News

At the invitation of the Committee for City Planning and Urban Development, a coordination meeting was held at Saida Municipality between the municipality, the Directorate General of Urban Planning, and the Order of Engineers. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to regulate the construction sector, enhance cooperation among the concerned parties, and strengthen oversight of building violations.Representing Saida Municipality were Mayor Eng. Mustafa Hijazi, Vice Mayor Dr. Ahmad Akra, Chairperson of the Municipal Council’s Committee for City Planning and Urban Development Eng. Baraa Hariri, and Head of the Municipality’s Engineering Department Dr. Ziad Hakwati.Representing the Directorate General of Urban Planning was Eng. Nozhat Kalaw, Head of the Urban Planning Office in the Saida District, while Eng. Imran Nahouli, Director of the Saida Branch of the Order of Engineers, represented the syndicate.During the meeting, participants reviewed the current state of the construction sector in the city and discussed mechanisms for coordinating efforts to address violations, unify urban planning policies, and highlight the importance of organized urban development for Saida. They also examined and discussed a number of observations and proposals submitted by the three parties, with the aim of enhancing compliance with regulations while preserving the city’s identity and serving the public interest.Among the key proposals discussed were:

1. Establishing specific construction guidelines for the city of Saida that take into account its unique urban, heritage, and environmental characteristics.

2. Regulating the city’s visual landscape and preserving its architectural and aesthetic identity, including building facades, advertisements, fences, and new developments.

3. Strengthening mechanisms for monitoring and addressing violations during construction phases, as well as encroachments on legal setbacks, sidewalks, and public property.

4. Coordinating property valuation and assessment mechanisms related to building permits and settlement procedures, while clarifying the standards applied.

Eng. Baraa Hariri emphasized the importance of establishing a framework for future coordination between Saida Municipality, the Directorate General of Urban Planning, and the Order of Engineers through regular meetings and a clear communication mechanism to facilitate faster processing of issues and more effective decision-making.