Residents near an illegal housing development in Aalborg continue waiting for politicians to make a decision. The City and Landscape Committee postponed its ruling on 69 apartments built with multiple zoning violations.
The project in Sønder Tranders, a southern district of Denmark's fourth-largest city Aalborg, violated height and proximity regulations. The terrain was raised excessively, making buildings too tall and too close to neighboring properties.
Committee politicians requested more legal clarity before deciding on possible exemptions. They want to understand their personal liability risks and gather more input from affected residents.
Committee chairman Jan Nymark Thaysen acknowledged the difficult situation. "This is a really troublesome case that everyone agrees on," he said in a statement. "We need more clarity about what we as politicians can decide without potentially becoming personally liable for damages."
He denied accusations that politicians were delaying until after November's municipal elections. The committee will reconsider the case on November 13 with resident input.
Municipal officials acknowledge the developer built in good faith following municipal guidance. This suggests the errors originated in the municipality's own planning process.
As part of a potential solution, officials considered planting five-meter tall thuja trees to shield neighbors from the construction's significant privacy intrusion.
Neighbor Flemming Sørensen expressed cautious optimism about the delay. "We're positive that politicians won't just approve the illegalities, but that they're willing to listen more to us," he said.
The postponement reflects typical political caution when legal and financial liabilities are unclear, though residents rightly question the timing near local elections.