Offenbach in plans: How development and open spaces are regulated
When planning a construction project in a municipality, the first thing you do is look at the relevant valid development plan. Offenbach has 83 development plans to date - the oldest dating back to 1967. They only cover part of the city area and are valid until a new plan is adopted or repealed. The city administration provides an overview of all the plans and the individual specifications set out in them online.
Each development plan is shown on a map that can be downloaded as a PDF. All development plans are offered individually as PDF files and can be used for non-commercial purposes. However, printing and editing the development plans is not permitted.
The creation of a development plan can take up to several years. The duration depends on the complexity and the general conditions to be examined. Citizens can find out about all the steps involved. At the very beginning is the decision to draw up the development plan - here the discussion in the Environment, Planning and Building Committee (UPB) can be followed and all content can be read in the political information system.
Public interpretation
This is followed by a public display and is publicized in the media. Interested parties can take a close look at the plans and documents and - if necessary - seek advice. Any comments can be submitted directly for the record, but written submissions - in the form of emails or letters - are also possible within the deadlines.
Authorities and public agencies are also involved in this phase. The latter are other federal, state or district authorities, as well as energy suppliers, waste disposal companies or waterworks, telecommunications network operators or postal and rail operators. The fire and rescue services and, if necessary, the German armed forces are also involved.
Specifications for areas without a development plan
In Offenbach, there are - uniformly throughout Germany - also requirements for areas without a development plan, with a simple development plan or alignment plan: These are regulated in the Building Code. According to this, a project is permitted if it fits in with the nature of the immediate surroundings in terms of the type and extent of building use, the construction method and the area of land to be built on, and the traffic and technical development with sewerage, water and electricity is ensured. Without a development plan, the planning law requirement is to be based on the buildings in the neighborhood (§ 34 BauGB).
Information on development plans is linked to all important legal texts on the Internet. The building office at Berliner Strasse 60 offers personal advice on all questions relating to building projects. Representatives of all offices involved in building projects are gathered here. The building office is open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 12 noon, on Thursdays additionally from 2 pm to 4 pm and closed on Wednesdays