Consideration of the Fifth Village zoning plan dies a silent death due to confidential consultation

The treatment of the Fifth Village as a zoning plan ended in a secret meeting in which the local press and the handful of visitors were asked to leave the room and the large door was closed once again. The debate itself had already fizzled out. It now seems clear that a majority of council members, some stamping their feet, will vote in favor. The secret third term was requested by Ferry van Wijnen (VVD) about figures that are secret.

During the suspension with meal, the local press was not allowed to join the political parties, they wanted to be able to speak freely with each other. So deep lay the air of secrecy surrounding the Fifth Village and the pressure on councilors not to leak anything. Previously, there were several sessions, such as at the Olifant living estate, where the press was not allowed to attend and the press was also avoided during the decision on the Master Plan, then under the guise of Corona.

Back to the debate that started at 2:00 PM. The council proposal not only contained 48 appendices, but the council members submitted no fewer than 21 amendment proposals and 12 motions. Of the 8 parties, 6 had input to the municipal council, with the main evidence being that ChristenUnie/SGP and D66 are in favor of the plans, supplemented by Groep Pouwels.

Molenaar (Christian Union/SGP) harked back to the past, where developments have been underway in the Zuidplaspolder since 2004. According to him, housing was already needed then and that has only increased now. According to him, it was also about preventing clutter in the area. “Much of what we have in mind is also reflected in the current zoning plan. We understand the critical voices and that keeps everyone sharp and makes things better. But the conclusion for us is: we see those 8,000 homes as a dot on the horizon as the best choice,” says Molenaar. He does have concerns about the flow on the N219 and asks the province to see whether the roundabout on the N219 near the Leontienhuis can be replaced by an intersection with traffic lights. The councilor was clear about the King Willem I forest: “cherish this forest, preserve this forest, do not skimp on the forest, also in future decisions.” Molenaar argued for a soul for the new village, preferably with a church tower with a bell that can also ring.

On behalf of the VVD, Councilor Van Wijnen was less positive, he felt that the VVD’s homework was not yet finished. He particularly criticized the participation: “We have established that the perspective has not sufficiently developed, based on the (in our view) inadequate response to the views. But also based on the often mentioned consultation evening, where 21 speakers came to tell their stories. Disbelief, anger, emotions, misunderstanding, administrative sadness: we have seen it all.” The VVD, as the only party in the municipal council, remains of the opinion that in the event of financial problems, there should be less social housing than the currently targeted 30%. The party also continues to have difficulty with the low parking standard and the shortage of affordable and medium-priced owner-occupied homes. Van Wijnen wants a postponement to study a number of matters and to provide better arrangements for existing entrepreneurs and residents. According to him (and the advisors who assisted the council), this is possible if the WVG expires. The council and the Christian Union/SGP and D66 want to prevent the risk of possible land speculation and adopt the plan before May 19.

Damen (PvdA/GroenLinks) was dissatisfied with how the plan came about. He was of the opinion that the differences between the council and the factions had increased instead of growing closer. He is of the opinion that there should be a development, but he currently thinks the plan is not good enough. “Many private meetings were held, which meant that residents and local media of Zuidplas received little from the discussions about the Fifth Village,” Damen criticized. He quoted the words from an interview on this site by former councilor (and financial conscience) Aart Slobbe that it is better to do it right with financial consequences than to build too little quality which costs more later. He was of the opinion that there was a poor division of labor in the council, resulting in too little time and attention for the current residents and entrepreneurs of the area. Damen does not yet know whether his group can support the zoning plan. The party submits a number of change requests with the CDA.

Councilor Jan Baas (SP) also recalled the zoning plan, which in his view was often discussed in private, with secret documents. The SP is the most outspoken opponent and used strong terms such as that it was a megalomaniac plan, a monstrosity that would disrupt the area and building on thick water. According to him, the polder was already being squandered in back rooms. These critical words immediately provoked a response from the other parties in favor. This became a repetition of moves that had already taken place about the SP’s idea to build the villages and D66 and ChristenUnie/SGP who want the SP to vote in favor of this plan. Baas was not fooled and was very critical of the buyout of the current entrepreneurs. He thought it was strange that you could sell your land but not your house, what good would it do for business operations? According to Baas, the plan for the central area will be too expensive and, according to him, the councilor is committing ostrich politics. “Anyone who bury their head in the sand today will gnash their teeth tomorrow,” snapped Socialist councilor Schuurman. Baas expressed his concerns about the N457 and the doubling to Westergouwe.

“Build, build, build! D66 wonders who could possibly be against this? With the current housing shortage and pressure on the housing market, the answer seems clear to us.” Councilor Ryan Adriaanse (D66) clearly stated that his party now wants to continue with the plans. It is not without criticism for his party, but he states that his party has fought enough for a D66 village. However, he would have preferred to see more affordable owner-occupied homes and alternatives to standard construction and streets where quality of life takes precedence over car use. “However, we also see plenty of nice things in the plan, I mention: the design concept, the green areas, the sustainable character,” says the youngest council member. He does want the attention of the current residents to shift to the new residents through participation in construction. He is critical that the energy generation area is used to achieve the RES objectives instead of choosing to only make the Central Area energy neutral. Adriaanse argues that the municipality should have made the plans better known, according to him the central area also offers its own residents and their children great new opportunities, for example through a new house. His group sees an important task here for the council, but also for them as a council.

The cancellation of some construction plans by Woonpartners Midden Holland caused Paul van Drenth (NEZ) to worry, will it still be possible for these corporations to build and isn’t it time for The Hague to provide money? In addition, Van Drenth does not want to be rushed by the expiring WVG: “In our view, it is such an important thing that we do not want to be rushed by a deadline such as the expiration of the WvG. In our view, there is also a development life after the WvG, if that is decided.” He went over a number of points that bothered him, such as the uncertainty of current entrepreneurs, the noise pollution from the N219, he wants an extra-plan vision for mobility and spoke out against housing construction, no Hong Kong in the polder. Van Drenth wants the municipal council to continue to have decision-making power in the future if the plan is adopted.

Councilor Meppelink (CDA) believes that it is not a festive moment, but her group has a pain in the stomach about this decision. “When I think back to the consultation evening of the submitters of the views, I can imagine how these commenters, full of emotion, dared to share their story with us,” she explains. According to her, it is not that the CDA does not want this development, but the party feels that it is in a democratic time crunch. The control of the council and residents over the next 20 years is a particular concern for the party. She sees a lot of uncertainties in the area of ​​traffic access and a solution to the problems of current entrepreneurs and residents. Meppelink misses the cooperation between the board and council: “On the other hand, it is stated that we are all Team Zuidplas. But our group does not experience it that way, we rather have the feeling that we are on the reserve bench. That we are the boy who is chosen last in gym class. Because in a team you also pass the ball to someone else.”

After the input from the factions, Alderman Schuurman took the time to answer the factions, but just as with the input from the factions, the answer was mainly a repetition of the discussion in the committees. However, there was a letter from the Water Board and the municipality stating that they will work together to get closer to each other. In the second term it was a repeat of the committee in which ChristenUnie/SGP and D66 mainly attacked the opponents and they came back with previously given answers. Councilor Molenaar in particular seemed to be fighting as a kind of fifth councilor against the amendments and legal sustainability. He had gained this knowledge during a (also confidential) session on matters at the Council of State, where apparently the lawyer for the municipality had said that it is better not to submit amendments to zoning plans because that is a risk for the Council. of State. But despite some pinpricks, the debate fizzled out.

At the end there was an adjournment for the meeting in a separate closed room, but in the main hall the door of the council chamber was closed. The public and press were told that the follow-up after the suspension was confidential, but later votes could be viewed from home. The next meeting will take place on May 14 and the council members were instructed by the mayor to also reserve May 15 and 16 in the agenda in case, for example, there is a tie in votes.