Urb.dipl. Victor GHEORGHE

Sustainable Spatial Development

in Romania

-The evolution and historical roots of spatial planning in Romania can be traced back to the 20s and 30s of the last century, inspired by German theories of spatial organization.

- After 1948 the system was organized according to the Soviet model

- Meanwhile it has been strongly influenced by the new French DATAR experience, more so as the overall territorial and urban/rural structure of Romania is somewhat similar to the French one

- For urban planning, the dominant model has always been the Mediterranean one

- At national level is the ministry responsible for spatial and urban planning. Such a ministry – sometimes called Committee, Council or Commission – has existed for approximately 60 years. Today is called the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing

- At county level the county council is coordinating the activity of spatial and urban planning. The county council is ensuring the taking over of the provisions included in the plans of the national, regional and local levels within the spatial and urban plans for their administrative territories. The structure of the Councils’ offices may differ, but there is always a Territorial and Urban Planning technical service, headed by the County’s Chief Architect.

- At local level The local council is coordinating and it is responsible for the entire activity of urban planning carried on in the territorial-administrative unit.

The main legislative act which defines the spatial planning and urban planning activities is the Law no. 350/2001.

The regulations of that Law are referring to: - Activity domain of the Spatial Planning Activity;- Spatial planning Activities and Urban Planning Activities; - Attributions of the local administration;- Institutional structure;- Projects of Spatial Planning and Urban Planning;- Starting and financing of the activities;- Approval process for these projects;- Participation of the population at Spatial Planning and Urban Planning activities;

URBAN PLANNINGGeneral Development Plan and the local afferent regulations- PUG Zonal Development Plan and the afferent local regulations- PUZ; Detail Urban Plan- PUD;

SPATIAL PLANNINGDevelopment Plan of the National Territory (PATN)

- Section I – Communication Infrastructure- Section II – Water- Section III – Protected Areas- Section IV – Urban network- Section V – Areas with natural risks

Development Plan of Zonal Territory (PATZ)Development Plan of the County (PATJ)

-The global problems of the coastal area are determined by the existing, and in the same time potential, conflict between development and conservation.

-A specific problem is represented by the concentrated pressure exerted by the human activities in specific areas of the coastal line, pressure which generate a risk of irreversible perturbations and a chain of consequences difficult to predict and control.

-An important characteristic of the Romanian coastal area is represented by the differentiation between the northern unit (Musura Bay - Cape Midia ) and the southern one (Cape Midia – Vama Veche). While the northern unit is focused on the preservation of nature (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve - DDBR), the southern one has mainly developed harbor activities, industry and tourism.

-Traditionally in Romania maritime spatial planning was not included in the existing planning framework and no specific spatial planning document was dedicated to the coastal areas.

-The planning documentations elaborated for the localities from the coast were following the same regulations as the one for a locality from a mountain area.

-The plans were not including the sea in their regulations, which were strictly addressing the land area.

-After 2003 and the introduction of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) on the Romanian Sea Coast the planning documentations had started to address the situation in a different manner, specific for this area.

-The Law 280/2003 regarding the Integrated Coastal Zone Management defines and establishes the coastal zone and adopts measures in order to ensure its integrity.

-The Law 280/2003 stipulates also:- In the coastal area along the water streams and the

seashore will be established protected areas where the agricultural activities will be prohibited in order to avoid contamination with nutrients. Here only trees, shrubs, grass and flowers will be permitted. In the areas with soil erosion curtains for protection constituted from shrubs and trees will be mandatory.

- The new industrial investments in the coastal area will be limited and their location will be established only through special Plans of Integrated Coastal Zone Management which will be approved by the National Committee of the Coastal Zone.

-The law redefines the right of property along the shores, the protected piece of land established based on the most advanced line of the sea enters in the public domain of the state and no private right can be opposed.

- The plans are now including specific regulations related with the sea use and their approval is done in an integrated manner treating the coastal area as a whole and not as a sum of different areas with uncorrelated regulations.

-The plans will be approved by the Central Authority for Tourism and not locally, not even for villages.

-Based on the Government Decision no. 749/2004 regarding the preservation of the ambient conditions in the coastal area, the urban and spatial plans have to include graphical representations of the piece of land with a width between 50 and 150 meters, immediately situated to the shore line, which is designated to conserve the ambient conditions, the heritage and the landscape values situated on the seashore.

-The width of this protected piece of land is established based on the technical studies concerning the most advance line of the sea and take in consideration the waves, the winds, the sea level and the geomorphologic configuration of the seashore.

-However a dedicated and specific type of planning document for the coastal zone has not been introduced yet.

The two partners from Romania have decided together to address both types of planning documents which are possible to be drawn for the Romanian Coastal Area. By this we mean Spatial Planning documentations and Urban Planning documentations.

Name of Pilot Project

Pilot Project RO1 Sulina

Project objectives General Urban Plan for Sulina City

Problems and issues

The City of Sulina is situated in the Northern part of the Romanian Black Sea Coastal Area and it is part of the Danube Delta Biological Reservation. This situation will produce specific restrictions for the development of this area.

Name of Pilot Project Pilot Project RO2 Southern Romanian Black Sea Coastal Area

Project objectives Zonal Spatial Plan for Southern Romanian Black Sea Coastal Area

Problems and issues The Southern Coast is facing specific problems different from the ones faced on the Danube Delta Biological Reservation. The economical pressure on the development of this area is much more visible, specific and balanced protective measure needs to be established.