The urban planning councilor of the capital of Lanzarote, Maciot Cabrera, has just presented a document that includes the new Aesthetic Ordinances of the city, and that he hopes to have approved by the end of the year, once the public consultation with citizens on its content is carried out.
In an interview with Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, the councilor points out that this legislation is "a key tool to recover our urban identity, protect the landscape and improve the quality of life of our neighborhoods".
In essence, the ordinances, to which La Voz has had access, will help to recover white as a reference color, native vegetation, limit unauthorized advertising and put facades and public spaces in order.
The ordinances are focused on five areas: Charco de San Ginés, Center, City expansions, equipment and facilities, industrial areas.
"Lanzarotizing Arrecife"
Maciot explains that the ordinance is born under the umbrella of the Biocrit document of the Biosphere Reserve, which analyzes the island's landscape and provides a diagnosis of its level of distortion and that of the Lanzarote brand.
The councilor of the capital, who did not want to fail to recognize that the City Council of San Bartolomé was the first to take into account the Biocrit document "with very good judgment", wants to "Lanzarotize Arrecife".
"Arrecife is the municipality that needs it the most, the one that has become most detached from the island's aesthetics and the essence of Lanzarote," acknowledges the city's councilor.
According to the new regulations, the councilor explains that "the administration has to set an example", hence the new appearance of the Cabildo building.
The aesthetics of the new technical office of the city council of the capital is a good example of the obligations included in the ordinance.
"We will inaugurate it in a few weeks and it has a completely white facade, its signs comply with the dimensions, weights and black corporate color."
Surprisingly, Arrecife already had an aesthetic ordinance in force, but "outdated and without a sanctioning regime, so we had no tool to demand that the owners comply with the aesthetics."
The new ordinance not only obliges to "maintain the white on facades and have the dividing walls plastered, but it also speaks of the culture and history of Arrecife", says the councilor.
No retroactive effects
However, the rule cannot have retroactive effects. "It will not be possible to demand that those who have not complied to date do so, but from the moment the ordinance is approved, rehabilitations, reforms and new works will have to comply."
"They are the foundations to recover the identity of Arrecife, which has been lost. Both tourists and residents want to see a city with its own identity and not full of neon signs."
The ordinances focus on "the Charco de San Ginés, the maritime front, the industrial areas and the neighborhoods. Each of these four areas has its detailed regulations," details Cabrera.
Biocrit Approach
The Biocrit document, on which the ordinances are based, includes images of what some areas would be like if they had been built with its parameters and gives an idea of how new construction and renovations in buildings and businesses in Arrecife will have to be conceived once the document that includes the new aesthetic ordinances is approved.
