have now signed on a list of signatures: There are "several errors" in the current development plan draft. When asked by our newspaper, Kirchmayer admits that there are “a few inadequacies and inaccuracies” that will be eliminated in the course of the proceedings. According to the municipal building authority, “some modifications to the planning will result” from a conversation with local residents that took place at the end of July. The building committee of the city council is expected to deal with the statements on the development plan draft in the September meeting.
Also read: The next industrial park in sight
However, it is questionable whether the fundamental doubts of the Unterhausen residents concerned are also addressed. In Weilheim, a “massive sealing of areas” can be observed, “which are actually not needed,” says Mascha, referring to vacant buildings in other industrial areas. Nevertheless, further development north of the Leprosenweg cannot be prevented, the local resident knows: "But it is about a solution that everyone can live with."
The documents
for the development plan "Leprosenweg II - Extension North" are still available for inspection at the municipal building authority until August 20th. Interested parties can make an appointment by calling 0881 / 682-421
