Schlossbergschule Landsberg: The citizens have the floor
Created: 09/29/2022, 07:25
By: Ulrike Osman
On December 4th, citizens can give their opinion on the northern extension of the Schlossberg School. The question: "Are you in favor of the elementary school being built on the Schlossberg in the north and of the winning design being implemented?" © Greiner
Landsberg – When it comes to Schlossberg School, the citizens now have the floor.
With a large majority (19:6), the city council decided to carry out a council request for the planned north extension.
Deadline is December 4th.
Until then, the planning for the renovation and expansion of the school building will be suspended.
The question put to the people of Landsberg should be: "Are you in favor of the primary school being built on Schlossberg in the north and of the winning design being implemented?" However, the result of the vote is only binding if the quorum is reached.
That is, if in the end the majority – whether for or against – makes up at least 20 percent of the population eligible to vote.
If the quorum is not reached, the city council resolution of September 15, 2021 will be adhered to.
At that time, the decision was made with only one dissenting vote to continue with the winning design of the realization competition and to commission the Munich office Victoria von Gaudecker Architektur together with Hofstadt Architekten with the planning and open space design.
With the council request, the city council is anticipating the citizens' initiative (BI) "Save the Schlossberg", which has been collecting signatures for a citizens' initiative on the same topic since the end of July.
There were difficulties because of the vacation time, explained Axel Flörke (LM), who is also spokesman for the BI.
He was sure, however, that the necessary signatures would be obtained.
Wolfgang Neumeier (UBV), on the other hand, saw the fact that BI had not progressed after nine weeks as a sign that "the Landsberger was not emotionally involved".
"The situation is anything but easy," said Mayor Doris Baumgartl (UBV).
Theoretically, one could wait and see whether the citizens' request would come and, in the meantime, commission the next service phase.
However, Baumgartl did not like the associated uncertainty any more than the second mayor Moritz Hartmann (Greens).
"We want a quick decision."
Group colleague Ulrike Gömmer also supported the Council request and at the same time sharply criticized Flörke.
"The fact that an active city councilor is a spokesman for a citizens' initiative against an almost unanimous city council decision - that's strange behavior for me."
Petra Ruffing also supported the council request on behalf of the CSU parliamentary group.
"If the quorum doesn't come about, that's also a statement." Only the SPD parliamentary group and FDP city councilor Ulla Schäfer had a different opinion and would have preferred to resume the planning that was suspended before the summer break.
"We are 100 percent behind the draft," said Third Mayor Felix Bredschneijder (SPD).
If a citizens' request comes, you have to carry it out.
"But otherwise we see the order to finally build this school."
Archaeological excavations must be carried out and the results documented before the extension can be built in the north.
It is estimated that this work will take about a year and a half and will cost 1.5 million euros.
Afterwards, the State Office for the Preservation of Monuments would no longer raise any objections to the construction project, explained its representative Jochen Haberstroh, Deputy Head of the Archaeological Monument Preservation Department.
However, it could happen that the public discussion flares up again once the findings are out in the open.
"You have to endure that."
The costs for the entire project – new building plus renovation of the old building – are now estimated at 34 million euros.
Von Gaudecker assumes that the renovation can start in mid-2023 and will be completed in mid-2025.
Another year later, the new building should also be finished.
