Namyangju-si, Efforts to Improve Residents' Living Environment through Deregulation in Joan-myeon

Namyangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Joo Gwang-deok) announced on the 26th that it has established a 'Plan for Changing the Environmental Maintenance Zone' for the newly incorporated areas within Joan-myeon’s sewage treatment zone to improve the living environment of residents in the water source protection area and to preserve the water quality of the Paldang water source.

Panoramic view of Paldang Water Source Protection Area. Provided by Namyangju City

The Environmental Maintenance Zone is an area designated within the water source protection zone where sewage can be treated by public sewage treatment facilities. The city aims to enhance residents' convenience by establishing an environmental maintenance plan and having it approved by Gyeonggi Province, thereby relaxing restrictions on construction and changes of use in the designated area.

In July, Namyangju City secured an increased area from 2,529,722㎡ to 2,841,589㎡, an expansion of 311,867㎡, through approval of changes to the environmental maintenance plan. Among this, 129 plots totaling 62,300㎡ in Joan-myeon are awaiting additional designation approval as an environmental maintenance zone by Gyeonggi Province.

In the existing water source protection zone, restrictions limited construction to new or expanded farmhouses and income-generating facilities. However, within the environmental maintenance zone, new or expanded construction of △general houses △neighborhood living facilities is permitted up to a total floor area of 200㎡.

Additionally, original residents are now allowed to change the use of their houses into restaurants, with this permitted within 5% to 10% of the number of households per treatment zone.

Gyeonggi Province has been conducting a 14-day public inspection of the proposed additional designation of the environmental maintenance zone in Joan-myeon from the 19th of this month until January 2nd of next year.

Residents can check related information through the Water Supply and Sewerage Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Water Resources Headquarters and the Environmental Policy Division of Namyangju City. Based on opinions received within 30 days after the inspection, the designation of the environmental maintenance zone will be decided and announced. The city plans to officially notify the cadastral details of the environmental maintenance zone thereafter.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok of Namyangju City said, “I hope that the additional designation of the environmental maintenance zone will be an opportunity to improve the quality of life for residents of Joan-myeon,” and added, “The city will continue to make every effort and closely cooperate with related organizations to restore residents’ basic rights and promote welfare.”