Distribution of social facilities
The College of Mayor and Aldermen wants to strengthen the strength of neighborhoods and aims for a balanced distribution of social facilities across the city. Therefore, the college has agreed to a council proposal for the environmental plan amendment "Social use possibilities. It is no longer taken for granted that premises with a social zoning can be used for every social initiative. If someone wants to provide social services in such a building, sometimes a (new) permit is needed. The City Council will make a final decision on this on Wednesday, May 28.
Social services come in all shapes and sizes. From a general practitioner to an assisted living facility to mental health facilities. Some of these functions are over-represented in certain neighborhoods. This can be at the expense of the strength and livability of this neighborhood.
The right place?
Zoning ordinances used to allow a lot of room for social services. The disadvantage of this is that not always the right social services end up in the right place. This is why we are now adapting the environmental plan (the successor to zoning plans). Organizations that already operate from a certain location can continue to do so. Organizations that want to expand, start new in a particular building, or change their social services sometimes have to apply for a permit to do so.
Better distribution
Alderman Marco Peters of Spatial Planning:
"We are working on the strength and livability of our neighborhoods and districts. With this new environmental plan, we maintain control over an equal distribution of social facilities throughout the city. We do this in a way that ensures this strengthens our neighborhoods and districts. Together with the introduction of a permit system, we are stopping new cases of too many of certain facilities in neighborhoods that could harm livability. In this way, we keep an eye out for facilities that can actually strengthen a neighborhood."