This is the culmination of 10 years of work. The very first local development plan (PAL) of the reunited municipality of Val-de-Ruz is under review and above all validated by the General Council. The Vaudruz legislature approved this document on Monday evening, which provides guidelines for the next fifteen years in terms of regional planning. Until now, sixteen regulations (fifteen for the former municipalities and one intercommunal for Chaumont) were authentic.
In broad terms and for the next fifteen years, Val-de-Ruz will concentrate its development in the already urbanized parts. A sports center will be created at Geneveys-sur-Coffrane. An economic activity zone will be created in Dombresson. And in 15 years, the Municipality should offer enough apartments with supervision for all the people who need them.
The objective is to accommodate 2,000 more inhabitants and 1,500 additional jobs by 2035. All this while giving particular importance to the protection of natural objects, respecting village characteristics and preparing the creation of the future Cernier RER station.
In its report to the legislature, the Municipal Council describes PAL as innovative, in particular because it includes many elements linked to the ecoregion status of Val-de-Ruz.
It took a decade to develop a document that has a lifespan of 15 years. This means that in a few years, the authorities will get back to work to outline the guidelines for the future, beyond 2040.
Before being submitted to the municipal legislature, the PAL had received approval from the head of the cantonal department of territorial development and the environment. “Which confirms that it is in compliance with higher law,” specifies the Vaudruzian head of regional planning, Roby Tschopp. The fact remains that the document may at this stage be the subject of a referendum, opposition or appeal.
Public transport
During its meeting on Monday evening, the General Council of Val-de-Ruz accepted a municipal initiative from the Verts-Vert’liberals. A text which aims to give municipalities a voice in matters of public transport.
The group’s spokesperson denounced the State’s current lack of desire to work in harmony with municipalities, while they finance 40% of public transport costs. “The Transport Council must become a living body allowing dialogue between the authorities,” argued Clarence Chollet.
The municipal initiative will be transmitted to the Grand Council.
The Val-de-Ruz General Council further accepted a credit of 2.85 million francs for the redevelopment of the Fenin crossing and Dessous-la-Vy and Jean-de-Tribolet streets, as well as a credit of 3 million francs to increase the Municipality’s participation in the share capital of Vivaldis. /cwi
