Summary neighborhood meeting Noordweg 16 Oostvoorne
A neighborhood meeting was organized on October 3, where local residents discussed with employees of the municipality and aldermen the plan to make Noordweg 16 a sustainable shelter for Ukrainians, and housing for starters and emergency seekers (= track 1). In the longer term, the municipality wants to develop a plan together with the Woonbedrijf Voorne aan Zee with housing for the elderly (= track 2). This longer-term plan was not the subject of this meeting, but did come up from time to time.
Local residents were shown around the plot and pavilions and several conversations took place. Many of the local residents shared questions and thoughts they have about the spatial and social aspects about the plan with the aldermen and officials involved. They were asked to include their reactions on a response form as well. Some of them did so.
Attendees
There were approximately 60 local residents (estimated). Among them were some current anti-squatting residents of the Noordweg 16 location.
On behalf of the municipality, Alderman Aart Jan Spoon (Wonen) and Alderman Daan van Orselen (Woonbedrijf) were present, as well as seven employees. Two Ukrainian displaced persons were also present.
1. Main line from the interviews
During the conversations held at the meeting and on the completed response forms, a number of issues came up. These were brought in by local residents as Health or concerns, and questions. Below we name these points, and also directly respond to them.
Questions about decision-making and spatial procedure
How did the decision to purchase the site come about?
The location on Noordweg had been vacant for some time. In the past, the former municipality of Westvoorne had already held talks with the owner about using the site for a social purpose. After the merger in 2023, talks were again held with the owner, which eventually led to the purchase. The first purpose was to use the site for the reception of Ukrainian displaced persons, starters and emergency seekers. Later, the city council expressed a long-term desire to develop the site with housing for the elderly.
What is the spatial procedure for the short-term plan (receiving Ukrainians, housing starters and emergency seekers)?
The plan to house Ukrainians, starters and emergency seekers at this site is an off-plan environmental planning activity, because housing this target group does not fit within the current zoning. The current zoning is "social, without housing. The long-term accommodation or housing of Ukrainians, starters and emergency seekers falls under housing. So an environmental permit is needed for that. Before that permit is applied for, which means now, we would like to know the concerns and ideas of local residents. That was one of the purposes of this neighborhood meeting, as well as subsequent contact moments to come. We want to use the input from this participatory process to make the plan better.
This will be followed by a permit application, probably in quarter 2 of 2025. The municipality will then test whether the use of the site for these target groups is appropriate at this location. Existing laws and regulations in the area of noise, light, ecology, traffic, etc. will be tested. The question to be answered is 'Can the area handle this? After the application, the municipality has 8 weeks to make a decision, which can be extended by 6 weeks if necessary. If the municipality decides to grant a permit, there is the possibility to object to the environmental permit. You will be informed about this in more detail in due course.
How has formal public participation on this plan been arranged?
After the permit application (which we expect in the second quarter of 2025), the municipality has 8 weeks to make a decision. This can possibly be extended by 6 weeks. If the municipality decides to grant a permit, there is the possibility to object to the environmental permit. You will be informed about this in more detail by then.
The letter also talks about putting "extra units" on the plot (flex homes). What are these for, how many are they, and is this allowed just like that?
By units is meant "flex homes," similar to such as already exist in Brielle (chalets with 1 layer), that would be up to 5 units. It is not just possible to realize additional buildings on the plot. The realization of additional structures always requires a permit. Meanwhile, also in response to your comments, we have decided not to place additional temporary chalets elsewhere on the property.
How far along is the municipality in making decisions?
The internal renovation of the properties is permit-free, which means that the contractor can work on the inside. Changes to the outside of the property or creation of new structures can only take place if an environmental permit has been granted. This is no longer an issue for the short-term plan, no additional units / chalets will be placed on the property. However, to use the buildings for housing Ukrainians, starters and emergency seekers, a permit is required. The necessary studies for this application are currently underway. In the first quarter of 2025, it is expected that the permit application can be submitted.
How is it that people have always lived here, but now an environmental permit is required with the zoning "residential"? Have people always lived here illegally?
There is no illegal occupancy. What is not allowed is "permanent" occupancy. This was a temporary location where people were accommodated, but where there was another main residence. So people cannot be registered in the base, only if it is rental under the Empty Homes Act.
Questions about the short-term plan (renovation of existing buildings)
How long will the reception of Ukrainians last?
This is not known; it also depends on the situation in Ukraine and the guidelines we get from the national government about this. We do talk about "sustainable shelter," by which we mean that the location can be used for a longer period of time.
How many people are coming?
There will be about 90 shelters for Ukrainian displaced persons, in two pavilions. The site of the third pavilion will be used for housing for first-time buyers. Exactly how many housing units will be involved is being studied. In the main building at the front of the site there will be room for some temporary housing. It is being investigated how many places can be realized in the front main building.
There are current anti-squatting residents who would like a chance at an emergency search spot at this location.
As understandable as this desire is, we still cannot commit to it. The municipality does not have an agreement with the anti-squatting residents, but with AD-HOC. We have communicated with AD-HOC that the current residents of the main building can continue to live at the site (main building) at least until June 2025. Whether the site can be used longer by AD-HOC depends on the municipality's investigation into the number of living spaces in the main building.
How is the day care for Ukrainians arranged, in view of possible nuisance during the day.
Most Ukrainian IDPs are employed; this accounts for 75% of the total number of Ukrainian IDPs. The remaining part consists of persons who are attending school or are elderly. Sufficient space is available for sports, education and daytime activities. The Ukrainian displaced persons are accompanied in this process by several employees involved in the project Ukraine from the municipality.
What are emergency seekers, and can this include (former) psychiatric patients?
Emergency seekers should be thought of primarily as "couch sleepers," people who experience a high degree of urgency to move, have accumulated no or insufficient waiting time in a housing distribution system, and cannot obtain a certificate of urgency. They will not be places for "sheltered housing," but places for people who can live independently.
Security concerns
Based on our experience with Ukrainians at the other shelters, we do not expect any safety issues. There will be Ukraine consultants who will be present for support, supervision and answering residents' questions and to monitor whether the reception is going well. In addition, we want to establish a sound neighborhood group with a delegation of local residents to quickly resolve any questions and problems.
Concerns about traffic congestion and parking
Not all Ukrainian IDPs have their own cars. It is expected that the number of cars will not exceed 25. Sufficient parking is available for these cars in the parking lot in front of the site on North Road. There are 56 parking spaces.
Questions about the long-term plan
What will happen after the Ukrainian refugees leave? Or will they stay here forever?
We do not know how long the shelter for Ukrainians will be needed, but it is a temporary situation, depending on the situation in Ukraine and the guidelines we get from the national government on this. We do talk about "sustainable shelter," by which we mean that the location can be used for a longer period of time.
It is still too early to give a definitive answer as to what exactly will happen to the site after that. What we do know is that the city council has indicated that it considers this location very suitable for housing for the elderly. We still have to investigate what is and is not possible. We are doing that together with Woonbedrijf Voorne aan Zee. A plan has yet to be drawn up, and as soon as we start doing so, we will certainly involve local residents.
Will there be another group of refugees after Ukrainians? Can certainty be given about "no asylum seekers"?
The long-term plan to be developed assumes housing for its own residents, with a focus on housing for the elderly. A concrete plan for this has not yet been made. There is no question of hosting asylum seekers at this location.
What are the long-term plans for this location?
There is no concrete developed plan for this yet. What we do know is that the city council has indicated that it considers this location very suitable for housing for the elderly. What is and is not possible, we have to investigate. We are doing that together with Woonbedrijf Voorne aan Zee. A plan for this has yet to be made, and as soon as we start doing so, in the first half of 2025, we will certainly involve local residents.
2. Response forms
The Municipality of Voorne aan Zee asked visitors to answer questions via the response form. This could also be filled out digitally. We received 26 response forms. The responses have been compiled. We also made it clear (insofar as people indicated where they lived) in which radius of the Noordweg plot the forms were used to respond and how the approach and renovation were experienced there.
Are there things that you think we should take into account on the property as we go about renovating/furnishing the buildings?
A total of 11 people shared their needs regarding the renovation of the site. About half of them expressed a need for more clarity about the plans, participation and involvement of local residents.
In addition, some of the responses indicated a need for physical modifications to the site, such as fencing off the lot, to create a clear demarcation between the residential area and surrounding buildings, including the school.
In response to the request for a fence:
The community can indicate that we see no need for this. The school grounds are already fenced off, and no additional fencing is needed in other areas.
Other identified issues are elderly housing and the rehousing of anti-squatters.
Response to these issues can be found in the questions and answers on the previous pages.
Are there any issues you are concerned about?
A total of 22 people expressed concerns about the project. Some of them (about 30%) are concerned about nuisance in the form of: disturbance of peace, noise and nuisance by large groups of people. There is Health about the impact on the quality of life in the neighborhood, with people expecting that an increase in residents and visitors will lead to more noise and less privacy.
In response to the Health about nuisance:
It is understandable that you are concerned about the consequences of a new situation in which new residents are moving in. Of course, we will remain alert to nuisances, and take action where necessary. However, it is not our expectation that this will be the case. There are currently over 200 Ukrainian displaced persons staying at vacation park Poort van Zeeland, as well as smaller groups at other locations. In the past two years there have been hardly any incidents, and no noise pollution. With a sound neighborhood group and a location manager, we will of course monitor the situation and discuss where necessary.
Traffic safety and parking pressure are also frequently mentioned issues. The fear of increasing traffic and parking pressure is identified as a major issue by residents of North Road, which is in line with broader concerns about road safety, especially with regard to children.
In response to traffic and parking:
We will monitor the traffic issues and discuss them in the sound neighborhood group as needed. There are 56 parking spaces on the site. It is expected that a maximum of 25 cars will be needed from the Ukrainian IDPs.
Once it is fully worked out what the housing for starters at the third pavilion site looks like, and we know how many spaces there will be, we will look at what total parking spaces are needed based on the parking standard. The expectation at this time is that there is sufficient parking.
In addition, questions are raised about the role and future of anti-squatters on the site. Residents are not only interested in the physical layout, but also in social cohesion and the position of current users of the site.
Response: This is addressed in the questions and answers (under heading: Main line from conversations).
Finally, a specific suggestion was made for an additional access route to the N218.
Response: This is a county road, which we cannot modify.
Do you see any opportunities for the neighborhood that we can take into account?
The question about neighborhood opportunities drew eight responses. Most respondents see elderly housing as an important opportunity.
Stimulating the local economy, such as generating additional sales for stores, was also mentioned by residents. In doing so, not only the immediate living environment, but also the broader neighborhood can benefit from the new developments.
Participation in sound neighborhood group
Residents were also asked if local residents were interested in participating in a sound neighborhood group. Twelve people indicated an interest in doing so.
The council will make a selection of up to 5-7 people, from the surrounding streets. Everyone who has applied will receive feedback on this this spring, and participants will receive an invitation to an initial consultation. This will probably take place in May/June.