Penzberg: FDP supports Roche expansion, but takes responsibility for the group

Created: 09/18/2022, 07:00

By: Andreas Baer

Support “very clearly” the Roche expansion, but see a visionary need for action: FDP local chairman Timo Böge (left) and member Werner Schanz.

©Andreas Baar

Penzberg – The planned expansion of the Roche site in Penzberg is also viewed critically.

The criticism calls the FDP local association on the scene.

The Penzberg city council had not agreed at all in July.

The Roche expansion in Nonnenwald cleared the next hurdle there, but anything but unanimously.

With a 14:9 majority, the local parliament approved the draft of the development plan "Biotechnology Center Nonnenwald Nord" and the necessary change to the land use plan, pushing the approval procedure into the next round.

In view of the dimensions, the representatives of PM, Greens and FLP said “No” at the time.

Various Rundschau readers joined their criticism in letters to the editor.

expansion is necessary

A criticism that alarmed the Penzberg-Iffeldorf local branch of the FDP, which is not represented on the city council.

At a press conference, Chairman Timo Böge made it clear that he stands behind the Basel biotech group: "We clearly support this expansion." The expansion of the Nonnenwald site is "simply necessary", adds FDP member Werner Schanz and is surprised: "I don't see what the city should be against." On the contrary, in Penzberg one should be happy "that we have a relatively non-cyclical company," adds Schanz.

After all, Roche is also an important employer, the two FDP representatives unanimously agreed.

In general, the city has fundamentally benefited from the group on its doorstep,

“There are also certain risks.

FDP local chairman Timo Böge on the Roche expansion.

But Böge does not want to be labeled as a pure yes-man.

"There are also certain risks," admits the local chairman, with a view to the industrial heavyweight in Nonnenwald.

There is a danger that small and medium-sized companies will be "relegated to the margins" by the "lighthouse".

A “very clear risk”, warns Böge.

All the risks.

Böge sees three dangers from an expansion of the location, also with many new employees and their needs: for the traffic situation, the housing market and the number of childcare places in the daycare facilities.

The FDP would like Roche to be brought on board.

"Large companies should not be completely relieved of their obligations," says member Schanz.

Chairman Böge sees room for improvement in everything.

The Roche commuter buses are “not packed”.

The company must create more of its own apartments and small units for temporary use ("The boarding houses are great but not enough").

And that Roche is setting up a "proper company kindergarten" at its own expense, "we would see as appropriate," says Böge.

Vision?

"There are none"

The FDP has "expectations" of the company, but also of the city, as the local chairman put it.

Mayor Stefan Korpan (CSU) and the city council have a duty to "productively steer the development," demands the FDP representative, who has already held conferences with BfP representatives on this subject.

In the case of the FDP, you need political support from the city council due to the lack of seats on the committee.

Böge sees a need for action: "There are many growing pains in Penzberg." These need to be weighed up.

The question of whether you want growth at all has long been obsolete: "The question is how." However, Böge lacks a vision: From the point of view of the FDP, "there is none," he says bluntly.

Information events desired

Böge concludes that it is positive that there are various discussions about the Roche project.

However, he misses transparency - and complains that the citizen "is not taken along".

The FDP man would therefore wish for information events from the city and the group.