What should take priority in development in Garðabær? Should there be more detached housing, smaller flats or cultural buildings, and how does a new golf course on Álftanes fit? These and many other issues were debated this week.
The future appearance of Garðabær and development in a rapidly growing community were in focus in the debate yesterday between leaders of party lists in the town, and it is clear that opinions differ sharply on the direction to take. Almar Guðmundsson, mayor and lead candidate of Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence Party), said the election would to a large extent revolve around development.
The debate intensified when attention turned to planned development in the northern part of Álftanes, where a nine-hole golf course is proposed and the number of houses would increase from just under 40 to around 200.
Hlynur Bæringsson, lead candidate of Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party), wants these plans to be postponed. He said they show that the planning process needs to be faster and more efficient. He believes incentives should be introduced to speed up projects more generally.
“We are not just growing for the sake of growth,” said Almar. There may be too many houses on the drawing board, but comments on the plans would be taken into account in the consultation process. He said he agreed that efficiency could be improved, but that the planning process is much more open in Garðabær than elsewhere.
“Of course that slows projects down somewhat, but it also often creates greater consensus in the community.”
Kjartan Atli Kjartansson, lead candidate of Samfylkingin (Social Democratic Alliance), said a long-term policy should be developed, based on data, on future housing needs. There is a call for smaller flats so that young people can continue to live in Garðabær when they move out of their parents’ homes.
“At the same time as planning development for the long term, we need to make an effort to improve the town that already exists.”
Guðlaugur Kristmundsson, lead candidate of Viðreisn (Reform Party), said operations need to be reviewed in order to answer whether the town should be expanded. Emphasis should be placed on culture and meeting places, and patience shown in developing such ideas.
“If we do not create this, the new neighbourhoods will become transient areas,” said Guðlaugur. “Ideas need to be allowed to develop within the community in dialogue among people, and people are calling for space to come together.”
Þorbjörg Þorvaldsdóttir, lead candidate of Garðabæjarlistinn, and Lárus Guðmundsson, lead candidate of Miðflokkurinn (Centre Party), agreed that development could take place on a site by Hofsstaðaskóli and Fjölbrautaskólinn í Garðabæ (upper secondary school in Garðabær). However, they did not fully agree on how it should be used.
Lárus considers the site ideal for a new town centre in Garðabær, while Þorbjörg believes it would be better used for housing.
“We are completely opposed to densification,” said Lárus. More low-rise apartment buildings and more detached housing should be built instead of increasing the number of large apartment blocks. When planning new developments, more consideration should be given to existing neighbourhoods. “Do not build in a way that harms those who live closest to you.”
Þorbjörg said development is not only about the appearance of the town, but must ensure that housing is built for all groups in society.
“A very clear policy favouring private ownership has been pursued here. But housing has not been built with the same intensity for people in lower-income groups, and there has not been construction in cooperation with non-profit housing associations or housing cooperatives,” said Þorbjörg.
“We want housing here to be built for all groups in society. With this we want to work against uniformity in Garðabær and ensure that all of us can live here.”
Source: Ruv.is
