"Delayed Response to Airport Noise Issues Causes Delays in Gwonseon AB District and Station-Area Development"

The Gwonseon AB District and Suwon Station-area development projects, which are targeted for completion in December 2012, have experienced delays of up to three years in preliminary environmental reviews and project operator selection, prompting criticism that the city's immature administration has disrupted development timelines.

During an administrative audit of the Suwon City Urban Planning Bureau conducted by the Urban Construction Committee on the 29th of last month, council members examined various urban planning and development projects undertaken by the city, including the Gwonseon AB District and station-area development, the 2025 Suwon City Basic Urban Plan, and urban and residential environment improvement projects.

The Gwonseon AB District (987,493㎡, 298,717 pyeong), which the city originally planned to develop directly after formulating the development plan in July 2003, is now expected to be developed through private sector methods following Hyundai Industrial Development's submission of an urban development zone designation proposal on September 28.

Council member Lee Jong-pil pointed out that the city's prior knowledge and response regarding noise and altitude restrictions related to the Suwon Air Force Base were insufficient for the development of the Gwonseon AB District and station-area, for which development plans were established in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

In this regard, after the city requested an environmental review opinion from the Ministry of Environment in December 2005, the ministry responded in January 2006 that areas around Suwon Air Base with aircraft noise levels of 70 decibels or higher are not suitable for locating facilities such as apartment complexes, schools, and hospitals.

Council member Lee Jong-pil stated that "the city failed to properly handle matters requiring modification or changes to the urban development plan" and pointed out that "the transfer of the project operator from the city to the private sector resulted in problems such as property damage due to prolonged development planning."

Additionally, concerns have been raised about potential future civil complaints and property damage to residents, as there are no legal regulations to restrict private developers from pursuing apartment complex development projects in areas with aircraft noise levels of 70 decibels or higher.

In response, Seo Sang-yoon, Director of the Urban Planning Bureau, stated, "There have been no regulations or environmental standards for the 70-decibel area related to airport noise," and added, "The Ministry of Environment's environmental standards regarding noise were newly established in 2004, after the AB District development project was commissioned."

Shin Tae-ho, Head of the Urban Development Division, explained that "consultation with the Ministry of Environment's preliminary environmental review opinion and increased requests from local residents for private development methods consumed considerable time in selecting the development method and project operator," and noted that "the city also faces issues in securing funds to lead development projects."

Council member Lee Jong-pil stated, "The city lacked prior information and specialized personnel regarding airport noise, which disrupted urban development planning such as the Gwonseon AB District and Suwon station-area development," emphasizing the necessity of establishing a specialized department dedicated to airport noise issues.

Meanwhile, an official from the Urban Development Division explained, "Projects with a site area of 200,000㎡ or larger must undergo preliminary environmental review with the Ministry of Environment or its affiliated regional administrative agencies before project implementation is possible," and added, "Land use plans will be established to ensure that areas with noise levels of 70 decibels or higher do not accommodate apartment complexes."