“Two objections were raised,” explains Laufenburg town clerk Marco Waser.
On the former Swissgrid site in Aargau, a unique computing centre in Europe and an energy storage plant are to be built. The project is said to be worth several billion francs. But there is a catch.
Dennis Kalt / chmedia
On the former Swissgrid site in Aargau, the construction rods are reaching into the sky. A computing centre for artificial intelligence, unique in Europe, is soon to be built there. And this in combination with one of the largest and most modern energy storage plants in Switzerland. The Laufenburg municipal council is enthusiastic about the Flex Base Holding project. Above all, it expects enormous value creation through tax revenues and numerous jobs.
But there are still a few hurdles to overcome before the excavators come out of the ground. Not least the building permit application process for the technology centre. The application was open to the public until 24 June. “Two objections have been filed,” says Laufenburg city clerk Marco Waser, who gives no indication of the content of the objections. He refers to the ongoing procedure. We are talking about a multi-billion dollar project.
Special authorization due to its height
In the case of the current building permit application, this is a preliminary decision with exceptional authorisation. Such authorisation is necessary because the planned building, which is 168 metres long and approximately 79 metres wide, exceeds the maximum permitted height by approximately 30 metres.
“The permitted height in the industrial zone is 20 metres, which is why the legality of an exceptional authorisation is currently being examined”
Marco Waser, town clerk of Laufenburg
Waser refers on this subject to the regulations on constructions and allocations, which stipulates for industrial zone I:
“Exceptions to the height restrictions are possible for construction elements essential to operation, provided that they do not harm public and neighbourhood interests.”
The extent of these exceptions is not specified. The possibility of exemption certainly offers room for manoeuvre, but it is also clear that this is limited. “A building with a height of 100 metres could certainly not be built,” Waser says.
The city council and the building administration are not the only ones currently checking the legality of an exceptional permit. “We are also using expert opinions from external planners,” says Waser, who expects to be able to provide further information on the status of the procedure by mid-July or the end of July.
“In addition, requests are also in progress with the canton”
Marco Waser, town clerk of Laufenburg
Weekly exchange with the project owner
A weekly communication exchange would take place with the project owner. “We work closely with them. On the municipality’s side, there is always an interest in the project owner being able to carry out his project,” explains Waser.
Even if no objections had been raised against the application for planning permission, the municipal council would examine in the same way the legality of an exceptional authorisation due to the height of the building. Regardless of the identity of the client, the municipal council would be required to respect the principle of legality.
“We cannot allow something that is not admissible. It would be arbitrary”
Weekly exchange with the project owner
In addition, another building permit application must still be submitted with the detailed planning of the technology centre. Therefore, formal and procedural errors must now be avoided, so as not to create an opportunity for attack for the subsequent second building permit application procedure, Waser said.
The news in Switzerland is here
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source: sda / alessandro crinari
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