The drawings for a multifunctional building, horse stables, playground equipment, a climbing tower and a parking lot at Land van Bartje can be erased. The Council of State has drawn a line there yesterday. The recreation park now has to get back to work with the plans.
Land van Bartje in Ees has been planning to expand since 2010. This concerns holiday homes in the northern part and large-scale daytime recreation in the southern part. The Council of State ruled yesterday that those holiday homes are fine, but large-scale daytime recreation in the south is not. “We are half happy”, responds initiator Koos Kranenburg, chairman of the board of Het Land van Bartje.
That daytime recreation would then consist of a multifunctional building, playground equipment and canopies. And all that is not allowed according to the Council of State. “We can really go back to the drawing board,” says Kranenburg. “The intention is to focus the park on more recreation in an effective way.”
Nuisance
The case was brought by a number of residents. They were afraid of inconvenience if the plans went ahead. They fear a considerable influx of holidaymakers and tourists, who will also cause a lot of traffic nuisance on the roads around Ees.
“We also have to learn from our mistakes,” he says. “We have to enter into a dialogue with local residents in a different way. To avoid ending up with the Council of State again.”
Other parties
Al Kranenburg raises two more points. The lawsuit was not against Land van Bartje, but against the municipality. It concerned the zoning plan, which, according to the Council of State, was adhered to too broadly.
“Not everyone is against the plans,” Kranenburg assures. “There is a group that has submitted a view, but there are also residents who are disappointed that the plan cannot go ahead. There is also a group that is positive about it. But the opposing party has now won.”
Kranenburg already saw it coming somewhat during the session. “The council was very critical.” But until the last moment, the Land van Bartje kept hoping for an interim ruling. “In that respect we have been robbed. The zoning plan for the southern part is really shot.” So it remains for the Land of Bartje to grab a new set of paper and pencils. And start drawing again from scratch.