The National Board for Planning and Building has decided to approve going ahead with the construction of a hotel, vacation, tourist attraction, commercial, and residential area on the site of the current airport in Eilat. The government decided that the airport would be evacuated.
Eilat Airport is located in the center of town, near buildings and infrastructure, and does not comply with the provisions of the National Outline Plan for airports. The government decided in 2004 to move the airport to a new site near Timna, 20 kilometers north of Eilat. The new airport is in the advanced construction stages, and is scheduled to be opened in 2017.
Two main plans of decisive importance for Eilat's future development are currently being promoted: the National Outline Plan, which includes plans for future construction in Eilat, and a plan for developing the airport site. In order to move ahead with construction on the airport site, the site must be rezoned from use as an airport as a condition for approving the new plan.
In its decision, the National Board for Planning and Building noted that removal of the airport would eliminate the noise now disturbing the city's residents and guests, reduce the safety risks there, allow unrestricted airplane landings in the city, and make it possible to develop the city and connect its various parts, currently separated by the civilian airport in the center of town.
National Board for Planning and Building Dr. Shuki Amrani said that the Board's decision was very significant for Eilat's development, because it paved the way for approval of plans that provided a comprehensive and strategic solution for the promotion of tourism, residential construction, and business, while improving the quality of life and the safety of the city's residents and visitors.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 4, 2014
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