Residents criticize consultation over Dornbirn’s Kronenkreuzung plan

A neighborhood initiative says residents were left out of early planning for a redevelopment at the Kronenkreuzung, a junction at a key entrance to Dornbirn’s Hatlerdorf district, where buildings of up to six storeys could be built. ORF Vorarlberg reports that landowners were involved well before the public, which was invited to comment only after a draft development plan had been completed.

The Initiative Schützenstraße says it welcomes the city’s work with landowners and does not oppose developing the plots. But it says nearby residents wanted to share their experience and suggestions during the planning process. “The landowners were listened to, while the neighbours were not even heard,” said initiative spokesperson Clemens Osl.

Residents have submitted written comments and put forward 22 requests. They hope to discuss them directly with the city before the development plan is approved.

The initiative’s concerns include the proposed building heights, with structures of up to six storeys potentially standing next to detached houses and historic farmhouses. It wants to discuss the design and possible compromises, but does not reject construction outright.

It has also raised questions about traffic, including where underground car park entrances would be located. Osl said such issues should be considered as part of planning for the entire area, rather than left to later procedures. The initiative does not have its own traffic models or calculations, he said, but believes the draft lacks sufficient consideration of the issue.

The submission also questions plans to move and rotate a roughly 200-year-old, heritage-listed Rheintalhaus, a historic house that, with other old buildings, marks the entrance to Hatlerdorf. The city says relocating the house is essential to the planned development of the area. Johannes Zangerl, the ÖVP city councillor responsible for urban planning and mobility, said the heritage authority had approved the proposal.

A development plan sets rules for how an area can be built up, including where buildings may stand and how tall and dense they can be. It does not approve a specific building; that requires a separate building permit. The city says residents can submit comments on the published draft and that it will review and respond to them. Suggestions may still be incorporated, but the city is not required to adopt them.

The city says its usual process begins with planning involving experts and landowners, followed by public comments on the draft. It plans to contact those who submitted comments, Zangerl said. A personal planning meeting before the draft is published is not required under the regular procedure, but written proposed changes must be presented to the city council before it votes on the plan.