The city of Rüsselsheim would like to make its contribution to alleviating the housing shortage in the Rhine-Main region. This is not entirely selfless, as more residents also bring more money into the cash-strapped city coffers. In addition to the development of the old Opel factory, the approximately 65 hectare new development area “Eselswiese” in the Bauschheim district has been planned for years and will offer space for up to 3,500 people. But the development of the previous arable land is met with resistance from environmentalists. The Groß-Gerau district association of the Federal Environment and Nature Conservation Association (BUND) rejects the development of the “Eselswiese” and points to the already sealed areas in the old Opel factory, which offer enough opportunities for living space. The environmentalists are taking advantage of the disclosure of the new regional plan for southern Hesse, in which cold air formation areas have been defined. The arable land in Bauschheim is also considered such, but should be developed according to the city’s ideas. The regional assembly nevertheless approved the city’s development wishes. However, as part of the new disclosure, the BUND is calling for this approval to be revised and the area to continue to be designated as arable land in order to maintain its climatic importance. Habitat for rare animal species Against the background of climate change, the approximately 65 hectare area is of great importance to the BUND not only as a cold air corridor, but also as a habitat for rare animal species. In this context, the conservationists mention skylarks and partridges, which are hardly found in the Rhine-Main conurbation. Those responsible in the city of Rüsselsheim reject the BUND’s demands. When asked, it was known that the “Donkey Meadow” was a cold air corridor. However, the regional assembly and the association chamber approved the development. According to the association meeting, the conflict between the preservation of the cold air corridor and the planned development of the arable land should be regulated in the development plan, which, according to the city, was designed to be climate-friendly. The city assumes that the regional association will delete the cold air generation area in the revised regional plan after weighing up all concerns. The urban development plan for the “Eselswiese” contains a high proportion of greenery and a central green corridor along the depression of a former branch of the Main as compensation. The city argues that further small green spaces are planned within the development.More on the topicRüsselsheim is advertising the new development area online as an attractive district that should grow together with the Bauschheim district. Cars should be parked in a neighborhood garage or on the property and not on the street. Pedestrians and cyclists have priority there. The development should enable a small-scale mix of different designs. Small-scale businesses and some larger businesses on the edge of the area should be possible there. The industry could receive up to 20 percent of the space. The new development area is also controversial among the people of Bauschheim. Above all, they fear the higher volume of traffic and criticize the planned traffic situation. Since parking on the streets is prohibited in the new development area and only one parking space is to be provided per residential unit, the vehicles would be parked in the residential area adjacent to the “Eselswiese”, it was said at an information event for citizens. Since rare sand lizards live on the site of a now abandoned agricultural property, conservationists fear for their existence. Last year, the city expanded an existing sand dune for these animals, which should not be affected by development.
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