A total mess with semi-outdoor spaces in urban planning offices

The government is calling upon all citizens 15 days before the end of the deadline for the semi-outdoor spaces, even including in the law archeological and historical places in areas outside urban planning.

At the same time, the regulation is flirting with a new extension, asked for also by TEE, as the transfer of responsibilities of the urban planning offices from the prefectures to the municipalities and the increased number of last-minute applicants are creating a mess in the offices and suffering for the citizens.

The mess is confirmed by Nikos Spiropoulos, an engineer and architect, who shares his personal Golgotha. Applying in the office of Markopoulo for a building in Vari, they sent him to the new Kallikratian municipality of Vari, Voula, Varkiza. But a new surprise was waiting for him there as that office initially said they were unable to deal with his application and sent him back. Finally, he was accepted by the new municipality after almost a month. According to the new form of the local authorities, each municipality must have its own office, which increases the existing 162 offices to 325.

According to the president of TEE Christos Spirtzis, the increase of the urban planning offices, still among the most corrupt state services, is expected  to extend their organizational and operating problems, mainly their lack of personnel that has become all the more apparent lately due to the overcrowding for the semi-outdoor spaces.
 
Up to the neck in circulars!

Recently however, the ministry of the Environment sent a new clarification circular, confirming the revenue safari that has begun. In it, it is defined that archeological and historical spaces in areas outside urban planning are included in the regulation, urging all those without authorization to enter the regulation.

It is noteworthy that in law 3843/10 it was stated that «the regulations do not include buildings outside urban planning and limits of settlements in streams, coastal areas, beach, forests and archaeological and historical places…» wanting to avoid the legalization of non-authorised structures.

The circular also notes that the new zone prices and limits for the Kallikratean municipalities for inclusion in the regulation, which have changed in 4.500 areas around the country, have been implemented since the beginning of the year.
 
The IRS is not erasing fines

From the explanations of the ministry however, it is noted that the tax offices are unable to «erase» non-authorise buiding fines for buildings that have entered the regulation thus throwing the ball back to the urban planning offices. According to law, the fines received are not sought and the uncollected ones – since the building has entered the regulation – are erased.

The period of payment of fines is 30 months for residential and 32 months for other use of property, which can be divided respectively into 10 and 8 equal installments, with the first one to be paid by April 28, 2011.

But the engineers are complaining about the leak of information from the ministry of the Environment that the urban planning offices will audit the permits that end in 5 because this way the holders of these permits seem to abide by the law, having done their preparation and not closed in semi-outdoor spaces in relation to all the others.