The development plan aims to strengthen retail, gastronomy and culture in the city center
New planning regulations will apply to the Carree and adjacent areas of Darmstadt's city center. The city council has approved an amendment to the resolution to establish the development plan "M 35 – Carree Innenstadt" and simultaneously imposed a building freeze on the area.
The development plan covers the inner-city area between Rheinstraße, Ernst-Ludwig-Straße, Schuchardstraße, and Luisenstraße. The area of application has been adjusted compared to the previous plan. Among the new areas included are the White Tower and Luisenstraße. Furthermore, the process will henceforth be carried out as an accelerated procedure under the Federal Building Code.
The city center character should be preserved
With this development plan, the city aims to secure and further develop the uses typical of a city center. These include, in particular, retail, restaurants, and commercial, office, and administrative buildings. Cultural offerings and events will also continue to have their place in the city center.
“We want to further develop our city center as an attractive retail area and a vibrant urban hub, thereby promoting its character as a city center,” explain Mayor Hanno Benz and Head of Urban Planning Paul Georg Wandrey. New approaches must be implemented in such a way that the city center continues to offer space for encounters, festivals, and cultural exchange.
To this end, the planning area will be divided into three sub-areas with different specifications. The division is based, among other things, on location, traffic, existing buildings, and noise pollution.
Different requirements for apartments
A key consideration is where future residential use will be permitted. In sub-area MK 1, apartments are generally not planned. In MK 2, ground-floor apartments are excluded. From the first floor upwards, they may exceptionally be permitted on the side facing away from the Carreehof.
In sub-area MK 3, apartments are also prohibited on the ground floor, but are generally permitted from the first floor upwards. This is intended to prevent typical inner-city uses from being displaced or restricted by increasing residential use.
In principle, the following remain possible in the three areas: retail trade, catering, accommodation establishments, offices and administrations, as well as cultural, social, health, religious and sports facilities.
Arcades, betting shops and boarding houses excluded
Among the prohibited establishments are amusement venues such as arcades, slot machine halls, and betting shops. Commercial residential use, including temporary housing such as boarding houses, holiday apartments, and certain standalone advertising structures, is also excluded.
Additional regulations regarding the design of facades, roofs, and advertising installations are intended to ensure a cohesive appearance. Greening measures are planned to improve the urban climate and enhance the ecological value of the area.
A freeze on changes is intended to safeguard planning objectives
The imposed development freeze is intended to prevent developments that contradict the city's planning objectives during the ongoing zoning plan process.
The next step is to prepare the resolution for public disclosure. Both the amended planning resolution and the development freeze still need to be approved by the city council. Public notification will follow.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
