Planning and Building Council

General presentations

• SB040377 – Minutes of the Planning and Building Officer

  Minutes from the processing meetings of the planning and building officer on 27.06.12, 04.07.12, 11.07.12, 18.07.12, 25.07.12, 01.08.12 and 08.08.12. Item A was dealt with by the building control officer in accordance with the Building Regulations Act no. 160/2010.

  Submitted.

• 1109222 – Reykjavíkurvegur 45 zoning plan amendment

  The Planning and Building Committee approved on 10 January 2012 that a change to the detailed plan for the North Town, concerning plot no. 45 on Reykjavikurveg, be advertised, in accordance with the drawing dated 25 November 2011. The amendment to the detailed plan was advertised in accordance with Section 43 of the Act No. 123/2010. Objections were received. A summary of the comments received was presented by the Planning and Building Department. The Planning and Building Committee requested a traffic count and speed survey on Hraunbrún and Reykjavíkurveg. The results of these surveys were presented. On 26/06/12, the Planning and Building Committee abandoned plans for changes to the detailed plan, citing the comments received and the traffic surveys on Hraunbrún at Reykjavíkurveg. – A letter from Guðlaugur L. Aðalsteinsson on behalf of the religious society 'Iceland Christian Nation', dated 26.07.12 a letter from Guðlaugur L. Aðalsteinsson on behalf of the religious society Ísland kristin þjóð, dated 26.07.12, proposing the solution that the left-hand turn from Reykjavíkurveg 45 onto Hraunbrún be prohibited.

  The Planning and Building Committee considers it impossible to act on the request, as a ban on left turns would not have a decisive impact on the assumptions underlying the planning proposal that has already been approved, which primarily concerned access to the site. The Council therefore reaffirms the position taken at the SBH meeting on 26 June, with reference to both traffic surveys and the comments received.

• 1206344 – Miðvangur 41, query to the planning and building officer

  A query was submitted by Jón I. Garðarsson ehf, asking about the possibility of converting a ground-floor bakery into residential accommodation. The Planning and Building Officer responded negatively to a similar query. At a meeting of the residents' association on 20/06/12, permission was granted for the change of use of the premises. Permission was also granted by the residents' association for a change to the appearance of the gable to the west. The application was considered at a meeting of the Planning and Building Officer on 11 July 2012, who referred it to the Planning and Building Committee.

  The Planning and Building Committee considers that converting the service space on the ground floor into flats is inconsistent with both the provisions of the Building Regulations and the current detailed plan, and therefore objects to the query.

• 1204279 – High Barð 4, enquiry

  The application from Magdalenu Óskar Einarsdóttir of Háabarði 4, requesting to divide the property into two flats, is reconsidered. An objection is raised to the previous handling of the matter, on the grounds that the duty to provide guidance was not observed. The Planning and Building Committee was negative towards the enquiry on 15.05.12, as the ceiling height did not comply with the requirements of the building regulations and the number of parking spaces was not in accordance with the detailed plan. A letter from Dúa J. Landmark, dated 31.07.12, was presented, requesting guidance from the Council on the changes that would need to be made for this alteration to be approved, and preferably to have a representative from the municipality carry out an assessment of the premises, thereby fulfilling the advisory duty that the municipality failed to provide at the time the drawings and ideas for the alterations were presented.$line$

  The Planning and Building Committee has no objection to a granny flat in the house, provided the aforementioned conditions regarding roof height and parking are met, and otherwise refers to the relevant article in the neighbourhood's detailed planning conditions. Furthermore, the Planning and Building Committee points to the following provision in the same article: „A granny flat attached to a detached house cannot become a separate property, as a dwelling with two flats is not classified as a detached house but as a block of flats.“

• 1207137 – 22 Hverfisgata, enquiry

  On 05.07.2012, Árni Björn Ómarsson submitted an enquiry regarding a change to the ridge direction of a shed on the plot; please see attached documents and photos. The application was considered at the processing meeting of the Planning and Building Officer on 25 July 2012, which referred it to the Planning and Building Committee.

  The Planning and Building Committee instructs the Planning and Building Department to discuss the nature, purpose and further details of the enquiry with the enquirer.

• 1203191 – Vesturbraut 15, bed and breakfast

  A request regarding home-stay accommodation at 15 Vesturbraut is being considered. It has been confirmed that this is not a guest house, but that the owner will continue to reside in the property. A report from the building control authority on the matter has been requested.

  The Planning and Building Committee has no objection to the operation of a home-stay in the house, provided that the provisions of section 4.2.1 of the planning regulations regarding nuisances from noise and traffic are complied with.

• 1207194 – Strandgata 9, The Sofa, outdoor area and tree

  In a letter dated 9 July 2012, Birgir Finnbogason requests permission to repair the pavement and refurbish the outdoor area at The Sufi, 9 Strandgata, in accordance with the attached drawings by AKO Architects. Furthermore, permission is requested to remove an Alaskan Aspen tree standing on the site due to its shadow cast. The application was considered at the processing meeting of the Planning and Building Officer on 18 July 2012, who referred it to the Planning and Building Committee.

  The Planning and Building Committee is favourable to the application regarding the refurbishment or repair of the pavement, with the aim of improving access to the café and facilitating street food sales on the pavement, provided that all works are carried out at the applicant's expense and in consultation with the Council's Department of Environment and Operations. $line$There is no reason to fell the Alaska aspen in the area, and reference is made to the report from the Head of Horticulture and the architects at the Planning Department, which states, among other things, that it is not advisable to reduce the screening in this area of Strandgata. $line$$line$It is also favourably received that further shelter is created with loose summer screens. However, further information is requested to show the appearance and scale of the few street-facing walls, and it is recommended that the said walls are designed to reflect their immediate surroundings in terms of appearance and design. It is then emphasised that it is important to maintain an open pedestrian route through the café's 'outdoor area', and that shelter walls must not be located closer to the street than 1 m. Provision must also be made for ventilation to prevent a wind tunnel from forming along the street.The Council considers it positive that the landowner wishes to improve the environment and increase footfall in this area of Strandgatan, and further agrees that work will begin to explore additional greening of the Town Hall Square for next summer, instructing the department to prepare proposals to this effect.

• 1111178 – Hamranes Mine, detailed plan

  The proposal for a detailed plan for the Hamranes quarry, dated 23.04.2012, was reconsidered. A public information meeting was held on 10.05.12. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council has approved a minor amendment to the Hafnarfjörður Master Plan concerning the quarry. The detailed plan proposal was advertised in accordance with section 41 of the Planning Act no. 123/2010, and the consultation period has now closed. One comment was received. A archaeological survey of the quarry area by the Hafnarfjörður Folk Museum was presented. A report from the Planning and Building Department on the submitted objection was also presented.

  The Planning and Building Committee endorses the recommendation of the Planning and Building Department, approves the detailed plan, and resolves that the matter be concluded in accordance with Article 41 of the Planning Act No. 123/2010. The Planning and Building Committee makes the following recommendation to the Town Council: “The Town Council, on behalf of the Town Board, approves the detailed plan for the Hamranes Quarry, dated. 23.04.12 and that the processing be concluded in accordance with section 41 of the Planning and Building Act no. 123/2010.“

• 1110324 – Regional Plan for the Suðurnes area 2008-2024, draft

  A submission from the Cooperation Committee on the Regional Plan for the Suðurnesir area, dated 20.07.12, is presented, which sends for consultation a proposal for the Regional Plan for the Suðurnesir area, together with an environmental report. The deadline for comments is 13.09.12.

  Submitted.

• National planning policy

  An annex was submitted for the National Planning Policy Framework 2013–2024: A report on the status of marine and coastal planning – draft, and a report on the status and development of planning matters – draft. Comments on the latter publication can be submitted to the Planning Authority until 01.09.12.

  Submitted.

• Regulations on street trading and open-air markets

  A proposal for regulations on street trading and open-air markets was discussed. The Town Council referred the proposal for comment to the Director of Planning and Building Control. A report from the Director, dated 10 August 2012, was presented.

  The Planning and Building Committee concur with the director's opinion and point out that it is important that such rules encourage this type of activity.The representatives of the Independence Party want it to be considered for next summer to use the houses of the Christmas Village on Torsplan, advertise them for application and thus create a market atmosphere on the square during the summer.

• 0702005 – Master Plan of Hafnarfjörður, power lines and substations.

  The status of the general plan amendment concerning the Hamranes lines and the Suðurnes line was discussed. The amendment was based on an agreement between Hafnarfjörður and Landsnet from 2008. The amendment to the master plan was approved by the town council in October 2010, but the Ministry of the Environment was then asked to postpone its decision as it was unclear whether Landsnet's works would proceed as the agreement provided. The Planning and Building Committee considered on 21/06/11 that the agreements with Landsnet, including regarding line locations, needed to be reviewed comprehensively before a decision could be made on Landsnet's request for further works. The Director of the Department reports on discussions held on 18 June 2012 with representatives of Landsnet. Revised draft minutes of the agreement were presented, which were then presented to the representatives of Landsnet, along with the response from the CEO of Landsnet, comprising an email dated 20 June 2012 and a memorandum dated 19 June 2012. A letter from Íris Bjargmundsdóttir of the Ministry of the Environment, dated 08.08.12, was presented, requesting that the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður make a final decision on whether to confirm the plan or withdraw it.

  Proposed resolution: As the assumptions regarding the timing of the works on the Southwest Lines have changed, the Planning and Building Council considers it appropriate to postpone a decision on the matter and requests a meeting with Landsnet to discuss its further progress before a final decision is made.