The Tel Aviv Local Planning and Building Committee last week approved a plan for the rooftops of the city. The plan will now be sent for deposit at the Tel Aviv Regional Planning and Building Board. If the regional board approves the plan, building rights to tens of thousands of square meters of additional residential space will be allowed.
The additional building rights will increase the value of apartments and enrich the municipal coffers by tens of millions of shekels from betterment payments on the extra building rights. The new plan will replace the current plan from the 1980s, expanding the area of new rooftop construction.
Under the new plan, the area of new rooftop rooms is expanded from 23 sq.m. to 40 sq.m., up to a maximum of 65% of the roof area. In addition, new construction can be carried out in stages, so that each owner of a rooftop apartment can exercise his or her building rights independently of other apartment owners.
In cases of private houses, a rooftop room may be built up to seven meters in height, with all technical installations integrated with the roof.
The plan will apply to the entire jurisdiction of the Tel Aviv municipality, except for Hatikva neighborhoods three and six, Florentin, Old Jaffa, the Jaffa slopes, and building designated for preservation, for which special regulations apply.
The Tel Aviv municipality initiated the plan in order to improve the quality of residences in the city. Deputy Mayor Doron Sapir said, "The new plan will reduce illegal rooftop construction in the city."
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on November 14, 2004