As of: February 19, 2024, 9:05 a.m
By: Hanna von Prittwitz
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A well-known parking lot with new cars: Many people stop in Meiling's town center and look at the vehicles that Jochen Hoffmann has been selling as re-imports for more than 30 years.
© Andrea Jaksch
The vehicles of car dealer and master mechanic Jochen Hoffmann have been parked on a gravel lot in Meiling for more than 30 years.
Hoffmann looked for an alternative parking space for decades.
Now, after a visit from the administrative court, he has to vacate the area by the end of 2025.
Meiling
- There hasn't been this much going on in the area on Dorfstrasse in Meiling's town center for a long time: The 11th Chamber of the Munich Administrative Court traveled to the Seefeld district for an inspection and hearing in order to get a picture of the case of Jochen Hoffmann and Johann Ludwig against the Free State to be done on site.
The topic was a removal order from the Starnberg district office.
Result: Hoffmann has to clear the area, but not within a month, as required in the removal order, but by December 2025. It is also the result of a long feud between a neighbor and the Hoffmanns as well as an endless search for a location by the EG Hoffmann company, which it has been in Meiling for more than 30 years.
Around ten vehicles, mostly VW buses, were parked on the gravel area for the court hearing.
Hoffmann sells so-called re-imports.
Numerous cyclists also drive through the parking lot; they have to go through the town and over the gravel area to get back to the cycle path between Weßling and Seefeld, which is interrupted in Meiling.
The question was whether the parking lot, which the farmer Johann Ludwig leased to Hoffmann for decades, was indoors or outdoors.
For decades, the district office also took the view that it was an indoor area.
A non-disruptive commercial operation would also be permitted there.
Recently, however, the opinion of the building authorities had obviously changed.
The change in opinion was apparently based on a petition submitted by a neighbor with whom the Hoffmanns have been arguing for many years.
The petition ensured that the lawyers in the ministry looked into the matter - and instructed the Starnberg district office to assess the situation differently.
This happened and the removal order followed.
For judge Johann Oswald, the matter quickly became clear: “I would assign the area to the outdoor area.” A storage area outside of a company is not permitted there.
“It's not possible for you to offer cars here.” A lengthy negotiation followed with Hoffmann's lawyer Martin Neugebauer.
Among other things, he complained about the striking change in mood in the district office.
“The district office took a different view for months.” There was a sudden break in the file.
He sees a unifying effect of the village street and a connection with the development and Johann Ludwig's agricultural business, which is directly adjacent to the area.
“My impression is different,” countered Oswald.
Neugebauer also brought up the possibility in the building code, according to which projects can be approved in individual cases if their execution or use does not impair public interests and development is secured.
But Oswald stuck to his guns: “It’s about a commercial storage facility, that’s no small thing.”
Afterwards, Dr.
Felix Huller, lawyer in the district office, Neugebauer and Hoffmann still about the deadline.
Hoffmann argued that he had long delivery times, “I will need up to 24 months”.
Huller paused.
Hoffmann argued that he did not want to come into conflict with the law.
But the delivery times for the vehicles have been extended and they are standing longer.
“I dared to say 36 months.” Gritting his teeth, Huller finally granted Hoffmann almost 23 months.
What will become of Hoffmann's business remains to be seen.
The 65-year-old admitted that business had become difficult.
“But we thought our son could carry it on.” On average, he sells 120 vehicles a year; before Corona there were more.
And he employs three people.
Finally, lawyer Neugebauer ensured that the following was noted in the minutes: If the planning situation changes, for example due to the municipality drawing up a development plan for the gravel area, no enforcement will take place.