The green light that was expected from the Ministry of Defense for the great commercial development of Larnaca next to KEN and the stadium of AEK, was given and therefore the company Acsion is taking its next steps to secure the urban planning permit.
The Environmental Authority, having in its hands the final position of the Ministry of Defense that it does not object to the request for the construction of the Metropolis Mall @ Larnaca shopping center, proceeded to a positive opinion on the project. It is noted that in the initial stages reservations were expressed by the GEEF due to the presence of the camp.
In the information of the Ministry of Defense, it is noted that the National Guard intends to proceed with the relocation of camps located in the urban centers within the 2020nd Phase of the Reorganization and Modernization Plan of the National Guard. in the period 2025-XNUMX.
It is noted that in this context has been included the priority of the camp Sergeant Lazaros Georgiou in Larnaca, where today operates the Larnaca Recruitment Center.
The Ministry of Defense also took care of the completion of the construction and operation of the shopping center before the relocation of the camp. Specifically, he points out that the security issues that may arise will be addressed in a timely manner by the E.F. until the final relocation of the camp.
The company Acsion, which submitted the relevant application, is now waiting for the securing of the urban planning permit for the construction of the mall on land of the Diocese of Kiti. The goal, however, is for the mall to open to the public at the end of 2018.
The area where the proposed development is located is governed by the provisions of the "Larnaca Local Plan (2013)". The plots in which it is proposed to build the project under study fall into Zone Ka4 *, (areas with predominant residential use) and a very small part to the west in Zone Eb5 (commercial and other related activities outside the urban shopping center).
In addition, because vegetation is located in this Zone in clusters and / or individually, according to the TSL the design of the proposed developments should provide for the existing tree clusters to be included in the open public space to be granted by the properties under development and as limited the uprooting of trees, with the possibility of transplanting them preferably in places near or on the perimeter of the Zone.
Large commercial developments, such as the proposed shopping center, are not permitted to be located within the residential area of Ka4 * and therefore the proposed development deviates from the provisions of the current GIS. Therefore, in order to obtain a Planning Permit for the Project, the submission of an Application by Derogation is required.
Within the plot under study on Georgiou Christodoulidis Avenue, a gas station is located, which remains and will continue to operate normally after the implementation of the project.
West of the study area is the indoor stadium "KITION", the Olympic Swimming Pool, the New Stadium G.S.Z. and the AEK ARENA stadium. On the south side, the study area is adjacent to the Sergeant Lazaros Georgiou Camp, the "Agios Georgios" Oasis for the Elderly and the church of Agios Georgios Kontos. Commercial developments are located on the Avenue of the United States of America, Larnaca General Hospital and Agios Georgios High School southeast. The plots under study are adjacent to residential developments in their northern part.
Within the proposed plots there are about 550 trees (olives, locusts, pines and cypresses), a large number of which (about 350) are expected to be removed during the construction phase and reused in the development landscape if deemed appropriate or transferred to another plot within the adjacent area.
Waiting for antiquities
Under the supervision of an Officer of the Department of Antiquities, excavation works and any other earthworks will be carried out. The Larnaca Archaeological Museum must be notified one month before the start of the excavations for timely planning.
In case of finding antiquities, the works should be stopped at the specific point, to ensure the appropriate safety and health conditions for the staff of the Department of Antiquities that will carry out the excavation and to give them all possible technical and material assistance to complete the excavation .
The fate of the antiquities that may be found is the responsibility of the Director of the Department of Antiquities.
It will host 100 stores
The proposed shopping center will consist of ground floor and basement. The ground floor will include 100 shops (clothing, footwear, children, sports, visuals, electronic games area, cinema halls, restaurants, cafes, playground, etc.), a supermarket, a department store and an outdoor parking space, while in the basement there will be space and spaces.
The proposed development will create a total of 1415 parking spaces (including 75 disabled spaces).
For the landscaping of the area, trees and vegetation that exist in the development area will be transplanted (if possible) and native plants that do not need special amounts of water will be incorporated. This is also suggested by the Environmental Authority, which suggests that priority be given to aged locusts.
The aim of the proposed development is to upgrade commercial activity in this area, as well as to provide commercial services, facilities and entertainment and leisure areas to the citizens of Larnaca and the residents of the wider area of Larnaca province.
Also, the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the development is foreseen, which will cover about 70% of the energy needs of the project.
Source: Liberal