Franz-Marc-Weg: Housing plans are met with criticism

Created: 01/24/2022, 12:02 p.m

By: Wolfgang Schorner

New residential buildings are to be built on the open space between the end of the Franz-Marc-Weg (in the background) and the Flohbühlweg – the slope is used by the children to toboggan in the snow.

The Franz-Marc-Weg is to be continued up to the Flohbühlweg.

The houses would be built on both sides of the street.

© Wolfgang Schorner

New houses with around 45 apartments could be built in Penzberg on a meadow between Flohbühlweg and Franz-Marc-Weg.

At least that's what the draft development plan says.

But this is controversial.

The criticism ranges from the traffic and parking situation to the building density and the fear of flooding.

Penzberg – Plans for a new residential area to extend Franz-Marc-Weg were already being discussed a few years ago.

In 2015, the city council launched a development plan for the area, but this later stalled.

The draft is now back on the table.

The site is a hillside meadow that stretches between Franz-Marc-Weg and Flohbühlweg.

According to the draft development plan, several multi-family and semi-detached houses with a total of 45 apartments could be built there.

According to the planning office, the private project is intended as an “energy self-sufficient residential area”.

According to the draft plan, Franz-Marc-Weg, which currently ends at a turning point, would be continued to Flohbühlweg.

Objections as early as the first interpretation: noise, traffic and parking spaces

There were already numerous objections from local residents when the draft was first publicly displayed six years ago.

There were fears that the development would be too massive and that there would be problems with noise, traffic and parking spaces.

There were also concerns on the part of nature conservation.

The next round looked similar.

"The concerns are great," commented Mayor Stefan Korpan (CSU) on the result of the renewed public display.

Desire for a “traffic-calmed area”

The traffic and parking situation, for example, provides topics for discussion.

One of the criticisms is that the number of public parking spaces (34 are currently planned) is not sufficient.

On the other hand, it is feared that more offers could increase traffic from the area looking for a parking space.

Residents are also in favor of a pedestrian walkway and a Zone 30. However, the desire for a “traffic-calmed area”, popularly known as “play street”, was also expressed for Franz-Marc-Weg in order to reduce the danger for children.

An investigation commissioned by the city found that this can be recommended.

However, the regulatory office pointed out that in areas where walking speed applies and additional bottlenecks may be necessary, parking may only be done in marked areas.

Flooding is feared in heavy rain

For example, the height of the planned development is also criticized, which, according to one resident, means that existing gardens are in the shade.

In view of the hillside location, it is also feared that, triggered by compaction of the soil, the risk of flooding will increase in the event of heavy rain, both for existing and for the new houses.

A point against which the Water Management Office also warns, which is why it recommends structural precautions for the new houses.

Another point of contention is the overhead line.

The railway wants to lay the high-voltage line about 250 meters underground, but apparently not when crossing Flohbühlweg, which would require an additional mast.

In view of the objections, both Günter Fuchs from the city building office and Mayor Korpan had recommended in the December meeting that the development plan procedure should only be continued after a discussion with the doubters.

This meeting took place after the Christmas holidays.

When asked, the city building office said that the development plan will probably be dealt with in the committee meeting in February or March and that the points discussed will then also be discussed.

Detailed descriptions would then also be available on traffic and parking issues.

Like the Edeka site, the construction project is a private undertaking.

Unlike the houses west of Birkenstrasse that are being built by the city.