Fijnaart Town Center Plan

As part of the overarching “Vitale Centra” program, the center of Fijnaart is also being made future-proof. As a first step, the Jumbo supermarket—which is currently located on the outskirts of the village—will be moved to the village center. Such crowd-drawers are important for the vitality of a town center.

What's coming up?

In addition to a 1,900 m² supermarket, 300 m² will also be available for other retail stores. Furthermore, ten new apartments will be built above the stores, and five new townhouses will be constructed on Molenstraat.

Where is this location?

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What is the latest update?

Rho Advisors has drafted the initial development plan. At the same time, a traffic plan was developed because the construction of a supermarket at the intersection of Voorstraat and Molenstraat—featuring a vibrant square—will have an impact on traffic flow within the town center of Fijnaart.

A broad public engagement process was conducted with the village, during which residents were asked about the potential traffic-related consequences of a car-free plaza being created near the development site. Together with the focus group, the village-wide development vision was presented in the spring of 2023. The four parties endorsed the vision by signing an addendum to the letter of intent.

Based on the results of the traffic vision study, Royal Haskoning DHV conducted a technical feasibility study on opening up Eerste Kruisweg. This study was completed in December 2023. Based on this study, it is proposed that, as a first step, priority be given to developing a low-traffic dike square rather than a car-free dike square. Opening the Eerste Kruisweg to traffic is not financially unfeasible but is too complex, which could slow down the development of the town center. It is proposed to link the opening of the Eerste Kruisweg to the mobility vision that will be drawn up later for Fijnaart. In that context, it can be examined to what extent the connection between Eerste Kruisweg, the redesign of Parallelweg, and the link to Langeweg can lead to a desirable peripheral road structure around Fijnaart, whereby a car-free dike square at the head of Voorstraat–Molenstraat can be provided for in the long term.

The parties further examined the development vision in terms of its financial, spatial, and social feasibility. This led to a number of adjustments. These adjustments were again discussed with the focus group and were shared in January 2024 during a well-attended information evening in Fijnaart.

Those in attendance were generally positive. A good and accessible connection between the event grounds, Voorstraat, and the area around the Dorpskerk is also important in this regard. The advisory group for the Fijnaart town center plan has therefore been expanded for the “Vitaal Centrum Fijnaart” Implementation Program—which is being undertaken concurrently with this project—to include representatives from the local hospitality industry, the Fijnaart Events Foundation, and the church council of the Dorpskerk.

The goal is to have a city council resolution on the agreement in principle by the summer of 2024. The council is expected to make a decision on this agreement in principle in September in order to make this development possible. After that, the design phase will begin, during which we will ensure that the vision is translated into a plan for which an environmental plan will also be drawn up, so that the plan can actually be implemented.

Car-free Dijkplein

The development vision consists of a dike square, shops, and single-family homes and apartments. Compared to the previously presented development vision by Rho, a number of adjustments have been made to the original plan. For example, in the revised plan, the supermarket will now be located at the foot of the dike. There will be an entrance to the supermarket both at the foot of the dike, adjacent to the parking lot, and at dike level. Space has been set aside behind the site for two residential complexes with apartments. We are creating a dike square with a lively atmosphere and foot traffic. The plan includes a connection between the supermarket parking lot and the event grounds, as well as direct access to the event grounds via a staircase. For the time being, the dike square will be low-traffic rather than car-free, pending the mobility vision to be drafted later this year.

Planning

Feasibility Studies

Through the summer of 2024
Decision on Feasibility/Agreement on General Principles

Summer 2024
If the decision is positive: the design phase will begin with the development of an urban design plan, followed by its incorporation into the environmental plan.