Over 100 residents living around the Givatayim country club (called Area 9) oppose plans by Neve Schuster Ltd. and the Givatayim Local Planning and Building Committee to build a 30-storey high-rise, or two 20-storey high-rises, on the site. The plan ware recently deposited with the Regional Planning and Building Board.
The opponents claim that the plan increases crowding in the area, which is already one of the most densely populated in the country, even before asked-for changes are included. They claim that the plan will detract from the already limited public land in Givatayim, and that the plan promotes the developer’s private interests at the public’s expense.
The opponents claim that the proposed plan harms hundreds of housing units surrounding the country club. They are threatening to sue for huge amounts for the loss of property values, if the plan is approved. They also claim that the plan does not include an indemnification clause, which is normal is such plans, which requires the contractor to indemnify the local planning and building committee in the event of law suits for the loss of property values for adjacent land, under Article 197 of the Planning and Building Law.
The residents will also act on the public level, to persuade the local planning and building committee and Givatayim mayor Efi Stenzler to withdraw the proposed plan, and to prevent damage to the public interest. Public protests by local residents in the area, supported by Stenzler, forced the removal of a Cellcom Israel Ltd. wireless antenna on Rabin Rd. a few weeks ago. The residents hope that Stenzler will again support them, and that public protest will force the cancellation of the building plan.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 4, 2005