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BELANGENVERENIGING (Lobby Group) WILLEMSPARK ll
Lobby Group Willemspark ll and The Hague School Association (HSV)
invite to an information evening on:
Monday 23 November 2009 at 20.00
in the gym of the HSV, Nassaulaan 26
doors open at 19.30
AGENDA
1. Opening by Lobby Group chairman and principal of the Haagsche Schoolvereeniging
2. Explanation of the plans for the school building in Frederikstraat
3. Questions and answers
4. State of play regarding construction on the commercial site at the rear of no.14 Frederikstraat
5. Lobby Group’s agenda
O U T C O M E
Hearing
29 July 2008
at City Hall
28 January 2009
Dear local residents and members of this Lobby Group,
The board would like to bring you up to date with the state of play concerning the plans for our neighbourhood.
In July 2008 the Lobby Group was invited to submit its objections to the construction of six luxury apartments and an underground car park for 16 cars on the inner courtyard area at the rear of no.14 Frederikstraat, which would be further elaborated during a Building Inspectorate hearing.
We had the impression that we had been taken seriously but in actual fact the outcome proved to be the opposite: all our objections were swept aside.
We have therefore decided to go to the appeal court and have sought professional advice from a lawyer on this. If we have to, we are prepared to take the proceedings further before the Council of State.
This will obviously cost money. We therefore kindly request that you pay your membership fee for 2009 as quickly as possible. Details as follows:
Transfer €20 to ABN - AMRO bank account number 055.69.89.945 in the name of “ de penningmeester van de Belangenvereniging Willemspark ll”, Prinses Mariestraat 17, 2514 KD Den Haag.
If you have not yet paid your membership fee for 2008 please do so as well as quickly as possible.
The provisional plans for the construction proposed by The Hague School Association (HSV) as well as those for the apartments on the commercial site behind 14 Frederikstraat are available for public scrutiny at the Building Inspectorate.
We will keep you informed when we know more and will of course also keep you updated on the court appeal.
The Board wishes you fortitude with the additional inconvenience caused by the building work being done on our local streets.
Kind regards,
on behalf of the Board
Prof. Dr. A. van Kammen, chairman
M. Heijnis, treasurer
PRESS RELEASE
Hearing
29 July 2008
at City Hall
The whole of Willemspark II district objects ...
to the council resolution taken on 17 March 2008 concerning the site to the rear of 14 Frederikstraat, which granted exemption from Phase 1 of the building regulations, meaning the zoning scheme in the conservation area of Archipelbuurt/Willemspark II has been changed and construction of an apartment block can in principle go ahead.
The project developer’s plans exceed the current zoning scheme of a maximum building density of 45% on this particular site by 100% (90% density). This means that there would be virtually no space between this massive apartment block and the adjacent properties despite explicit requests by the neighbours to the contrary. The maximum height too has now been extended across the whole width of the building, whereas in the original development there is a far smaller lobby with a sloping roof that only reaches the maximum height for 50% of the width. This makes the building significantly more massive so that an inner courtyard with greenery is now out of the question
In short: this massive block, in a green zone where many (song) birds and bats dwell, is completely flouting environmental planning like a horror vacui (the theory that nature "fears" empty space). The underground parking for 16 vehicles under the complex will mean excavation work to a depth of 4.4 metres which could have disastrous consequences for the surrounding 19th century buildings: irresponsible risks in fact considering the soil conditions and the groundwater level of this site. The municipal council is well aware of the vulnerability of the site because at the end of the 1990s it halted a new housing development between 62 and 66 Cantaloupenburg and the problem still remains unresolved. Properties in Cantaloupenburg and Prinses Mariestraat show clear signs of the resulting subsidence.
Even more problematic is the fact that the site has only one entrance at 14 Frederikstraat where the narrow archway will prevent access for fire engines and increase the movement of normal traffic in and out significantly. Noise nuisance and pollution will increase in an area where council imposed limits are already being exceeded.
This situation led to the setting up of the Belangenvereniging Willemspark II (Lobby Group Willempark II), which intends do its best for this district of the city now and in the future. It wants to emphasize the importance of the urban and scenic/natural qualities of this district by establishing clear agreements and terms of reference in consultation with the council and the local residents.
A cohesive urban development plan for the school to be built and any housing projects is still the Lobby Group’s priority because this is the only way forward for a better and sustainable future for all those concerned.
On behalf of the Belangenvereniging Willemspark ll :
Prof. Dr. A. van Kammen, chairman
E. de Groot, secretary elsdegroot@wanadoo.nl
July 2008
BELANGENVERENIGING (Lobby Group) WILLEMSPARK ll
Established 22 April 2008 for the protection of the interests of the residents of the block comprised by Frederikstraat, Prinses Mariestraat, Schelpkade, Kerkstraat and including Cantaloupenburg and Christinahofje.
To Lobby Group members and other residents of Willemspark II:
The response to the door-to-door campaign carried out in January 2008 was so positive that an executive board has been formed and the Willemspark II Lobby Group (WII-LG) was officially founded by notarial deed on 22 April and registered with the Chamber of Commerce, making the WII-LG an legal entity. There are currently 60 members and a bank account has been opened.
The board has been forced to take action before it could even call its first general meeting.
A council resolution taken on 17 March 2008 concerning the area to the rear of 14 Frederikstraat, which granted exemption from Phase 1 of the building regulations, means that the zoning plan has been changed and construction of an apartment block with underground parking for 16 vehicles can in principle go ahead. Any objection (bezwaarschrift) to this decision had to be submitted before 28 April; the board duly did this on 23 April 2008.
We would like to involve all residents in any further developments and issues in our part of the neighbourhood, which require short- or long-term monitoring.
For example:
- Plans for repaving streets or renovation of sewers;
- The traffic situation
- Air pollution on Javastraat
- New building plans for the school on Frederikstraat
The board therefore cordially invites you to the first general meeting during which we will introduce ourselves and bring you up to date with recent developments.
The meeting will take place
Monday 16 June 2008,
in the Clubhuis Cantaloup - Cantaloupenburg 26a
at 20.00.
Yours sincerely,
A. van Kammen - chairperson and E. de Groot - secretary
(on behalf of the board)
elsdegroot@wanadoo.nl
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