Real Estate Projects Developed on Corbu Beach Are Blocked
Construction sites on the wild Corbu beach must temporarily suspend their activity after the Constanța Prefecture challenged the building permits in court. The announcement was made by USR, which specifies that the Prefecture’s action follows a petition launched by the political party.
The Constanța Prefecture responded to an inquiry addressed by USR parliamentarians, stating that it has requested the court to annul the urban planning certificate and the building permit issued by the Mayor of Corbu Commune, as well as the suspension and cessation of work execution until the case is resolved on its merits.
On February 17, 2022, several USR deputies and senators addressed a petition to the Prefect of Constanța, asking him to challenge in court the acts underlying the issuance of construction permits for the pseudo-fishing village on Corbu Beach, where 18 concrete buildings are being constructed. A few days later, on February 24, case number 1240/118/2022 was registered on the docket of the Constanța Tribunal.
The arguments brought forward by USR in the request submitted to the Constanța Prefecture are as follows, according to Stelian Ion:
- The alienation of beaches, which are the exclusive object of public property, to a private individual is prohibited (Art. 136 para. (3) of the Romanian Constitution);
- The placement of any constructions on land covered by dunes is prohibited, as is the case in the current situation (Art. 60 para. (3) of Government Emergency Ordinance no. 202/2002);
- The land on which the concrete structures are being raised was illegally registered by the local public administration in August 2005, being an integral part of Corbu Beach, which is a Natura 2000 protected area and part of the “Danube Delta” Biosphere Reserve;
- The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (ARBDD), under the Ministry of Environment, abusively approved this real estate project through Permits no. 41/24.09.2020 and 42/24.09.2020, violating the mentioned legal provisions and completely ignoring how this construction will affect the natural ecosystem.
“Indeed, the project site is located in a protected area of national interest, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (RBDD), which is also a RAMSAR site, and two sites of community importance, part of the Natura 2000 functional ecological network, overlap it. However, complete information should show that construction is not prohibited in any of these natural protected areas as long as urban planning conditions are met and when thorough, long-term studies conducted by specialists certified by the Ministry of Environment with proven experience show that the impact on habitats and species for which the sites were designated is not significant. Our project’s impact is 0.02% of the total area,” stated the representative of the real estate developer, SC Logis Project SRL, which is building the largest real estate project in the area, Zargana Ecosanctuar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the construction projects on Corbu Beach suspended?
The projects were suspended because the Constanța Prefecture challenged the building permits in court, following a petition regarding potential legal and environmental violations.
What are the legal arguments against the development?
Arguments include the prohibition of building on sand dunes, the constitutional protection of public beaches, and the site’s status as part of the Natura 2000 network and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
How has the developer responded to these challenges?
The developer, SC Logis Project SRL, maintains that the project is legal, follows urban planning regulations, and has a negligible environmental impact of only 0.02% on the total area.