Ordino Council United in Defending Urban Plan Against 50 Landowner Appeals

Ordino parish council remains united in defending its partial urban planning scheme, the Pla d’Ordenació Urbanística Parcial (POUP), against around 50 administrative appeals lodged by landowners at the government-affiliated Comissió Tècnica d’Urbanisme (CTU).

Cònsol Major Maria del Mar Coma addressed the disputes during a Sunday parish council session, acknowledging the landowners' right to challenge the plan while stressing the council's responsibility to prioritize the interests of Ordino's roughly 5,000 residents over individual property concerns. She highlighted the contrast in perspectives: "The landowners' association defends its position as owners, but the comú must protect the general interest," Coma said. The association contends the POUP is irregular, accusing the CTU of improperly approving it and claiming it has caused a sharp drop in their land valuations by curbing development options. Several appeals target the CTU's own favorable report.

Coma voiced confidence that the CTU would uphold the council's position, dismissing one appeal as unlikely to advance further. She noted the possibility of escalation to the batllia, citing a past judicial win for the comú during a temporary licensing suspension, when a similar challenge was dismissed. "I think the CTU and, if necessary, the batllia will side with us," she remarked. The council stands ready to implement any CTU directives, as it did previously by revising parts of the plan after agency input. "We will accept whatever the CTU decides, just as we did when they required rectifications before," Coma affirmed, adding willingness to make specific adjustments if warranted.

Opposition councillor Enric Dolsa aligned with the majority, calling the process lawful and transparent. He recognized the landowners' complaints over lost land value but emphasized the broader parish view: "If we consider the general interest, Ordino isn't just made up of landowners." Dolsa predicted the appeals would fail, stating they lack viable prospects.

Landowners remain committed to their claims, viewing the POUP as a violation of their rights, and have not ruled out batllia action.