Densification despite noise pollution in the airport communities
The Zurich Cantonal Council has decided that the airport municipalities of Oberglatt, Niederglatt, and Niederhasli may densify despite noise pollution, a decision that has met with mixed reactions.
The Zurich Cantonal Council decided on Monday to allow the airport communities of Oberglatt, Niederglatt and Niederhasli to build additional apartments despite existing noise pollution. This reclassification in the structure plan allows densification in municipalities that have already grown together. Local authorities supported the decision for additional living space, which could provide room for around 5,000 people.
This decision was opposed by the Greens, the AL and parts of the SP, who expressed concerns about the increasing number of people affected by noise. According to the critics, the planned densification was a clear contradiction to the noise problem.
Barbara Franzen from the FDP recognized a conflict of interest with airport policy, but emphasized that the settlement area already had the character of an “urban residential landscape”. Stefan Schmid from the SVP supported densification and argued that population growth made this measure necessary.
Building Director Martin Neukom from the Green Party also supported the reclassification and emphasized that the affected municipalities wanted this development. Although he recognized a conflict of interest, he pointed out that there was potential for inner densification and that the areas were well developed.