Garage House sotto Bloody: il Comune per la protezione delle acque, la specializzazione per la promozione delle automobili

A proposed multi-level parking structure on Planina Jezerca beneath Mount Krvavec has ignited debate between the Municipality of Cerklje na Gorenjskem and advocates of sustainable development. The project, which would provide over 700 parking spaces at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters above sea level, aims to address increasing traffic congestion in the area while protecting water resources. However, environmental groups have raised concerns about the lack of professional justification and its alignment with principles of sustainable mobility. The planned garage building comes amid growing traffic pressures around Mount Krvavec, a popular tourist destination. According to the mayor of Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Franc Čebulj, the current situation on Planina Jezerca represents a serious risk, particularly due to its proximity to a critical water source. He stated during a public presentation of the project in June that the municipality has long highlighted the completely unregulated parking conditions on the mountain. Today, he explained, the area is in chaos, with visitors abandoning their vehicles everywhere, posing a threat to the surrounding environment. Čebulj emphasized that the garage would help manage traffic and reduce the risk of contamination. He noted that the site currently hosts more than a thousand cars at weekends without proper oversight. He added that the paving of the access road in the past had further increased traffic burdens. “Mount Krvavec is no longer just a mountain, it has become almost a refuge for urban tourism,” he remarked. “People drive there without realizing the consequences such traffic can have on the environment and water sources.” According to Čebulj, the initiative stems from the detailed spatial plan of the Pašna Skupnost Jezerca, which owns the land. The president of the community, Marko Kuhar, confirmed that they support the project primarily because of the desire to protect water sources. The estimated value of the investment, though the investor remains unknown, ranges between eight and ten million euros. The mayor did not rule out the possibility of a public-private partnership but suggested that the municipality itself taking over the project would make the most sense in the long term, allowing direct management of traffic regulations on Mount Krvavec. Environmental organizations, however, have criticized the project's lack of professional foundation. The Coalition for Sustainable Transport Policy (KTPP), which brings together organizations focused on sustainable mobility and environmental protection, argues that the planned garage is oversized, unjustified from a traffic perspective, and prepared without key professional analyses. They pointed out that the publicly available documentation does not indicate that comprehensive traffic studies, analysis of actual needs for additional parking spaces, or comparisons with alternative solutions have been conducted. The coalition described the proposed garage, which would be larger than the Congress Square Parking in central Ljubljana, as being significantly oversized for the needs of the area. They questioned whether such a large infrastructure project was necessary given the existing traffic patterns and the potential impact on the natural landscape. Their concerns include the possible disruption of local ecosystems, increased runoff affecting nearby water sources, and the long-term implications for the Alpine region’s development. The controversy highlights the tension between addressing immediate traffic challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability. While the municipality sees the project as essential for managing visitor numbers and protecting water resources, environmental advocates argue that the approach lacks thorough planning and could lead to unintended ecological consequences. As discussions continue, the outcome will depend on how both sides navigate these competing priorities and whether additional assessments or compromises can be reached.