On December 29, the deputies of Sochi City Assembly adopted the "Rules of Land Use and Development of Sochi" (RLUD), while the public town-planning board was against them.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the last this year's session of the City Assembly of Sochi attracted a packed hall of stakeholders.

In spite of the fact that the public had protested against adoption of the RLUD, the presenter Chief Architect Sheveiko and co-presenter Deputy Kagosyan failed to mention it. Olga Kozinskaya, chair of the public board, was not given the floor. All the deputies, without exception, have voted for the RLUD, not a single one was against.

According to the Town-Planning Code of the Russian Federation, RLUDs should be adopted by cities before January 1, 2010; otherwise the local government body loses its right to issue sanctions to build-up the city territory. Let us note here that the Code moved this requirement back in 2004.

The new Rules forbid construction of buildings above 25 floors in the city-resort.

The main aim of the document is to eradicate the practice of chaotic and point-wise construction.

According to Ms Kozinskaya, nobody would listen to professional remarks of the board members.

"The city Mayor and Chair of the City Assembly gave no reaction to the letter-request asking to extend the debates of the draft RLUD by the public. An attempt was made to meet the deputies on December 28 before the session in order to explain the absurdity of adopting the Rules as they are, as they completely contradict to the General Plan of the City; however, the attempt failed. Deputies just left the room unwilling to listen to or communicate with us," she said.

Source: Caucasian Knot