April 2016: Conversion Committee Commences its Work
The rehabilitation of the air base is a mammoth task the municipality of Fürstenfeldbruck is faced with. The release of the site by the German Federal Armed Forces is currently expected for 2020. The conversion of the air base is a unique task with long-term effects on the future development of the town. It does, however, not only come with a great innovative potential but also with potentially high risks. The entire process is likely to span over a period of 15 to 20 years. Nevertheless, it is decisive to develop concepts as early as now as a new livable part of town for some 5,000 inhabitants and 4,000 jobs is to be created at the former military site boosting the town, the district and the region.
In the first meeting of the conversion committee on 27th April, Serge Schimpfle, project leader of the conversion, reported on the current planning status.
The committee consisting of 14 members of the town council was chaired by 3rd mayor Karin Geißler on behalf of the current mayor Erich Raff.
The conversion committee is a decision-taking body with the purpose of achieving an equalization of tasks and taking some of the burden off the town council on the one hand and of accelerating political decision-taking and administrative processes on the other hand. The conversion presents itself to be an interdisciplinary cross-sectional task that can only be dealt with if all administrative levels collaborate. Further to the project leader there is a project group supporting the leader in case of difficult, far-reaching and complex decisions. Moreover, interdisciplinary assignments are processed in six work groups which are divided according to their thematic focus.
Serge Schimpfle explained that studies and expert opinions were funded by the Regional Government of Upper Bavaria under the special military conversion program as long as they were carried out steadily, reasonably and building on each other. This special program providing for an 80% funding rate will end in 2016.
Some contract awards and expert opinions with respect to the conversion have been completed already, e.g. the species conservation assessment study and the extended urban heritage study. Their results are to be presented in the next committee meeting on 6th July.
The contract award for project support agreed by the town councilors was reversed and adjourned to a later date due to the current refugee issue and the non-guaranteed release dates.
In 2016, further expert opinions, part of which involve high costs and which are of top priority due to their special funding level (of 80%), are to be commissioned. Pursuant to Procurement Law they must all be put out to tender Europe-wide: a transport development plan for the entire town, an expert opinion on the sustainability of buildings (grey energy), a feasibility study on the technical infrastructure of roads and supply and disposal lines as well as the tender for an urban planning ideas competition including its guidance.
Expert opinions on a framework agreement with respect to noise protection, a potential structural analysis of trade, a sports facility concept, a supply concept for renewable/regenerative energies as well as a cultural development program are also planned to be commissioned in 2016. They are, however, of lesser importance because they are less cost and time intensive.
Good news can be reported on the real property issue: the municipality is granted the option to purchase part of the Sommerkellerweg securing itself the properties within the limits of the town area required for a foot and cycle path connecting Fürstenfeldbruck and Maisach via the former airfield.
A separate website on the conversion is due to go online within the next weeks containing the topics news, concepts, process and history. It will provide a steady and comprehensive update on the latest and interesting development of the conversion to the public.
