Klagenfurt council approves new city development plan

Klagenfurt’s city council approved a new development plan on Tuesday, setting out how the city should grow economically, socially and environmentally in the coming years. ORF reported that the plan passed with 28 of 45 votes.

The plan was proposed by planning councillor Ronald Rabitsch of the Social Democratic Party. Robert Pichl, head of city planning, presented its main points to the council. Three years of work by city planning staff went into the plan, with input from those responsible for the city’s development.

One central goal is to make Klagenfurt the main economic centre in southern Austria. The plan envisages trade, services and administration in the city centre; a science and technology hub, including the university and Lakeside Park, in the west; and a commercial hub around Magna in the east. It also provides for housing and recreational space.

The land-use plan for the next 10 years is to follow the new concept. Klagenfurt has 2,600 hectares of land designated for building, with a further 247 hectares held in reserve for development. The previous city development plan dates from 2014. Since then, the population has grown to more than 105,000.

The Freedom Party of Austria and the FSP, led by Mayor Christian Scheider, voted against the plan. They raised various concerns during the debate and argued that the next city government should make the decision.