The decision of the Midden-Drenthe municipal council to refuse two ‘closets of homes’ on the former water board site in Westerbork has gone down the wrong way with the buyers of the site. They have gone to the Council of State in the hope that the houses will still be built.
Three colleagues from a large national engineering firm thought they had found “a fantastic residential location” on the site of the former water treatment plant on the Schreursmaat in Westerbork. They bought the site and submitted a plan for two large homes to the mayor and aldermen, where it was received enthusiastically.
But the city council had the final say and ruled that the plans could be thrown in the trash.
The plan consisted of the construction of two ‘closets’ of houses. “But that doesn’t matter,” say the initiators. According to them, it can be read in various documents of the municipality that construction is allowed. The former water board site would also be suitable for this. “The city council only does not want these two homes,” says their lawyer.
Central Drenthe is indeed not generous with giving away building opportunities for expensive houses. 0 to 5 percent of new homes to be built in the municipality may be above 405,000 euros.
Yet that is not what it is about, says a municipal spokesperson. “It’s a stream valley there. We just don’t want construction happening in a stream valley.” However, according to the municipality, there is room for a food forest, for example.
But the three are not looking for that with their purchase. They want the Council of State to look at the confidence they believe there is. According to the lawyer for the trio, consultations were held with officials and with the councilor from the first stroke of the pen. The mayor and aldermen then prepared a draft zoning plan that was submitted to the municipal council.
“How certain do you want it to be,” said the lawyer. But according to the municipal spokesperson, the procedure was clearly explained from the start. “Ultimately the city council decides.”
That doesn’t mean much to the buyers’ lawyer. According to him, citizens do not look at those administrative powers. “For them, the councilor is the municipality.”
The three initiators bought the site from the water board without having a purpose. Later the idea for two large houses arose, they say. There is still a lot of stuff on the site that needs to be demolished.
The three want to use the room-by-room rules for their homes. Old ugly buildings will then disappear in exchange for housing. The Council of State will decide within a few weeks whether this will continue.
