View of the post office area from above: New living space could possibly be created in the rear area. © Dominik Bartl
It remains to be seen whether apartments will actually be built there. But at least the proposal is on the table to create some at the old Murnau post office building. The town hall administration considers a development there conceivable. Meanwhile, the Bund Naturschutz expresses criticism of a project in the Hechendorf district.
Murnau – One of the Greens' motions was not dealt with in the most recent municipal council meeting, contrary to the planning. But the initiative is likely to further fuel the debate on the creation of housing. This is because it lists plots of land that have not previously been up for debate, such as the post office area. Green Party spokeswoman Veronika Jones-Gilch can imagine "something elevated" there – combined with a "proper mobility concept". 1300 square meters would be available on the municipality-owned area. In order to take action there, the development plan for the "special area of the Murnau post office" would have to be amended. "Taking into account the Ludwig Monument, an additional, possibly dense development on this area is conceivable," says the administration. The post office building itself would remain unaffected. It remains to be seen whether residential buildings will actually be built on the site.
Neighbors show interest
The community is also involved in a project in Hechendorf, which is dragging on. North of the Aufeld, she wants to create affordable housing for young families in the sense of a kind of local model. In the meantime, the municipality has informed the owners who own the directly adjacent properties. They were asked for administrative information whether they would include their areas in the planning on the basis of the implementation regulations for the cooperative building land model. This is the case, they say.
Furthermore, the municipality is currently negotiating with the Lower Nature Conservation Authority. This is about the need for compensation with regard to a 1.1 hectare biotope area. Actually, the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits all actions that lead to the destruction of such legally protected areas. However, upon application – in this case through the development plan – the Lower Nature Conservation Authority can approve an exception. "If the impairments can be compensated for or if the measure is necessary for reasons of overriding public interest," says Wolfgang Rotzsche, spokesman for the district office. "The areas would be buildable if a special permit were granted." The biotope areas are predominantly "species- and structurally rich permanent grassland" or a "lean lowland mowing meadow". According to Rotzsche, it revolves around forage meadows that are moderately fertilized and mowed or grazed about two to three times a year. "The strict protection status for such meadows has only existed since the referendum of 2019." Smaller sub-areas are assigned to the "sedge- and rush-rich wet meadows".
Is to be built on: this area in Hechendorf. There is a biotope on one part. © Dominik Bartl
The Bund Naturschutz is not pleased that a biotope is to disappear. If it is officially one, "it must be protected and not built on," emphasizes local chairwoman Ingrid Geiersberger. She sees the housing shortage as a "problem that is to be carried out here on the backs of nature". Geiersberger is convinced: "We have to consolidate." In other words, use free-standing areas within existing buildings. "You can find creative solutions if you want to."
In any case, in the opinion of the Murnau building administration, the area north of the Aufeld is "suitable for a rather small-scale development (semi-detached houses, multi-spans, height development E + 1 + D), but not for multi-storey residential construction". E + 1 + D means: ground floor plus an upper floor plus attic.
Interestingly, Molopark also appears on the list of proposals of the Green Group. In the noughties, the local council had spoken out in favour of selling part of it as building land. The proceeds were to be used to pay off millions of dollars in debt. At that time, the Bund Naturschutz was considering launching a citizens' initiative. In the end, the municipality did not sell any land there. The administration considers urban development there to be "conceivable" in principle. In principle, this area is also suitable for a rather small-scale development (semi-detached houses, multi-horse houses, height development E + 1 + D), but not for multi-storey residential construction.
Also interesting: Social housing is on the ground