Haifa appeals Defense Min. plan to build military base at city port
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- Category: News
- Created: Sunday, 16 September 2007 20:20
- Published: Sunday, 16 September 2007 20:13
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 A view of the Haifa port.(Yaron Kaminsky) |
According to the municipality, the Defense Ministry presented a plan two years ago for the establishment of a military marina, but did not reveal that it also planned to build additional structures - 25 meters high and 150 meters wide - on the site.
In its petition against the Defense Ministry to the Jerusalem District Court, the Haifa municipality wrote, "this massive construction, in its height and width, has passed the line of reason." Pending the court's decision on the matter, Haifa has requested to prohibit the construction work scheduled to begin in the near future.
{josquote}Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav and civil engineer Ariel Waterman said that the construction could also block the city skyline, particularly the view of the bay as well as the area of the city's Bahai center.{/josquote}The administrative petition claims that the decision to approve the project contradicts the national zoning plan, which had designated the western section of the Haifa port area for residential housing, tourism, commerce and entertainment. According to the petition, the construction could have a negative effect on the city's economy.