Riva Urban Plan Variants 2000: Land Use, Lakefront, and Infrastructure
Technically, it is called Variant 2000 to the provincial urban plan. Essentially, concerning the municipality of Riva, it addresses some longstanding issues related to land use: five in particular. Here they are.
Initial Urban Planning Changes
1) For 25,000 square meters of land east of Via Longa, owned by Cartiera del Garda, the industrial designation has been removed, which remains on the area to the west, between Via Longa and the former Atlas site. The new zoning designation was not decided by the province but is delegated to the choices of the current Riva master plan under approval. The plan foresees, alongside an agricultural area, also a residential expansion zone.
Changes to the Lakefront Zone
2) The lakefront strip has been expanded to include the public-owned area of Punta Lido, extending to encompass the Dependance of Hotel Lido. The reason for this is that, by law, no increase in the number of hotel beds is permitted within the lakefront zone. The only way to allow Hotel Lido to reach 150 beds (the threshold deemed economically essential) is by including the beds in the Dependance. Up to now, this operation was prohibited because that building is located outside the protected lakefront buffer zone, which includes the main hotel building.
Regarding the lakefront zone again, existing campsites will be allowed to carry out minor improvements aimed at enhancing and qualifying the facilities. Until now, no changes were possible, following the decision to move the campsites north of Viale Rovereto.
Industrial Area and Other Modifications
3) The designation of the Baltera area as an industrial zone has finally been removed. The Pup classifies this area as “open territory,” leaving the choice of its use practically delegated to the master plan. As is obvious, since the exhibition center has been built and operational for several years there, the Riva master plan includes regularizing the pavilion and associated services, primarily parking lots.
4) On the Fangolino area, where amid much controversy Benaco Costruzioni was prevented from building a shopping center, the provincial restriction has been lifted: this is because the province has decided to delegate to the municipalities the planning of commercial establishments within their territories. Again, future urban development choices will be addressed in the master plan, which envisages the installation of productive facilities in this area.
Infrastructure Projects and Conclusions
5) Riva’s west bypass has been incorporated into the Pup exactly as designed by the Gentilini studio: it is an essential step toward realization. This set of variants will be discussed tonight in the municipal council or, if time does not permit, tomorrow evening.
This phase, immediately following provincial approval, involves consultation. Copies of the variants to the Pup are available at the municipality for all citizens: anyone can submit observations until December 15, limited to issues of public interest and only regarding the variants. Yesterday afternoon, the vice-president of the provincial council and urban planning assessor, Pinter, came down to the Basso Sarca to present the variants concerning their respective territories to all twelve mayors of the C9.