Citizens' workshop on the expansion of the commercial area in Stetten is coming up!

Citizens' workshop on the expansion of the commercial area in Stetten is coming up!

The discussion about the expansion of the commercial area in the Stetten district of Schwabhausen is gaining momentum. On Thursday, November 27th, everyone interested is invited to a citizens' workshop at the Puchschlägen community center. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., citizens have the opportunity to find out about the current plans and express their opinions. Registration is required by November 20th, either by email bauamt@schwabhausen.de or by phone at 08138/9325 -31 or -39. The Süddeutsche Zeitung reports that the municipality has been working on expanding the commercial area since 2022. The plan envisages expanding the area along Dorfstrasse to the railway line, with the area of ​​the expansion roughly corresponding to the current built-up area.

But not all citizens are enthusiastic about the plans. “Saving Stetten”, a citizens' initiative, was founded to protest against the potential negative consequences of the expansion. After there was initially considerable resistance, there has been a rapprochement between the residents and the community since the beginning of 2023. In a conversation with Mayor Hörl, the initiative developed a target formulation for the planned commercial expansion and submitted this to the mayor, all local councilors in the Schwabhausen community and the Münchner Merkur on May 21, 2025. Save Stetten draws attention to the possible consequences of the new commercial area: noise, traffic congestion, extinction of nature and the destruction of the local character.

Citizen participation is key

The importance of citizen participation is evident more than ever in the current situation. Residents who actively participate in the planning can help to shape the development positively. According to a study by the Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the German Economic Institute in Cologne, early citizen participation is crucial to avoid conflicts and ensure long-term success. Neuland district emphasizes that collective action is necessary to successfully master economic and social changes.

The planning of the new commercial area in Schwabhausen therefore not only represents economic growth and new jobs, but also brings with it challenges. Real citizen participation and transparent communication are essential. The community is required to provide information at an early stage and to offer dialogue at eye level. This is the only way to gain the trust of the population and reduce resistance.

The upcoming citizens' workshop is not just an information event, but an important platform for working together on the future of the Stetten district. It remains exciting to see how things will develop and whether a common solution can be found that takes into account both the needs of the business and the concerns of local residents.