Lonate Development & Ecology: Building Permits, Tourism, and Environmental Initiatives
“Construction activity in our territory is substantial: just think that more than one building permit is issued each day, and on average, two declarations of commencement of activity are checked every week.” This is how the situation of the real estate sector in Lonate (lonatese) is described after a year of legislature by the deputy mayor from the Oliva party, Davide Baccinelli, who oversees important sectors such as urban planning and ecology.
A more than positive assessment, unaffected by the criticisms repeatedly cast on the management of the territory by all opposition parties, both center-right and left. Criticisms are dismissed outright along with accusations of lack of dialogue. “A significant variation to the Master Plan has been introduced,” affirms Baccinelli, “which allows the construction of hospitality structures (i.e., hotels) in large areas of Lonate’s territory. This not only meets the needs of those who have approached the municipality but also contributes to a significant tourism development that our territory will experience.”
Tourist and Urban Development Projects
It is unthinkable to boost Lonato in this direction without first creating accommodation facilities.” The simple idea is to be able to offer hospitality to outsiders who, after admiring the remarkable artistic and monumental heritage spread from Drugolo to Madonna della Scoperta, now find refuge in nearby Desenzano.
An ambitious challenge, given the fierce competition from riviera towns that can offer a lakeside route that Lonato cannot. However, the town has the Lido, which has long been a focus of attention in view of its revitalization. “In the City Council, new residential zoning proposals have been presented that will allow the development of collective interest facilities, important for Lonato and its hamlets.”
Within a reasonable timeframe, for example, a new square along with new sports facilities will be built at Centenaro. Other significant variations to the PRG have been made to address the economic and management issues of some floricultural companies, which constitute an important part of the local economic fabric. A further significant variation will be discussed in an upcoming Council session to meet the needs of citizens and artisans who have raised the issue through a mini-varianti initiative to the PRG.”
Environmental Monitoring and Protection Activities
Regarding the Ecology sector, the main activity is a comprehensive monitoring—much of which has already been carried out—of the quarry area of Campagnoli. “To understand what has been done over many years of extraction activity in that strategic and delicate area of our territory, and to adopt concrete measures to resolve problems that no administration before had the courage to address seriously and with determination.” Topographic surveys have been conducted on all active quarries in Lonato to control excavation, perimeters, and the contributions that the quarry operators are required to pay to municipal coffers by agreement.
The municipal government is also making “significant efforts” to bring about a radical change in the waste collection system, as a response to the waste management issue, without creating disposal plants like landfills or incinerators. Active collaboration with the Istituto Agrario is ongoing for studies and concrete projects focused on the Lonate environment (a high school thesis on waste separation, another on water quality for human consumption, adopting a park with a related plan, and a study on the health status of public trees).
The approval of the municipal contribution for private individuals aiming to refurbish properties for commercial and artisanal activities has been postponed to June. “This is just the first part of an operation,” concludes Baccinelli, “which we are studying, and for which we will also adjust the urbanization charges—changing the amount depending on the request: minimal if submitted by a small business, maximum if it involves a large structure.”
