Politically sensitive and complicated, that is how councilors from the municipality of Noordenveld describe the file surrounding the barn at Langbroek 7/9 in Peize. A minimal majority in the city council yesterday agreed to a proposal to make the structure legal.
The barn was not legally there for years because it was built too close to the property line. The city council was asked to legalize this afterwards. But because the file has a long history, which, according to council members, was now being discussed in public for the first time, it took the council a long time to reach a decision.
The file surrounding Langbroek 7/9 has been going on for years. Those involved are the owners of the building, the local residents and the municipality. Local residents have been against the possibility of a bed and breakfast in the barn since those plans came to light in 2022. They felt lied to by the municipality when they raised the plans, of which the municipality said it was not aware.
What followed was a damage to trust that has not been restored to date. Conflict mediation on behalf of the King’s Commissioner has also failed, said councilor Robert Meijer (VVD). There he also acknowledged that ‘certainly not everything went well’. In his opinion, the municipality had given too much input in the preliminary stages. The judge has also been involved.
The current permit application is not about allowing a B&B and the council has not been asked to comment on the entire file. “It only concerns the current construction. We cannot emphasize that more than anything,” Meijer said a week ago. Various parties also emphasized this during the council.
With a minimal majority, the council voted to legalize the barn building. The CDA voted against because legalization does not solve the problem between those involved. Municipal Interests actually voted in favor after the party had been in discussions with all stakeholders.
Coalition party PvdA/GroenLinks also voted against. “This proposal makes it possible for illegal structures that are not enforced to become legal. We do not think that is desirable,” said councilor Tiemen Ensink
Councilor Casper Colenbrander of Municipal Interests emphasizes that legalization ‘is not a license to build without a permit’. He also states that the owners say they will not use the barn as a recreational area.
Several parties indicate that the municipality must bring all parties back to the table to restore trust. The building is now legal according to the permit. However, it became clear during the council that there will be another lawsuit on February 17. This was initiated by local residents who have problems with the illegally built shed.
