FDP Norderney rejects development plans No. 3a and 3b – imminent loss of 100–200 holiday apartments
The drafts for development plan No. 3a “City Centre South – Part A (New Layout)” and No. 3b “City Centre South – Part B (New Layout)” are currently back on public display – until October 3rd. All documents, deadlines, and instructions for submitting statements can be found on the City of Norderney website: Link to the display / development plans with explanatory reports
The FDP parliamentary group did not approve the drafts in the Building Committee and the Administrative Committee. The SPD / GREEN majority, using their majority in the Administrative Committee, approved the development plan despite the concerns raised by the CDU / FDP / FWN.
We consider the plans in their current version to be ineligible for approval, hypocritical, not future-oriented, and harmful in their effect on the island. The correct goal of creating more permanent housing must not be bought through de facto expropriation via the devaluation of long-standing landed property and the destruction of proven sources of income.
What the plans specifically provide for
1.) In large parts of the area of application – including Gartenstraße, Feldhausenstraße, Janusstraße, and Jann-Berghaus-Straße – tourist use shall only be permitted as a “subordinate” use.
2.) In practice, this means: the number of holiday apartments in most buildings must be lower than the number of permanent residences; in many places, a maximum of one to two holiday apartments per building would be permitted.
3.) These stipulations clearly contradict the established reality: a vital, lawful holiday rental business has been established in the aforementioned streets for decades, which is essential for many owners as well as for the island’s economy.
Imminent destruction of holiday apartments and guest beds
According to a conservative evaluation of the inventory in the affected areas, the planned restrictions threaten the destruction of at least 100 to 200 holiday apartments – this corresponds to around 200 to 400 guest beds. This scale would impair the economic basis of numerous businesses and private households and weaken the island’s touristic capacity.
Whether and to what extent grandfathering rights exist for existing holiday apartments must be examined on a case-by-case basis. The decisive factor is that the use as a holiday apartment was lawfully established at the time it commenced – ideally through an explicit (use) permit as a “holiday apartment”. Without such a clear legal basis, grandfathering rights cannot generally be reliably derived according to current legal opinion.