Ordino Parish Council Approves Revised Urban Plan Amid Dozen Landowner Lawsuits

Ordino parish council approved the latest revision to its Plano d'Ordenació Urbanística Parroquial (POUP) on Thursday during a comú session, as the Batllia continues to admit around a dozen legal challenges from landowners dissatisfied with changes that reduce buildable land and property values.

Cònsol Major Maria del Mar Coma detailed roughly 10 resources now before the court, mostly from individual owners after the Comissió Tècnica d'Urbanisme (CTU) rejected them—though one covers two plots filed by the same party as both physical and legal entities. The parish has received notifications on these, with some owners still facing about a week's deadline to file more before terms expire this week. Initially, around 30 proprietors submitted some 40 claims to the CTU.

Coma, leading the Democrat administration with Eduard Betriu, defended the plan—initiated under former consols Josep Àngel Mortés and Eva Choy—as essential to curb haphazard growth in a parish with substantial past construction despite limits. She stressed uniform application over individual adjustments, noting the council accepted nearly 80% of allegations while prioritizing public interest. "We couldn't make custom suits," she said, adding that the process respected legality fully and organized the parish while protecting environments. "I understand they're upset because it's not what they wanted, but we're content with the work. The CTU has always backed us." Optimistic on court outcomes despite no rulings yet, Coma differentiated economic expectations from feasible uses, aiming to balance needs of owners, tenants, renters, and tourists. The revision notably reclassifies l'Any de la Part as a single action unit and corrects prior errors.

Landowners view post-leadership tweaks as insignificant, with ongoing individual suits after an earlier joint action by nearly 50 owners. Some have shared documents with urban law specialists to probe changes for potential criminal issues like undue favoritism, influence peddling, or prevarication.

Opposition consellera Jordina Bringué backed proprietors' right to appeal, noting the plan cuts constructible areas and hampers family homes or tourism projects without speculation motives. "They do well to challenge since they disagree; justice will decide," she said, supporting approval to contain building while urging case-by-case review amid complexity. Her group voted in favor, recognizing no one will be fully satisfied, as conseller Enric Dolsa joined remotely from abroad. Further filings remain possible.