Troubled touch-down for OB Boch

Controversy Surrounds Industrial Development in Pforzheim

A contentious decision by the city of Pforzheim to favour the industrial area Klapfenhardt over Ochsenwäldle has caused a stir, with various groups expressing disappointment over a lack of proper communication.

The plans for the industrial area Ochsenwäldle are yet to reach a concrete stage, and financial negotiations will only commence when they do. However, the state of Baden-Württemberg has made it clear that it expects a financial compensation for Ochsenwäldle, amounting to 30% of the land value that the city of Pforzheim will realise from the sale of the developed industrial area.

This disclosure came after several months of growing discontent among factions in the city council, leading to the city's requirement to disclose documents, expert opinions, and information about the industrial area Ochsenwäldle.

The delay in the industrial area planning process may have negative implications for business, as stagnation is often the first sign of regression. This delay has resulted in at least two lost years for the urgently needed industrial area.

Questions have also arisen about where the wastewater from an industrial area in Klapfenhardt would flow. Meanwhile, nature conservationists have expressed concerns about species diversity in the Klapfenhardt area.

The handling of the industrial area planning issue has raised concerns about transparency and communication in city governance. Mayor Peter Boch's campaign promises of an "open and communicative manner" and "ability to listen well" are being questioned due to this issue.

Furthermore, the city initially based its cost assumptions for the industrial area Ochsenwäldle on rough estimates, with estimates up to 30 million euros. The central argument that Ochsenwäldle "would cost 30 million euros more" has been called into question.

Representatives of the Enz district, the citizens' initiative North, and the city council were not initially informed about the plans for the industrial area Klapfenhardt. The city must transfer a similarly large area of city forest to the state of Baden-Württemberg for the loss of 61 hectares of state forest in relation to the industrial area Ochsenwäldle.

The institution that made the cost agreements for the acquisition of the state forest for the potential industrial zone "Ochsenwäldle" in Pforzheim was the Ministry of Finance.

The industrial area planning issue has created a big mess that requires significant work to repair trust. As the city moves forward, it is crucial that it addresses these concerns and ensures better communication and transparency in its decision-making processes.