Municipal councilors approved the re-designation of over 500 hectares of state forest land during a meeting held Thursday. According to Iva Borisova, Chair of the Zemen Municipal Council, the decision facilitates the development of a public parking facility near the Zemen Monastery. Mayor Mihail Zlatanov initiated the request to alter the status of the state-owned plot.
The proposal involves transferring the land, currently a coniferous forest, into municipal ownership for the construction of the necessary parking infrastructure. The Mayor stated that because the property is situated in close proximity to the Zemen Monastery—a site that draws significant year-round tourism—the development is necessary. Currently, there is no designated alternative area for buses to park, and the gathering of private vehicles often impedes visitor access to the monastery grounds.
Beyond the development for parking facilities, the council also approved several other proposals concerning local resources. These included the restoration of land from the Municipal Land Fund in the villages of Divlya, Dolna Vrabcha, and the town of Zemen. Furthermore, funds were allocated for community and cultural events.
Specific allocations were designated for the traditional fair held at the Zemen Monastery and for the Pantele convention. Additional funding was also earmarked to support various local community gatherings and church feasts within the municipality.
Topics: #state #parking #zemen
Losing 500 hectares of state forest land for a parking facility seems like a significant misuse of natural resources.