The Planning Authority has approved an application which had been filed by the late hotelier Hugo Chetcuti to construct a hotel in Paceville, despite it going higher than allowed by policy.

The site is located on Triq Elija Zammit, St Julian’s and the application was for a full development application proposing the total demolition of an existing pre-1968 villa and the construction of a hotel. The application was filed by the late Hugo Chetcuti. The hotel would have around 79 rooms, and would rise to around 12 storeys. The site currently comprises of a two-storey dwelling.

While the site is recommended for refusal by the case officer due to the original proposed height of 42m, which is above the amount set by policy (32m) even after the additional two storeys allowed to hotels is taken into consideration, the PA Board in a previous sitting voted their intention to overturn that recommendation. The architect had agreed to alter the plans slightly to provide a transition with the adjacent building, and to improve the visual aspect of the building. The height was reduced to 38.3m, but the case officer still said that it is higher than policy.

The board had heard in a previous sitting how the hotel would still be lower than another approved building adjacent to it.

Robert Musumeci, who was present during the sitting, spoke against the proposal and said that the proposal would be one floor below an adjacent blank wall. He asked whether it is compatible with what a recent legal judgement allows. He said that the law does not allow this project to go through. He argued that the area, when looking at the allowable building height.  He said that the height is higher than is allowable. This is a fact, he said. He quoted the court, saying that the court itself has said that applications must adhere to policy.

The applicant’s architect, Christian Spiteri, said that the people on the board are architects, and that it is time to see decisions taken in a holistic manner. He said that nobody could argue that St Julian’s is going through a metamorphosis. He said that the board knows what the building height it, but the existing building next door – the Intercontinental hotel -  has been that height for many years. He said that his client’s proposal is still less than the neighbouring hotel, arguing that his client’s development would make the site look more pleasing, urging the board to be flexible when seeing the whole picture. Musumeci retorted and argued that a recent court judgement does not allow board discretion in this regard.

Architect Elizabeth Ellul, who sits on the board, said Musumeci is quoting the court, and that the board is not the court. PN MP Marthese Portelli argued that one of the clauses in the law allows the PA board to take into consideration a number of things. Portelli quoted the law stating that “in its determination upon an application for development permission, the Planning Board shall have regard to any   material   consideration,   including surrounding  legal  commitments,   environmental, aesthetic  and  sanitary  considerations,  which  the Planning Board may deem relevant.” PL MP Clayton Bartolo agreed with Portelli.

The board unanimously voted in favour of the project.