Lonato’s Urban Growth: Preservation, Development, and Infrastructure Plans
Responses on the urban plan and development proposals
Can you share some names of those making real estate advances for the lido? “They are entrepreneurs from the Republic of San Marino, Milan, Varese, and even from Russia… I cannot add anything more.” What response will your administration provide? And what guarantees are there for citizens?
“In the upcoming Town Plan,” specifies the mayor, “we will pay particular attention to the lido of Lonato, in order to protect the entire lakeside area. We own some properties and therefore intend to recover the area in the best possible way, creating opportunities for free access to the beach and the lake. We also need to reorganize the main road, and in fact, the project includes diverting traffic entirely onto the bypass for Desenzano, thus freeing up the lido: essentially, we want to create an authentic beach for the residents of Lonato and tourists, a real lakeside promenade.”
Situation at Maguzzano and Barcuzzi
What is happening at Maguzzano and Barcuzzi, where some residents protest against the threat of ongoing construction? “Unfortunately, the old Town Plan allowed for building on some land. We cannot do anything about it, but the residents of Lonato should well know who authorized this multitude of building permits. We can only assess the types of construction, but always in respect of the volumetric and height limits permitted.”
Can you solemnly promise that your council will not further concrete over the city? “The new Town Plan will certainly not include new buildings, perhaps only the possibility to meet the narrow needs of private individuals. We will use all measures necessary to preserve Lonato, stopping unchecked development: it is not just an obligation, but also a certainty.”
Impact on school infrastructure
You frequently refer to the old PRG (Town Planning Regulation): does it also relate to the lack of school classrooms? “Since 1997,” says engineer Perini, “the population has grown by 10%, and we are now around 12,500 residents, with a trend to increase further. According to our forecasts, the explosion will occur over the next three years. The Town Plan, which also anticipated such growth, did not include hypotheses for the construction of new school classrooms. The new nursery school in Centenaro has been built, but the Castelvenzago nursery has been closed.”
“Therefore,” confirms the mayor, “school infrastructure is under strain; we developed a plan based also on the needs expressed by the school principal (for kindergartens and elementary schools). Unfortunately, in the immediate term, there are no solutions; previous errors haunt us, and we have not found a program to acquire areas for schools. In 2002, the school plan will be drafted, and we will see what to do: but, considering the time needed for land acquisition, project development, tenders, and construction, it will take at least 5–6 years.”
Internal traffic and historic center
Shall we now discuss the issue of internal traffic and the historic center? “Too many heavy vehicles still pass through Corso Garibaldi. The only alternative is the bypass, which is often closed for maintenance. By the end of the year,” announces the mayor, “we will approve the project for widening via Montebello, which will connect the three main parking lots already planned (Viale Roma, the sports field on via Antiche Mura, and via Salmister) and will serve as an alternative to Corso Garibaldi.”
“This,” concludes Perini, “aims to give residents of Lonato the possibility to walk safely in the town center. We will enlarge the Thursday market area and approve the traffic plan for the coming year.”
