The next move is on the City
Ivan Kusalić: The next move is on the City of Dubrovnik
Golf Park Dubrovnik video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idm-h0BZIfk
Golf Park on Srđ, a project that is developing more than 10 years, should move foward, latest in October. These days, came to the City below hill Srđ the information that the UNESCO report is positive and that the Project will not harm the protected historical part of Dubrovnik. We asked the proxy of company Razvoj golf Ivan Kusalić, to comment the positive report of UNESCO and his opinion about further activities of initiative ‘’ Srđ je naš’’.
For us, positive UNESCO opinion was expected, regarding that the company Razvoj golf from the very beginning of the planning of the Project and by preparation of all of studies, is developing the Project respecting the valuable heritage of Dubrovnik and respecting the strict criteria that are set in front of us by Croatian law and local authority.
The claim to the UNESCO, which was submitted by the “Srđ je Grad”, was extremely unfounded and that is evident from the final report of UNESCO, which has estimated that the Project on Srđ is fully acceptable for the City of Dubrovnik. They, as an independent institution, confirmed everything what we were saying for years. In my opinion, initiative ‘’Srđ je naš’’ with unverified information’s, unfortunately, primary damaged the City and also the investors.
The legal battle has not yet been completed because the decision of the Constitutional Court on the appeal lodged by the way of the execution of the judgment of the High Administrative Court, which canceled Amendments of Spatial Plan of the County is expected, and which are in connection with the entire coverage of golf on Srđ. What do you expect from the verdict?
The company Razvoj golf is not a party in any proceedings relating spatial plans. If you referring to the changes of the plan in 2006, it should be noted that company Razvoj golf in 2006 did not exist, and the investors have not even thought about the inclusion in this project. After the judgment of the High Administrative Court, the same judgment is executed by Dubrovnik – Neretva County in June 2015 by publishing the revised text of the Spatial Plan of the County. With the execution of the judgment , the decision of the adoption of a Spatial Plan which was adopted in 2006 is no longer valid and everything that was brought after that decision is still valid, so that is in case of the Spatial Plan of Dubrovnik – Neretva County. The plan was first drafted in 2003 and changed in 2005 and in 2006 and in 2010 the County developed a comprehensive amendment of the Plan again, which included coverage of the Golf Park in total area of 310 ha. These changes of Spatial Plan were adopted in accordance with the procedure and they were brought by the County Assembly and there were no objections on that Plan. With the final announcement of the revised text of the Plan, all speculation were stopped, because it is now known which regulations regarding each project are valid and which are canceled by the judgment. From the date of issue, the judgment is clear and its effect is limited only to the changes of 2006. We as Investor always have been working in accordance to the valid Spatial Plans.
Razvoj golf is trying to develop the Project Golf Park Dubrovnik on Srđ more than 10 years. How the investor Aaron Frenkel sees this situation and does he ever think about withdrawing from this Project?
There was no intention to ever leave the development of this Project. The investors are ready to start with construction in autumn if we obtain all necessary building permits in cooperation with the City. They believe that this Project has the potential to improve tourism of Dubrovnik and Croatia.
Why did you create a Concept Design of Fort Imperial contrary to the regulation of the Concession Contract, in the part which is referring to the location of the War Museum? That caused strong reactions, especially from the War veterans, because you planned to relocate the War Museum in the western part of the Fort where the property relations are not resolved.
We did not relocate the War Museum into the area that is not covered with concession. In the process of designing Fort Imperial, the company Razvoj golf, was working closely whit Ministry of Culture and with Heritage Department in Dubrovnik and we made all necessary researches, developed conservation study and recorded the existing state. In the process of developing possible solutions of reconstruction of the Fort Imperial, in which the War Museum is one of the key elements, the question from the professionals about functioning the future War Museum at the position where the temporary exhibition of the Homeland War is today appeared. In accordance with the recommendation of the professionals, alternative solutions of Concept Design were made and the Commission for the Fort Imperial, which was established by the Ministry of Culture, has even gave the opinion that one of the alternative solution, that one with the War Museum in the western bastion is much better. After countless obstacles placed in front of us, by the decision of the City Council in July 2015, the process of the realization of the project of the Fort Imperial has stopped by the order of the City Council to the investor to suspend all activities. In the period from July 2015 until February 2016, and after City Council took the responsibility to make a decision about relocation of the War Museum, and according to the instructions of the City of Dubrovnik, we held a series of presentations and presented several version of Concept Design of the location of the War Museum. The war veterans took part in those meetings and a special commission is formed in order to agree the final position of the War Museum and to make the final conclusion of the City Council, after which, we could continue with the designing for the building permit. Finally, in February 2016 the City Council accepted the concept design for the reconstruction of the Fort Imperial and by that decision ordered to the Administartive Department of City to propose the conclusion of the Annex of the main Contract. Unfortunately, that has not been done yet, nor it is agreed between the City Administrative Department. Currently, we are designing and preparing documentation for obtaining the building permit for the Fort Imperial, and the designers from Dubrovnik are involved in that work. It is our goal to submit for the building permit till April 20th 2016.
There’s been a long discussion about relocating the antenna from the Fort, which you erased in one of the visualizations during the public discussion regarding Environmental impact studies without the approval from the owner. You have indicated that the relocation of the antenna is also the Heritage department opinion, but in February this year it was agreed that the antenna stays on the current location. Will that influence the realization of the project in any way?
The opinion of the Heritage department is that the antenna located on the west bastion, is unsuitable for the Fort Imperial and they issued a recommendation for its relocation. That is written in Heritage department documentation as well as in all other expert documentation. There are several objects on the west bastion, beside the antenna, for example the house built on the position of the original guard house which are not legally built. It is clear, that those objects are used without the legal basis. We respect the law, but so should all other private and public companies that want to do business in this country. If that business must be relocated, then that is the responsibility of the institutions of local and state administration.
You obtained the location permit in November last year, and in February this year the first building permit was issued but that is a ‘drop in the ocean’ of the required documentation. At what stage is the development of the project and what else must be done to start with the construction? The project consists of several phases, what will you build first?
The construction of the project Golf Park Dubrovnik on Srđ should start in October at the latest, if all preconditions are met and to meet those preconditions a full cooperation between the City services and the investors is required. Razvoj golf fulfils all steps in project development within the deadlines and according to the instructions given by the City, and by respecting the law and we expect that from all parties involved in this project. Location permit is based on a valid UPU issued by the City Council after a long public discussion which declared the public purpose of some areas and objects on Srđ. Therefore, the obligation of the City is to actively participate in preparation of these projects. We obtained the first building permit issued by the Ministry of Construction for the road with the related infrastructure at the end of 2015. Even though that was the obligation of the City, we obtained an authorization to produce the project documentation and to obtain the building permit in their name, and we donated the amount for those purposes. Nevertheless, that is just one of the 250 to 300 permits that are necessary for the full realization of the project, so we cannot allow this tempo no more if we want to finish the project in reasonable time.
What is reasonable time?
Two to three years per stage, and there are four stages. We are in the process of designing for the building permits for the objects in Phase 1 (major part of the infrastructure, roads, public services, public parks, Fort Imperial, conditioned part of the commercial objects, etc.) We are also designing and planning project of the reconstruction of the House Bosanka which will be the future reception and coordinating office for the construction of the project.
When we will be able to play golf on Srđ, regarding the current dynamic?
We are in the phase of realization and the project of the Golf Park on Srđ is moving from the paper to the real life of the City and its citizens. It is necessary to make an agreement with the City regarding the obtainment of the building permits that are necessary on their behalf. The City is informed with all project details and we are opened for the full communication. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for the response. We expect an active participation of the City of Dubrovnik, primarily the City services on this project in order to keep up with our tempo because the valid UPU and the golf concept based on it and on the demands of the citizens and the City, imposed some obligations to the City regarding the design documentation and obtaining building permits for the public parks and public infrastructure, as well as the construction of those objects.
When the work starts, that should be the least demanding part, because Dubrovnik and Croatia have a professional and high quality construction contractors. We, as the investor, are ready to help the City services with our knowledge and human resources if they are not able to perform this demanding task of project preparation in a short period of time. Naturally, that requires an agreement between the City and the investor regarding rights and obligations, if the City wants the investor to take some actions in the name and for the account of the City of Dubrovnik. That is common practice.
Every further tempo of the project realization depends on the moves of the City of Dubrovnik and the base for the realization already exists – the politics and the citizens, and now the UNESCO have said theirs and as a result, we have the location permit and the first building permit – we must leave it to the professionals now.
We expect that reconstructed Fort Imperial, the new War Museum and the golf park on Srđ will become an unavoidable attraction that will attract slightly fewer visitors than the city walls which will be a significant new income for the City and for the County.
Source: Du List, 18.04.2016., by Andrea Falconi Račić
http://www.dulist.hr/ivan-kusalic-sad-je-na-potezu-grad-dubrovnik/314856/
