Karl-Holl-Weg in Rottach-Egern: Expensive road expansion hits residents hard

Created: 01/28/2022, 07:00

By: Christina Jachert-Maier

For the expansion of the Karl-Holl-Weg, Corinna and Thomas Auracher, as the owners of the Hotel Berlin, are expected to shell out around 70,000 euros.

You and other residents have appealed.

© Thomas Plettenberg

The expansion of the Karl-Holl-Weg cost 245,000 euros.

The residents should shell out 90 percent of this.

The municipality of Rottach-Egern is preparing for a legal dispute and is issuing a new statute – retroactive to January 1, 2021.

Rottach-Egern

- Hotelier Thomas Auracher had tried to prevent the expansion of the Karl-Holl-Weg in advance. As early as 2017 he spoke of “citizen rip-offs and pranksters”. It was of no use. In 2018, the bumpy asphalt path was upgraded to Aurachers Hotel Berlin. The construction work dragged on, as did the billing. The final bill was received by the municipality in November 2019. It amounted to 245,000 euros, as Managing Director Gerhard Hofmann reports. In March 2021, the municipality sent the notices to the residents. According to the municipality, you have to bear 90 percent of the costs.

The thickest notification went to the Aurachers.

Almost 70,000 euros are due.

A total of eight properties are located on Karl-Holl-Weg, some of which have apartment buildings.

The amount of the notice depends on the size of the property.

The Aurachers, but also some other residents, have appealed their decision.

Community prepares for new development statute

"There will be a legal dispute," says Managing Director Hofmann.

On the advice of their lawyer, the municipality is arming itself with the enactment of a new development contribution statute.

The previous one was out of date after a change in legislation.

At its most recent meeting, the municipal council unanimously voted in favor of the decree without discussion.

It is a model statute.

It is noteworthy that it is to apply retroactively to January 1, 2021.

According to the municipal lawyer, this is permissible, says Hofmann.

“There were some planning errors”

For the Aurachers, the measure is pretty full.

Not only because, in their opinion, the expansion in this form would not have been necessary.

"There were some planning errors," reports Corinna Auracher.

The expansion began in spring 2018, but the work came to a halt in June because a large hedge and other wood had to be removed, which is not permitted at this time of year.

The path was only completed in October 2018. In the meantime, the guests of the Hotel Berlin had difficulty reaching their accommodation.

When the construction site was running, "the coffee cups shook", Corinna Auracher recalls the high level of noise pollution.

Many hotel guests complained.

When the decision to expand came, the hotel was closed due to the onset of the pandemic.

The Aurachers also miss a concession from the community.

The fact that the Aurachers have the decision legally checked is also understandable for managing director Hofmann in view of the amount of the sum.

"But we only do what we have to do, even if it hurts."

No renovation, but first-time production

According to Hofmann, the expansion of the Karl-Holl-Weg was not a question of renovation, but legally the first construction.

The municipality only acquired the private road in 2002.

It lacked drainage, substructure, lighting.

"So all the characteristics of a road," Hofmann makes clear.

However, the community only pays ten percent for the first production, and the residents have to pay 90 percent.

The situation is different with renovations.

Since 2018, road construction contributions have no longer been collected from residents.

The notifications for the Karl-Holl-Weg are correct, says Hofmann.

With the enactment of the updated development statute, the community just wanted to be on the safe side and rule out formal errors.