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No Supermarket in the Park – 60 Objections to the Development Plan – Protest: News from Lützen


I’m writing again on behalf of our citizens’ initiative: “No Supermarket in the Small Park,” which aims to prevent the sale of the city-owned park and green space in order to preserve it for people and nature alike.



During the public display period, “anyone,” meaning every citizen and every public stakeholder, had the opportunity to submit comments on the draft development plan “Retail Market on Schlossstraße” to the city of Lützen. Many critics of the project took part in this so-called “highly democratic process,” as Mayor Uwe Weiß put it, and sent their well-founded objections to the Lützen city council members, who ultimately have the final say on the project.

Communication with the Lützen Building Authority was mostly constructive and professional. However, we learned at the end of the display period that, contrary to previous statements in city council meetings, the letters of objection would *not* be forwarded directly to the council members for review, but instead bundled and sent to an engineering firm in Halle. Apparently, that’s the usual procedure (you live and learn...). In Halle – far from our concerns – the firm StadtLandGrün GbR will evaluate the comments along with the potential investor (Schröder Holding GmbH) and compile a table listing (hopefully) all points raised against the plan. In the last column of that table, the investor gets to respond to the objections raised by citizens and public authorities. This extensive table is then to be presented to the city council. According to our research, the investor is also paying for the services of this evaluating firm…

In the most recent city council meeting (on August 27), council member Steffen Land (dieBasis) explicitly requested that all 60 letters be sent in full and unabridged to all council members, so that they could form a comprehensive picture of the situation in a reasonable time frame. We do not yet know what will become of that request.

At this point, we sincerely thank all citizens and public authorities* who submitted well-reasoned objections on time, and we summarize the key arguments here:
  • The planned construction site served as Lützen's cemetery from 1530 to 1951. Karl Louis Martzsch is also buried there (Violation of § 168 – Disturbance of the peace of the dead)

  • The planned “large-scale retail operation” does not conform “to the character of the surrounding area.” (Violation of § 34 para. 1 sentence 1, para. 2 BauGB – German Building Code)

  • The “healthy living conditions” of residents would be severely affected by noise and emissions (delivery traffic, customer traffic, garbage compactor, cooling units, ventilation systems, etc.) (Violation of § 34 para. 1 sentence 2 BauGB)

  • Roughly 50 trees would be felled, including a group of beech trees each with a trunk circumference of over 2 meters (Violation of the local tree protection ordinance)

  • Numerous bats have been recorded at the site, representing protected wildlife (Violation of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance)

  • About 8,000 m² of natural area would be sealed off (Violation of the Nature Restoration Act)

  • The Soviet memorial would end up right next to the new building with loading ramps and trash bins – hardly a dignified setting (Violation of the legal obligation to preserve graves of war and tyranny victims)

  • A supermarket is not needed at this location, since Norma and Netto are already well established in the area. A third store is *urgently* needed in the northern part of the city, where it has been popular and well-frequented for over 25 years.
* Notable participants include BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany), the Lower Nature Conservation Authority, the Lower Monument Protection Authority, and the Protestant Church

What happens next?

From a few council members who had previously supported the project, we’ve already seen tentative signals that, in light of the understandable objections, some reconsideration – even a change of heart – may be taking place.

Also, a mayoral election will be held in Lützen this October, and this issue is likely to play a decisive role.

If you'd like to get to know the two candidates (Jens Mende and Mirko Kother), you’ll have the opportunity on September 19, 2024, at 7 PM in the Roter Löwe in Lützen. Perhaps there will also be a similar event in Zorbau or another district? (We would certainly welcome it!) As of now, there is no information on this.

For our citizens’ initiative, preserving the historic park area remains the top priority. We see its potential as a local recreational space for all residents and visitors to the city. We would like to advocate, for example, for new tree and shrub plantings, more benches, a nature playground, and the use of the former kindergarten building as a meeting space for all generations.

Finally, we’re still missing an official name for the park. We’ve already collected a few ideas. What do Bürgerstimme readers think of: Citizens’ Park, Dr. Voigt Park, Peace Park, Bat Park, or …?

Citizens’ Initiative: “No Supermarket in the Small Park,” Annegret Berger, Lützen
Contact: keinsupermarktimpark@gmx.de

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.
Saying probably by Alexei Andreyevich Arakcheyev



Author: AI-Translation - Annegret Berger  |  01.09.2024

Jeden Tag neue Angebote bis zu 70 Prozent reduziert

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