Yongin City Introduces Special Provisions for Apartment Remodeling in Land Development Districts

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Yongin City announced on the 19th that it had revised and announced the District Unit Plan by establishing special provisions that raise floor area ratios to enable smooth apartment remodeling within land development districts on the 18th.

The measure aims to revitalize remodeling in aging multi-unit housing complexes where redevelopment projects are practically difficult, thereby improving residential environments.

A District Unit Plan refers to a plan that establishes urban infrastructure and building standards to efficiently utilize land in a designated area within a city.

Land development districts are subject to the 'District Unit Plan Implementation Guidelines' in addition to relevant laws and ordinances, but the existing guidelines lacked specific regulations on apartment remodeling, creating obstacles for aging apartment redevelopment projects.

Under the Housing Act, apartment remodeling projects can add to multi-unit housing 15 years after occupancy approval within 30% of residential area (up to 40% for units under 85㎡) and within 15% of existing units, and can vertically extend up to three floors depending on safety inspection results.

With the establishment of these new provisions, the addition of floor area ratio relaxation under other laws such as the 'Eco-Friendly Building Support Act' and the 'Building Act' allows the floor area ratio for Class 3 general residential areas where mid-to-high-rise housing is located to be relaxed to a maximum of 300%.

The city decided to make final determinations on floor area ratio application for apartment remodeling through architectural review within the permitted scope of the 'Yongin City Urban Planning Ordinance.'

When applying the special provisions, the remodeling floor area ratio at one apartment complex in Suji-gu, Yongin City, will increase from the existing 210% to a maximum of 300%. This exceeds not only typical floor area ratios in Seoul's land development districts but also the 280% standard for Gyeonggi Province's Suwon and Seongnam City.

Notably, establishing special provisions allowing the application of additional floor area ratios under other laws to the permitted floor area ratio is a first nationwide.

Accordingly, the city visited Seoul and Seongnam City, which have high numbers of apartment remodeling projects, for consultations and reviewed in advance issues such as urban overcrowding and insufficient infrastructure due to floor area ratio relaxation.

Subsequently, from May, the plan was made available for public review for two weeks to gather resident opinions, and it underwent Architectural Review Committee deliberation on July 6.

A city official stated, "We anticipate that with the establishment of the special provisions, remodeling such as aged apartment redevelopment will be revitalized," and added, "We will continue to reorganize related policies necessary for systematic urban management, including preparing planned development policies."

Meanwhile, 10 multi-unit housing complexes in the city are pursuing remodeling projects, with related procedures including cooperative establishment approval underway.