Mayor Shin Sangjin: "The Remaining Three Proposals for Relaxing Height Restrictions Must Also Be Achieved"

Will Redevelopment in Old Downtown Seongnam Gain Momentum?
Height Restriction Relaxation Draws Intense Interest
Seongnam Holds Residents Briefing on Five Proposed Measures
Residents Raise Questions on Flight Safety Zone Changes and Complex-Specific Applications

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Shin Sangjin) held a residents briefing session on the '3rd Study and Advisory Service on the Relaxation of Height Restrictions' at Onnuri in City Hall at 2 p.m. on the 27th.

Seongnam Mayor Shin Sangjin is giving a greeting at the '3rd Study and Advisory Service on the Relaxation of Height Restrictions' residents briefing held at Onnuri in the city hall on the 27th. Provided by Seongnam City

Approximately 500 residents interested in the relaxation of height restrictions attended the event. Song Byunghum, the lead researcher from the Korean Society for Aeronautical Operations, which is conducting the study, explained five proposed measures for relaxing height restrictions and the future plans, followed by a Q&A session with the residents.

Mayor Shin Sangjin emphasized, "For the successful implementation of height restriction relaxation in Seongnam, it is most important that all citizens unite and clearly convey our strong will to the central government." He added, "Of the five proposals our city has prepared for relaxing height restrictions, the Ministry of National Defense has accepted two, resulting in some achievements. However, in order to fundamentally increase building heights, the remaining three proposals must also be realized."

The residents showed great interest in the recent revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Bases and Military Installations Protection Act, which, starting August 26, allows for taller buildings in redevelopment and reconstruction projects in the original downtown area. There were also questions regarding whether the relaxation of height restrictions in certain areas of Yatap and Imae, following the announcement of changes to the flight safety zone near Seoul Airport, would be applied to specific complexes.

In response, lead researcher Song Byunghum stated, "Increases in building height and the number of residential units will vary depending on the location and architectural plans of each complex, so it is difficult to make a blanket judgment. However, overall business feasibility is expected to improve." He added, "For fundamental relaxation of height restrictions, further consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and the Air Force are necessary."

The city proactively submitted the five proposed measures for relaxing height restrictions, developed during the study process, to the Ministry of National Defense and other military agencies on June 26, requesting their adoption. In response, the Ministry of National Defense accepted two proposals: the removal of the 'lowest ground surface' standard from the Enforcement Decree of the Military Bases and Military Installations Protection Act, and the planned announcement of changes to the flight safety zone following the adjustment of the runway angle at Seoul Airport. However, there has been no official position yet on the remaining three proposals: designating the circling approach path to the west side of the runway, establishing a special circling approach procedure, and relaxing the conservatively set minimum safe altitude for height restrictions.