The Chisinau municipality has a General Urban Development Plan, but this is on paper only. Since March 2007, when this was approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council, it has been practically ignored. Director of the Agency for Monument Inspection and Restoration Ion Stefanita, in a news conference at IPN, said it is important that any existing urban development document be implemented. Also, the General Urban Development Plan should be updated.
“A correct step was taken when this General Urban Development Plan was drafted, but the municipality should go on and work out Zonal Urban Development Plans - urban development plans in detail that would regulate each square meter in the city. The non-formulation and non-implementation of such documents leads to such realities as illegal constructions, buildings in green areas and this urban anarchy that prevails in the city,” stated Ion Stefanita.
Ion Melestean, the representative of the Urban Development Institute, said a new approach to the General Urban Development Plan of Chisinau is needed to ensure the sustainable and balanced development of the city in terms of infrastructure and public utilities and from social, cultural and economic perspectives so as to satisfy the needs of the people.
Alexandru Corduneanu, a member of the Civic Group for Cultural Heritage, said Chisinau needs planning to develop. “We have a General Urban Development Plan approved in 2007, but this gathers dust in drawers and was used by none of the competent divisions of the City Hall. Regrettably, we do not have development planning at the central level either,” stated Alexandru Corduneanu, noting there is no municipal institution specialized in the conservation of cultural heritage.
He also said that Moldova’s richest cultural heritage is located in Chisinau municipality, but there is no institution or at least a person responsible for working out cultural heritage protection and conservation strategies.
