Politicians disagree: Loosen noise protections so more construction can take place?

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

The Environmental Commission of the Council of States wants to relax noise regulations to create more residential space. This is rare in some parts of Switzerland.

According to the commission, even if emission limit values ​​are exceeded, a construction permit must be issued in the future. One possibility is that in the future, at least half of noise-sensitive rooms such as bedrooms will need to comply with the limit value on only one window. This is what the majority of the commission recommends.

Urban construction projects blocked

Corine Mauch (62), mayor of Zurich and vice president of the Association of Swiss Cities, has emphasized in the past that there is a need for more movement space in cities.

A Federal Court ruling on noise suppression in Zurich left his stomach aching. Due to the decision of the Lausanne judges, a housing cooperative was not allowed to replace two old apartment buildings with 22 flats with a new building in Zurich-Wipkingen. This was due to street noise. In the city of Zurich in recent years, numerous residential construction projects, some large, have failed due to noise regulations.

“With the current decision, the commission is reacting to the decision through legislation,” says Central Councilor Daniel Fässler (63, AI). Because the decision prevented the construction of thousands of new flats. He now considers the proposed changes to be necessary and reasonable in terms of compression.

“Surrender to the noise problem”

The commission’s majority also wants new apartments with controlled living space ventilation not to have to comply with open window limits.

Aargau SP national council member Gabriela Suter (50) and president of the Swiss Noise Association do not agree with this decision at all. He finds clear words in X. There it says that the responsible commission “gave in to the noise problem.”

Suter also says he wants to concentrate settlements inland. However, harmful noise must be combated at its source and not allowed to increase.

Cantons and municipalities must first take every precaution to ensure greater peace and quiet on their streets, for example by creating low-noise road surfaces and reducing speeds, he demands. “Noise protection then only needs to be relaxed in exceptional cases.” An amendment to the Environmental Protection Law in the spirit of the Commission of the Council of States would greatly weaken the protection of the public from noise in areas with noise pollution. (he)

Source : Blick