Peppertree Villas starts demolition

ATLANTIC BEACH — Demolition of several condemned structures has begun at Peppertree Villas and should be done sometime next month. 

Mayor Trace Cooper announced at the regular council meeting Monday he’d received word from Hope Carmichael, attorney for the Peppertree Villas Homeowner’s Association, on the ongoing demolition project, which began in November 2014 when nine buildings at the condominium complex were condemned and five had their exterior structures condemned. 

Since then additional buildings have been partly condemned, and the project has grown to demolish 14 buildings completely and repair 11 others by taking down their condemned exterior decks, walkways and stairways and replacing them. 

David Walker, town manager, said demolition on the first 14 buildings has begun and should be complete sometime in February. He said the HOA intends to have the remaining 11 buildings repaired and open in time for Memorial Day on Monday, May 30.  

The buildings were condemned, or partly condemned, because they become unsafe, mostly due to age. Many of the buildings at the complexes are over 40 years old. 

News-Times staff has received a number of phone calls and emails from people requesting additional information about Peppertree Villas and its demolition and repairs project. Staff has been directing these people, most of whom have said they’re share owners in Peppertree Villas, to contact Ms. Carmichael. 

Anyone who wishes to contact Ms. Carmichael may do so by calling the Jordan Price Law Offices of Raleigh at 919-828-2501. 

In other news at Monday’s meeting, two town staff members are getting ready to step down while a new face was introduced at the meeting. Mr. Walker announced Monday that Jessica Fiester, town planning and zoning director, and Donna Turner, town building inspector, will be leaving their positions. 

Ms. Fiester will leave Atlantic Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 10, to take a position as the long-range planner for Pender County, while Ms. Turner is retiring Friday, April 15. She’ll be returning later, however, to work part-time with the inspections department. 

Town staff has begun its search for a new planning and zoning director. Mr. Walker said Tuesday after the meeting he expects to name an interim director sometime soon, but didn’t give an exact date.  

Ms. Fiester has served for nine years as the planning and zoning director. Mr. Cooper said the work she’s done will benefit the town for many years.

“You have a lot to take pride in,” the mayor said to Ms. Fiester, the council echoing his appreciation and wishing her well in her new position. 

Meanwhile, town staff has already found a new building inspector. Mr. Walker introduced John Harold on Monday night. Mr. Harold comes to Atlantic Beach from Goldsboro, where he served for 10 years in the Wayne County Inspections Department. 

Mr. Harold said he and his wife have planned to retired to Carteret County. 

“I feel very blessed to be here,” he said. 

While Ms. Turner will be retiring as chief building inspector after 15 years with the town staff, Mr. Walker said she’ll return to the staff later as a part-time inspector with limited hours. 

The following also occurred at the meeting Monday: 

•The council awarded a $536,540 contract to Artisan Concrete Services (doing business as Artisan Skateparks) of Kitty Hawk to build a proposed skatepark at the town’s municipal park at Coral Bay Plaza on Fort Macon Road, across from the Atlantic Station shopping center.  Councilman Eddie Briley moved to approve the contract, seconded by Councilman Harry Archer. 

•The council authorized Police Chief Jeff Harvey to apply for a $12,385 matching grant (of which $8,174 will come from the police department’s current budget) for body cameras and additional equipment. Mr. Archer moved to authorize Chief Harvey, seconded by Councilman John Rivers. 

•During public comments, Amy McCotter said she and her husband, Charlie, have a stormwater flooding problem at their cottage on Cooper Avenue. Marc Schulz, town public works director, said staff plans to build a lift station on the southeast corner of Cooper Avenue to help improve stormwater drainage in the neighborhood. However, it’s a $170,000 project, which Mr. Cooper said is the kind of project they usually only do one of each year.

•The council reviewed its goals and objectives discussed at the council planning retreat Jan. 19. 

•The council unanimously passed a laundry list consent agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Danny Navey moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Mr. Rivers. 

•The council went into closed session to consult with the town attorney on the civil complaint filed by Nathan and Kenneth George and the Crystal View Homeowner’s Association against the town and 2800 WFM LLC. Councilman Ann Batt moved to go into closed session, seconded by Mr. Rivers.

Resource: http://www.carolinacoastonline.com

At home in Majorca's Cap Vermell Estate

Majorca’s tourist authorities may promise 230 days of sunshine a year, but even so, the Balearics are not always a reliable source of winter sun. Anyone who has read George Sand’s memoir of the months she and Chopin spent on the island in 1838 (“As winter advanced, the gloom froze all my attempts at gaiety and calm”) or indeed listened attentively to the composer’s Prelude in D flat major Op 28, known as the Raindrop, with its underlying ostinato inspired by the sound of rain on a roof, will be aware of that already.

But this has not deterred Hyatt from determining to keep its forthcomingPark Hyatt Mallorca Resort – its first in Europe – open year-round. (For the moment you’ll find Park Hyatt Resorts only in rather balmier Goa, the Maldives and Carlsbad, southern California, plus a ski hotel in Beavercreek, Colorado.)

Designed to look like a traditional village of terracotta-roofed stone houses with a little plaza with a restaurant, café and tapas bar at its heart, the 158-key hotel is set within the 61-acre Cap Vermell Estate, a new development of villas and a country club (with tennis courts and indoor and outdoor pools) within 10 miles of four golf courses, in the Canyamel valley on the east coast of the island. There’s also a private beach club, five minutes by car from the hotel, but the resort itself is not on the coast. To compensate, though, there are three pools of its own (two of them heated), one of them fed by a cascade. While other attributes include a restaurant contrived to look like a private villa in which a succession of guest chefs from across Asia will cook. (Its British general manager, John Beveridge, formerly of the Grand Hyatt Dubai, was once chef to the Sultan of Brunei.)

Park Hyatt Mallorca is due to open this spring (its rates are yet to be published). In the meantime, however, the first of a dozen new villas on the estate is now available to rent. Villa Ruby (sleeps eight, though one bedroom is a single), as it is named, has been designed to look, from outside, like a traditional farmhouse, with a shallow pitched tiled roof, walls of irregular rough-hewn pale stone and wooden shutters.

Inside, the look is more obviously luxe: acres of polished travertine and chaise-longues that owe a debt to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona series (a neat nod to the fact that Catalan is the lingua franca here), though the overall look is not obviously Modernist. It’s reassuring to note too that there are wood-burning stoves, double-glazing and central heating for inclement winter weather. (As well as air-conditioning for the summer months, of course.)

Resource: http://www.telegraph.co.uk

Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant to move to new location

Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant is moving across the street.

After 12 years at its current location at 1517 E. Innes St., the restaurant is moving to 1510 Stokes Ferry Rd.

Juan Santiago, the owner of Pancho Villa’s, said the new building will be about the same size as the current one.

The restaurant will close at its current location on Jan. 21 and hopes to reopen at its Stokes Ferry Road location in early February. Santiago said they have already started working to get the new location ready.

“We don’t want to be closed for longer,” Santiago said.

Almost everything at the new location will be new, including a new bar, bathrooms and furniture.

Santiago said the current building has already been sold to a new tenant, but he did not know who that tenant would be. The owner of the current building had been looking for someone to buy the property for about eight years.

Santiago said the costs of constantly repairing the old building was getting to be too much, so it was better for him to just move into a new building.

Those who enjoy the festive décor of Pancho Villa’s will not have to worry; Santiago said he hopes to have the same wall murals of Mexican people and places and other decorative items in the new building.

“People love it. People have been asking me the same question, if we’re going to do the same (paintings on the walls). Yeah, of course,” Santiago said.

Santiago, originally from Mexico, worked at other Mexican restaurants and even Chick-fil-A before opening his own restaurant. His first location seated 75 people. Eight months later, Santiago was ready to move into his current building, which seats 336.

Santiago said customers can look forward to new menu items and the same great taste.

“People like our food. People like how we cook,” Santiago said. “We have a different flavor than the other (restaurants).”

There will be a grand re-opening ceremony for the new location once Santiago knows exactly when the re-opening will be. He said he hopes to hire a mariachi band and make the event into a “big fiesta.”

“We hope people will still come to eat with us,” Santiago said. “We’re excited and ready to jump on it.”

Resource: http://www.salisburypost.com

Win two-night-stay at Monsoon Beach Villas Koh Samui

Here’s a chance to win a two-night stay at Monsoon Beach Villas Koh Samui while a relaxing island holiday on the famed Thailand's stunning beach destination. All you have to do is sign up on HotelQuickly mobile app and join a contest by redeeming the code ‘WINHOTEL’. Each participant will also receive a 20% discount from HotelQuickly to book a hotel of their choice. The contest is held as a kick start to a new collaboration with a lifestyle loyalty program, BCard that offers rewards scheme. To sweeten the deal for HotelQuickly and BCard members, first-time bookings made using the promo code will earn three times the normal number of BPoints, making each Ringgit spent during the activation period worth three BPoints instead of one. HotelQuickly Malaysia based marketing manager, Tan Wen Dee said that the collaboration with BCard serves as an opportunity to offer more exciting campaigns to new and existing users. "We are looking forward to working with BCard to make spontaneous travel more rewarding for its Malaysian members," added Tan. HotelQuickly Co-founder and CEO Tomas Laboutka said Malaysia is one of the most compelling countries in the region and HotelQuicly love to inspire their members to explore more by highlighting great deals in top destinations. “Amazing holidays are rewards on their own, but getting extra points for booking smart is a bonus we think all HotelQuickly members deserve.” BCard is a lifestyle and brand-focused reward program that allows members to collect BPoints and redeem them at more than 85 participating outlets including Starbucks, Chatime and Zalora. BCARD users can now earn one BPoint for every RM 1 spent on HotelQuickly. HotelQuickly is Asia’s leading last-minute hotel booking app with 7-days booking window. Available in nine languages for booking in 250 destinations across Asia-Pacific, the app features curated lists of the day’s best deals, exclusive discounts from hotels and rates guaranteed lower than best prices online. 

Resource: http://www.nst.com.my

Al Mouj Muscat launches new lifestyle villa precinct

Al Mouj Muscat, Oman’s flourishing cosmopolitan waterfront community, has once again further enriched the real estate market in the Sultanate with the launch of Ghadeer Parks, an exciting new concept in residential community development.

A prime location set in a range of landscaped parks, the collection of standard-setting three-bedroom attached courtyard villas emphasizes craved spacial qualities as well as the accessibility to original lifestyle options and everyday amenities.

“The Ghadeer Precinct has been developed as a dynamic response to the growing interest and evolving needs of distinctive lifestyle community living. The whole Masterplan of Ghadeer, its location, atmosphere, Community Park, private facilities, dedicated Toddles Park, water features and many others, all make it an exceptional precinct within Al Mouj Muscat,” commented Nasser Al Shiebani, Acting CEO of Al Mouj Muscat.

“All properties in Ghadeer Parks offer local and expatriate families not only a great opportunity to own an exquisite family units, but also high levels of ease, convenience and splendid community living experience,” he added.

Ideally situated close to Almouj Marina, and the shops and restaurants of The Walk, Ghadeer Parks is set to add to the vibrancy of life on Al Mouj waterfront development. Its contemporary open plan attached courtyard villas offer generous living spaces and are built to uncompromising quality standards with the highest attention to detail.

The landscaped setting of Ghadeer Parks prioritizes privacy and tranquility while the generous central park which is traversed by lavish landscape elements and water feature, meandering walkways, safety-focused dedicated toddler play area, and another exclusive shaded recreation pool park area, all will enhance family and community life. Bringing a new aspect to the world-class Al Mouj Muscat community.

Admired for its innovation, Al Mouj Muscat has transformed the real estate industry in the Sultanate, spurring a range of tourism specific and related projects, showing possibilities for growth, attracting foreign investment and creating employment.

The highly sought-after residences are already home to more than 4,000 people and further residential precincts, lifestyle assets and leisure experiences are under development and under construction.

Resource: http://ameinfo.com

An 'interview' with Aston Villa's new chairman

In the darkest corridors of my 'mind palace' (more like a mind shed), I sit down with Aston Villa's new Chairman Steve Hollis. Immediately I feel a sense of distress. Steve notices and motions a gesture of calmness.

He says that it is ok that his heart is run on a pay-as-you-go machine direct from the bank balance of Randy Lerner. I sense that this meeting won't follow the mean.

I introduce my self as James Rushton, member of the Human Race. Steve corrects me, I'm a customer. I apologise. He pats his knees, I can faintly hear the noise of coins shaking. I'll start with the hard question. "So, Mr Hollis - how can you run the club, if Mr Lerner refuses to offer up money. Just a worst case scenario"

I ask Mr Hollis if the 'board' is a sentient 2x4, he replies no - I say that is good, because we never got around to discussing what the 'board' was.

"The board will be the decision makers, I can't tell you who they will be because it really is on a need-to-know basis and you've not paid enough to know."

I gulp, I've not got the money to continue this line of questioning. I ask him what type of man, what type of character will make up the 'board'.

"Men with real business sense-". I interrupt, I tell Hollis I know a man who runs a real clean Subway franchise, he looks at me as though I've ordered the Veggie Patty and not the delicious toasted Meatball Marinara. I apologise, I stepped out of line. He continues. "Real business sense, to improve the infrastructure around here. We may not be looking at football men."

I ask him who Football Man is. He sounds like the type of person we need on a 'board'. Steve Hollis says that he is not Football Man. I frown.

Mr Hollis' jowels shake. He thinks he is onto something. "Crisis? Why, just the other day I'd ran out of forks so I ate my pasta with two butter knives! And what an experience that was."

Steve's trousers tighten as he slides forward on his seat, he is biting his lips with joy. He loves the thought of a crisis. A good crisis to think about as he sleeps at night.

"This one time, father's truffle pig simply wasn't performing up to snuff, I gave it a right kick in the snout and you know what, the bastard started to find truffles again. The very definition of a crisis."

Resource: http://7500toholte.sbnation.com

COLORADO BREAKING NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER, TRAFFIC, JOBS

For a hint of what experts are saying once again looks like a hot spring for Denver's housing market, take a look at what's happening 20 minutes north of downtown near the interchange of I-25 and the 470 Northwest Parkway. Last weekend, even with the Broncos in the hunt for a championship, serious buyers were out in force with their checkbooks out at KB Home's new Villa paired homes at Broomfield's North Park.

Some of this is about pricing: Villas at North Park has roomy designs starting at $317,000 (2-car garage included) - around $100,000 less than shoppers find new homes available at competing Broomfield neighborhoods to the west. But that's not the whole story, says Randy Carpenter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at KB Home Colorado.

"This is turning into an area where homebuyers see an exceptional future," says Carpenter. That owes to the Adams Five Star Schools (grade K-thru-9 Prospect Ridge Academy is a short walk from the two model homes you'll tour); but also to a commuter location that works as well for reaching the U.S. 36 IT corridor at Interlocken (10 minutes flat by 470) as it does to DIA (20 minutes!). Just east of KB Homes' neighborhood you can see where future plans for the larger North Park community, centered around a CU medical research campus, are taking shape - with shops and dining included.

You can tour the models - showing the standard garage, a private fenced side yard for outdoor living, and an option for a full basement (all but two buyers who have signed on since these models opened late last fall are going for that - around $20,000 extra).

That ready-to-go homes include a Willow plan, like the model home, three bedrooms plus a loft, nicely appointed with low-maintenance laminate wood floors throughout the main level, stainless appliances, quartz counters, stainless appliances and the basement. It's $378,000.

"Buyers are comparing that kind of value to what that amount buys in smaller properties in Broomfield that will take a lot of work to fix up," says Carpenter. The value, he says, draws three kinds of buyers: Some older ones that like the look of these as a place to 'right-size' from their older houses; along with some much younger ones weighing these prices to what they see in old neighborhoods around downtown Denver. And of course, families with kids, drawn by the schools and the coming attractions (you'll see a park already under way).

These will also get KB Home's energy efficiency - a far cry from how older houses perform at this price range. To view the models, from Denver take I-25 north, past E-470, to Exit 229 for Highway 7 (Lafayette/Brighton) and turn west 1.3 mile to Sheridan Parkway. Turn south half mile to Pebble Creek Parkway, and then west a block to a right turn before the school.

WHERE: Villas at North Park by KB Home, Energy Star 3 certified paired homes; 2 furnished models; all with attached 2-car garage; full basement option, 3 homes available for move-in soon. 2366 W. 165th Pl., Broomfield; from Denver take I-25 north, past E-470, to Exit 229, Hwy 7/Lafayette/Brighton; turn west 1.3 mi. to Sheridan Pkwy; turn south half mile to Pebble Creek Pkwy, turn right just before the school.

Resource: http://www.denverpost.com

New premier villas at Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay enrich authentic balinese experience

Experience a new era of authenticity as Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay unveils its fully-renovated Premier Villas and Deluxe Villas, enriching the sense of place and sanctuary that has guests feeling ‘at home in Bali’.
The iconic resort set global firsts when it opened as an all-villa beach retreat that pioneered ‘Modern Bali Style’, blending innovation in design with thoughtful, genuine service. And just as Bali has evolved into a sophisticated, chic destination while continuing the daily rituals and spiritual connections of village life, the resort embraces its evolution while holding true to the original authenticity that is uniquely Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay.
“When the resort opened in 1993, it was the world’s first large-scale luxury villa resort and the first to feature plunge pools in every guest villa,” said General Manager Uday Rao. “These physical features have since been imitated, but you can’t copy a feeling. Our guests never wake up and wonder, ‘Where am I?’ They know they’re in Bali and that’s the essence and soul of the resort and this special island.”
Top Indonesian design firm, Jaya International, was commissioned to enliven the villas’ graceful Balinese aesthetic while creating flexible living spaces that maximize the ocean and sunset views. The dramatic renovation has created completely new products – the Deluxe Villas, Premier Ocean Villas and Family Premier Villas – with completely new interiors and landscaping. Highlights of all three new villa categories include:
Structural expansion to create more spacious interiors – a 50% bigger Bedroom is now combined with a new indoor Living Room featuring double sliding doors to the garden and pool, offering guests both air-conditioned and outdoor living spaces;
Larger plunge pools, increased by 32% (except for Deluxe Villas where the pool size remains the same as previously);
Redesigned exteriors to maximize the lofty ocean and sunset views, including a new thatch-roof poolside bale with direct ‘roll-in’ access to the infinity-edged pool, and ironwood sundeck;
The coveted Four Seasons Bed by Simmons to complete the new Bedroom, providing a true sleeping sanctuary with a customizable mattress topper featuring heat-absorption and motion-separation design, and the ultimate in luxury linens, pillows and cloud-like duvets;
All new interiors throughout Bedroom, Living Area and Bathroom, including roofing, furniture, flooring, fittings and soft furnishings;
An extra Children’s Room in the Family Premier Villas, with daybed, trundle bed, 40-inch TV and writing desk to comfortably accommodate 2 children;
All new electronics including 55-inch TV, Bluetooth Soundbar and bedside Media Hub;
New décor and artwork to evoke a warmer, softer aesthetic using natural materials and traditional building forms that reflect the timeless beauty of Balinese architecture.

Resource: http://www.albawaba.com

Marian Villas delight at new paths

Thousands of euro has been spent by the council upgrading paths and roads - after a wait of 40 years!

'The road has been widened and paths repaired and special drop-down areas for wheelchairs added,' Cllr Tom Kelly stated.

'The people here have had to wait for about 40 years to this work carried out but I'm delighted to see it done,' he stated.

'It is a fine job and the council must be given credit for it.

'People have been waiting a long time for this but it's €25,000 well spent.'

The area is likely to see further changes in the coming weeks with the new 1916 remembrance garden to be placed in a green area, earmarked for a new community garden project.

Resource: http://www.independent.ie 

New Villa Project Breaks Ground in Antigua

Antigua’s Tamarind Hills development has launched a new project.

The Ocean One project will see the creation of 57 new one-bedroom suites on the hillside above Ffryes Beach in Antigua.

The project is part of the wider Tamarind Hills development, which includes 11 villas and 36 en-suite rooms, all featuring private pools.The Ocean ne project will be joined by new restaurants, a new reception area, a conference center and tennis courts at Tamarind HIlls, also slated for completion by Winter 2017.The ultimate plan is for the property to eventually become a 200-room resort.

“Tamarind Hills is not only adding to our overall room capacity, but is an incredibly important property for the Antigua and Barbuda portfolio,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael. “Trends are showing how villas are becoming more and more popular for those seeking luxury and something different.”

Resource: http://caribjournal.com

Steven Hollis appointed Aston Villa's new chairman

Aston Villa have confirmed the appointment of Steven Hollis as the club’s new chairman.

In a statement released on Thursday, owner Randy Lerner reiterated his desire to sell Villa and confirmed Hollis and chief executive Tom Fox will assume operational control of the club on a day-to-day basis. Villa currently sit bottom of the Premier League table, eight points from safety.

 "That Aston Villa can and should operate in a far more stable and on a far more successful level, both in terms of football as well as commercially, is plainly clear. It is similarly clear that this great club has not been on stable footing for at least five years" Lerner said in a statement to the club's official website. 

"In May of 2015 I again reiterated my intention to sell the club or, in the alternative, to shift to a board governance structure that begins with the appointment of a new chairman; a chairman with a proven track record for getting into the thick of troubled organisations, working with embattled executives and getting results. 

"Steve has taken the last six weeks to become familiar with the deeply serious predicament in which the club has found itself and has my total support to address the issues we face.

"We pursued Steve's candidacy in order to continue and strengthen the efforts that commenced in the summer of 2014 with the hiring of Tom Fox. Tom and Steve have spent time throughout December and early January and will therefore be in a position to work closely and immediately across all areas of the club.

"Regarding my future role with Villa, I expect to remain engaged with both Steve and Tom although at a somewhat further distance that I believe suits the reality that I live full time in the [United] States, and that is appropriate given Steve's need to have the room to make decisions on behalf of the board. 

"Villa's success is dependent in aggregate on the skills, determination and commitment of the manager, chief executive and chairman. I believe that Steve can contribute meaningfully alongside Tom and Remi [Garde] and identify opportunities that can take the club forward and are related to his professional background."

Hollis, the former Midlands chairman of accountancy firm KMPG, is also the current vice-chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership. He added: "When Randy approached me last November, chairing one of the UK's best known football clubs was not, quite frankly, on my list of possible opportunities. 

"As I have got to know Randy and spent more time with Tom Fox and Remi it has become increasingly clear that a strong board that drives the necessary discipline and leadership will be at the core of the changes that are needed to overcome the under-performance Aston Villa has experienced over the last five years. 

"As we have witnessed in the Premier League this year with other clubs - money no longer buys success. Randy has consistently provided financial backing no less so than last year. Our future success however lies in building a winning culture that is underpinned by a commitment to continuous improvement both on and off the pitch. 

The business of football is no different to any other business in this respect. We have the talent and great assets at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath. The club needs a shake up and with Randy's continued support the board will look forward to working with Tom and Remi to help drive the changes that our fans rightfully demand and that our city can be proud of.

Resource: http://www.skysports.com

15 new villas proposed in Mgarr ix-Xini

Developer Victor Borg has presented the latest changes to plans in a 20-year saga, reducing the number of villas on Mgarr ix-Xini from the 36 proposed deemed unacceptable by MEPA in  2007 to 15.15 new villas build over 90,000 square meters, overlooking the picturesque and protected Mgarr ix-Xini, and a hotel extension in the vicinity of the existing hotel are being proposed in the latest revision to the Ta' Cenc project. 

The latest proposal represents a reduction from the 36 villas proposed in 2007 which were deemed unacceptable by MEPA.

The development of villas in this area was ruled out by the previous government, which interpreted the local plan as meaning that no villas can be constructed at Mgarr ix-Xini.

The extension to Hotel Ta’ Cenc will be designed to provide luxury suites and a presidential suite for up-market clients. The extension will consist of 118 new guest rooms. The new guest rooms include 21 trullo suites and 37 regular suites. The development will also include a  new pool and spa.

All the buildings in the current proposals are designed to be low-lying, with the ‘Ta’Ċenċ trullo’ being the dominant architectural feature.

The trullo design was introduced in the Ta’ Ċenċ Area in the late-1960s. The EIA claims that this design, derived from the Italian region of Puglia, has been accepted as an integral part of the Ta’ Ċenċ landscape. 

Last year Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti annulled a previous decision – taken by another tribunal on the eve of the 2013 general election – that had effectively upheld the previous government’s decision to exclude more development at Mgarr ix-Xini, in Gozo.

Although MEPA has yet to take a final decision on the 19-year-old planning saga, the application is destined for refusal, as long as the local plan approved in 2006 is interpreted as resolutely excluding development at Mgarr ix-Xini.

In fact, a case officer’s report already recommends a refusal of this application.

But if the interpretation given by the previous government is changed, Ta’ Cenc hotelier Victor Borg could finally get the permit he has coveted for the past two decades.

Borg had originally proposed 57 bungalows in that area, but the number was reduced to 15 in the latest plans, presented in 2009.

The future of this development depends on the interpretation of the local plan – the guide for any planning application.

In what appeared to be the final blow to the developers, on 31 January 2013 MEPA’s Appeals Tribunal rejected their appeal on the basis of the interpretation of an ambiguous local plan policy, which says that MEPA should “limit development in the lower part of the plateau”.

While the government argued that this excluded any more development at Mgarr ix-Xini beyond the existing villas, the developers on their part argued that development should be of a limited nature.

But the phrase was so ambiguous that environmentalists had initially protested the wording, fearing that this policy was intended to allow more development in the area.

The latest court decision to annul the MEPA Appeals Tribunal’s decision was motivated by a procedural error, which consisted of the omission of the names of the two companies owned by Victor Borg in the tribunal’s sentence.

According to the sentence issued by Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti, this procedural error invalidated the tribunal’s decision.

The entire case revolves around a letter sent to Victor Borg by former MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja in 2006, informing the developer that MEPA agreed with environment minister George Pullicino’s interpretation that the phrase “limit development in the lower part of the plateau” in the local plan meant that development had to be limited to what already existing in the Mgarr ix-Xini area.

Borg appealed this decision but the MEPA Appeals Tribunal concluded that the applicant can only appeal once MEPA takes a final decision on his proposed application.

Resource: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt

New villas at Ta' Ċenċ will harm the area, Front warns

The Front Harsien ODZ is calling for the Labour-controlled Sannat local council to formally object to Mepa over the proposed building of 15 villas at Ta’ Ċenċ in Gozo

Front chairman Michael Briguglio said the project would harm the ecology and social and natural characteristics of the locality.

The call was made during a meeting with the local councils section of the Labour Party.

It was the second such meeting after one with Alternattiva. The Front will meet the PN next week.

Mr Briguglio welcomed a recent statement by Marsascala local council against the proposed agro-tourism project on the Munxar promontory, saying, however, that he had expected the same opposition to the Zonqor development, which went against the guidelines in the SPED, drafted by the government itself. (SPED replaced the Structure Plan)

He said the PL local councils section should insist that other possible sites for the University should be considered instead of Zonqor, thus putting into practice the SPED guidelines that use of land outside development zones should only be a last resort.

Mario Fava, head of the PL Local Councils section, welcomed the debate over the issues. He said the section recognised the need for balance between the environment and the economy and expressed concern that the infrastructural limitations of localities were not considered when major projects were put forward.

Resource: http://www.timesofmalta.com