Füssen - The decision of the building committee to reject the subsequent legalization of illegal buildings on a pony and horse ranch in Weißensee at the request of Füssen Land met with incomprehension and outrage among many last week. In the Kreisbote interview, Second Mayor Christian Schneider (Füssen-Land) gives a detailed account of the background to the application.
Even in the week after the momentous decision by the building committee to discontinue the land-use plan procedure for Sandra Ringmann's horse and pony ranch, the topic caused quite a stir. This is shown by countless letters to the editor that reach our editorial team. The Free Voters of Füssen also apply for a legal review of the application, as they are of the opinion that Füssen-Land has made a formal error. Mayor Maximilian Eichstetter (CSU) confirmed this at the request of the district messenger. The building committee will now discuss the application again at its meeting on October 5th.
Mr Schneider, your group has applied for the land-use plan procedure for the horse ranch in Weißensee to be discontinued. For the company this means de facto the end, the outcry in the public is huge. Were you surprised by the intensity of the reactions?
Christian Schneider
: “It was to be expected that such a decision would not only make friends.
However, we as the Füssen-Land parliamentary group also have a lot of support for the decision made, albeit less loudly and not publicly.
I am surprised by the fact that the expressions of displeasure are almost exclusively directed against the Füssen-Land parliamentary group and myself.
I would like to remind you that Füssen-Land has two of the 13 seats in the building committee and the majority of the parliamentary groups, with the exception of the Free Voters, approved the motion. "
As a result of the halt in the construction process, the ranch will most likely have to cease operations and economic livelihoods will be destroyed. Do you and your group do not care?
Schneider:
“We are and were aware of the likely economic consequences as well as the personal disappointments for the users of the ranch if the site management procedure were discontinued.
However, the intention of the application was not to destroy a children's paradise or to destroy economic livelihoods.
In our opinion, the fundamental question arises as to whether all means can or must be cured by the end.
In the concrete individual case at hand, we come to a negative result after careful consideration.
Why did the parliamentary group of Füssen-Land apply this way?
Cutter:
"It should be noted that the property with moderate, approved development was sold to the current operator, with the compulsory notice from the district office that an expansion of the operation is impossible due to the location. Nevertheless, many structural changes and additions took place - without a development plan, even those that could not be approved. In 2019, the city council decided that the purpose - including child therapeutic riding, child care - justified legalizing the facility through a development plan including an urban development contract. We from the Füssen-Land voter group were also behind this decision. However, it was made clear to the operator that no further structural changes may take place at the latest from this point in time.Subsequently, however, the operator independently initiated extensions such as the construction of a parking lot in the sensitive lime spring moor area or the renewal of an unapproved riding arena with an approx. One meter deep soil replacement and compaction with gravel, which numerous trucks have delivered. In addition to the illegal extensions, there were other irreversible interventions in nature and violations of other regulations through manure water drainage in the Mühlbach. As a result of this approach, we see the loss of trust in the operator and do not rule out the possibility that further buildings will be implemented without a permit, even after legalization. But it is also important to notethat with the buildings approved by the previous owners on this property since the 1980s, it is possible to continue the pony ranch, but not in its current size. "
Various other black buildings in Füssen were subsequently approved with votes from Füssen-Land without any problems. Why are you insisting on dismantling here of all places?
Cutter:
"It is too easy to say, black-house is the same as black-house, because each individual case has to be viewed in a differentiated manner. For example, so-called black buildings are to be legally approved retrospectively, insofar as they can be approved. In the present case, it is about external structures without privileges. In addition, there is a massive intervention in nature conservation. A 'simple' subsequent approval or the granting of municipal consent by the city is not possible here, nor is it sufficient to achieve legalization of the structural condition. The city has granted the operator a leap of faith, which the operator has massively abused by various independent and uncoordinated extensions.This is also not a one-off misconduct on the part of the operator. In our opinion, this unteachable approach by the operator in specific individual cases cannot be rewarded, even when all the consequences are taken into account. Rather, the following comparison must be permitted: The honest building applicant who, if necessary, pursues the same purpose worthy of support with a building structure and tries in vain to obtain a building permit in compliance with the proper procedure, i.e. before the start of construction, would be the 'stupid' because he is completely could not start operations right from the start without public outcry. "In our opinion, this unteachable approach by the operator in specific individual cases cannot be rewarded, even when all the consequences are taken into account. Rather, the following comparison must be permitted: The honest building applicant who, if necessary, pursues the same purpose worthy of support with a building structure and tries in vain to obtain a building permit in compliance with the proper procedure, i.e. before the start of construction, would be the 'stupid' because he is completely could not start operations right from the start without public outcry. "In our opinion, this unteachable approach by the operator in specific individual cases cannot be rewarded, even when all the consequences are taken into account. Rather, the following comparison must be permitted: The honest building applicant who, if necessary, pursues the same purpose worthy of support with a building structure and tries in vain to obtain a building permit in compliance with the proper procedure, i.e. before the start of construction, would be the 'stupid' because he is completely could not start operations right from the start without public outcry. "that means trying in vain to obtain a building permit before the start of construction, which would be the 'stupid' one, as he could not start his business right from the start without public outcry. "that means trying in vain to obtain a building permit before the start of construction, which would be the 'stupid' one, as he could not start his business right from the start without public outcry. "
You are accused of being related to a neighbor of the ranch as a reason for your negative attitude. What do you think?
Schneider:
“I am aware that as a political mandate holder you are in public.
I can also deal with public criticism as long as the factual level is not left.
However, it is simply wrong that a family relationship to a neighbor is decisive for my attitude and that of Füssen-Land.
Only factual considerations are decisive. "
Because of a formal error, the building committee has to decide again on the application in October. Will you hold on to this one or will you withdraw it?
Schneider:
“The Füssen-Land parliamentary group submitted the application again to the administration of the city of Füssen on September 15, in due form and in due time.
Since the facts have not changed and all relevant documents were already available before the meeting in August 2021, there is no reason for us to change our voting behavior.
I am also not assuming that the colleagues from the other groups who supported the motion will change their minds afterwards. "
Mr. Schneider, thank you very much for the interview!
