The revision of the Municipal Master Plan (PDM) for Ponta Delgada was approved today by the majority of the Municipal Council, incorporating changes resulting from the Public Consultation and aiming to strengthen the municipality's capacity to meet housing needs. The proposal received favorable votes from the PSD and PS councilors, while councilors from Movimento Ponta Delgada para Todos and Chega voted against.
The new PDM seeks to create conditions for expanding housing supply by increasing the availability of urban land and improving construction capacity. This promotes a more efficient and qualified use of the territory, allowing for increased construction capacity without solely relying on the expansion of urban perimeters. The revision includes the possibility of building up to three stories as a rule in consolidated and to-be-consolidated urban areas, encouraging rehabilitation and the use of existing infrastructure.
The President of the Ponta Delgada Municipal Council, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, stated that the new PDM "takes a decisive step today," serving as a planning instrument that enhances Ponta Delgada's capacity to build housing, address families' needs, and ensure the municipality's sustainable growth for the next decade.
A significant portion of the changes incorporated into the proposal stems from the Public Consultation process, where over half of the submissions from citizens, companies, and entities were accepted, either fully or partially. These contributions have helped adjust the proposal to the identified needs of the territory, particularly in reinforcing the area and construction capacity designated for housing.
Pedro Nascimento Cabral emphasized the commitment made to "make available, within the legal framework, the maximum possible area for housing construction throughout the municipality," noting that the Council "listened to citizens, analyzed the submissions, and improved the proposal".
Today's vote was also marked by a shift in position from Movimento Ponta Delgada para Todos and Chega, who had previously voted in favor or abstained on the first version of the PDM revision proposal. Pedro Nascimento Cabral questioned this change, suggesting that the proposal, now improved with public participation and increased housing construction capacity, should have maintained its prior support.
The mayor believes the new PDM "responds more concretely to the challenges Ponta Delgada faces," by balancing "more capacity for housing with urban consolidation, rehabilitation, environmental protection, landscape enhancement, and efficient use of existing infrastructure".
Following municipal approval, the PDM revision process will now proceed to the Regional Directorate for Local Power for analysis. After receiving a favorable opinion from the entities within the Monitoring Committee, the document will be submitted to the Municipal Assembly for final approval.
