Arzano: The Metropolitan City Rejects the Municipal Urban Plan

Arzano – A bad blow for the municipal administration of Mayor Vincenza Aruta: the Metropolitan City has rejected the piano Municipal Urban Planning and postponed the approval of the urban planning instrument until significant objections were overcome.

In a note from officials in the Urban Planning Department, a series of multiple concerns were highlighted that could jeopardize the final adoption of the plan. The concerns highlighted are as follows: Regarding the estimated housing needs in Document C.1 - Technical-Design Report of the Program Plan, dated September 2025, the analysis conducted does not result in new housing.

However, Article 52 of the NTA, paragraph 4, refers to Residential Transformation Areas (RTAs), which, moreover, are not indicated in the Programmatic Plan cartography. Regarding the provision of urban planning standards pursuant to Ministerial Decree no. 1444/68, without prejudice to everything described in detail in this report, the PUC proposes to address the lack of standards by increasing the per capita surface area from the current 7,22 m2/inhabitant to 23,06 m2/inhabitant.

The transformations in the Programmatic Plan envisaged for the different categories and sub-categories of ATS services, exceeding the mandatory minimums set by Ministerial Decree 1444/68 from 18 m2/inhabitant to 23,06 m2/inhabitant, lead to excessive use of land for building purposes and non-agricultural uses.

In accordance with the principles and guidelines underlying the PTC proposal, the Metropolitan City writes, and in line with the contents of the newly drafted territorial planning instrument under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan City, given the significant extension of the urbanized fabric, which currently covers almost the entire municipal territory, it is deemed appropriate to limit land transformations to a minimum, thus reducing the limit to 18 m2/inhabitant, favoring the use of activities compatible with public greenery and sports, such as urban gardens, municipal villas, etc.

The open areas within the built fabric and the small, point-like or scattered areas reported in Paper B.3 – The Ecological Network – as “stepping zones” represent, due to the related ecosystem functions resulting from their strategic position, important elements of the landscape and must be protected from the risk of urbanization.

To this end, it is considered appropriate that the NTAs, relating to the Service Transformation Areas (ATS), clearly prioritize the use of these areas for uses compatible with their intended use as public green spaces, playgrounds, and sports grounds. Instead, they should limit uses that involve land transformation, as indicated in Article 13 of the NTAs, such as: healthcare services (SP4), associations (SP5), cultural and entertainment activities (SP9), recreational activities (SP11), etc.

Finally, it should be noted that some areas eligible for ATS services, such as ATS Nos. 19, 40, 11, etc., are located in peri-urban agricultural areas as per Article 48 of the NTA of the PTC proposal. The entire municipal area is almost completely urbanized and affected by construction activity.

The natural environment is virtually absent, with the exception of a single peri-urban agricultural zone, zone E1, and very limited open spaces and uncultivated areas, zone E2, near road infrastructure. The programmatic component of the PUC provides for the location of an ATS Services Transformation Area No. 35 in the single E1 "Peri-urban Agricultural" zone. Given the need to protect and preserve existing agricultural zones, this provision should also be reexamined in light of the observations made in point two above.

For the manufacturing and commercial sectors, the analyses conducted in the PUC report that the programmatic component of the PUC does not envisage new areas for production transformation and tends to consolidate existing production activities. However, among the intended uses envisaged in many ATS, as well as in the urban compensation areas resulting from the implementation of the equalization program, commercial, manufacturing, management, and tertiary activities are also contemplated.

The area listed in the ATS (indicated in report C.1 and in NTA C.3) as parking area no. 35 is represented in document "Table C.2 – The programmatic discipline of the PUC" with the filling required for ATS – Equipped public green areas. In document B.2 – The Structural Discipline of the PUC – the area to the west of the municipal territory between Via Colombo, Via Ignazio Silone, and the SP 191 is not filled in.

The documents submitted did not include drawings for the perimeter of the illegal settlements. The drawings do not represent buffer zones, such as the cemetery buffer zone and the ASI buffer zone. In light of the above, and based on what was verified from the documents filed, it is believed that the PUC of the Municipality of Arzano can be considered consistent with the supra-municipal strategies pursuant to Article 3, paragraph 4 of Regional Regulation No. 5/2011, subject to the above-mentioned concerns being addressed.