- Senator Gaebler advocates for inclusive participation in construction projects
In Senator Gaebler's perspective, Berlin's proposed "Faster Building Act" does not strip districts of their authority in overseeing construction projects. As he stated in RBB's InfoRadio, districts typically handle urban planning, but there are occasions when state-level intervention is necessary for projects with citywide impact, like constructing multiple apartments.
Gaebler aims to simplify these procedures by making their roles more defined. "If the state is in charge, it should have the final say in certain instances," he noted. Currently, responsibilities are a bit jumbled, which he hopes to rectify.
The Senate is planning around 50 legal adjustments, only four of which pertain to the division of responsibilities between state and district levels. Gaebler explained that these are mainly clarifications, such as recognizing housing construction as an urgent city-wide task, thus allowing sharing of responsibilities in such situations.
The "Faster Building Act" is slated for passage on Tuesday. It includes various measures to expedite project preparation and execution, particularly in housing construction, which tends to span several years. This includes streamlining planning and approval processes, introducing deadlines for review and processing, and clarifying responsibilities between state and district levels.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about potential compromises to nature and species protection due to faster construction. Gaebler confirmed that they will not be making such sacrifices. "We've just expedited certain deadlines," he stated, and existing exceptions for this matter will also apply to apartment or social infrastructure construction.
The European Union, expressing concern over the environmental implications, has shown interest in the review of Berlin's proposed "Faster Building Act." Gaebler reassured that despite expediting some processes, the act will not compromise nature and species protection during housing construction or social infrastructure development.
