Chairman of State Committee for Urban Development reports on 2017 activities and 2018 priority programs

During a working meeting held with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Chairman of State Committee for Urban Development Narek Sargsyan reported on the activities carried out in 2017, progress in the implementation of President’s assignments issued at the previous meeting and the priority programs envisaged for 2018.

The Chairman of the Committee presented the works on improvement of urban development legislation, regulation of architectural activities, spatial planning and normative documents development, seismic risk reduction of buildings and seismic resistance, settlement of the problem of incomplete State and community-owned buildings, State budget-supported construction projects, and other activities carried out in the period under review under the Committee’s terms of reference.

Narek Sargsyan reported that as instructed by the President, in order to regulate and facilitate the process of issuing permits in urban area, a proposal for amending the applicable procedure has been developed, which envisages that a significant part of the functions shall be performed online via www.e-permits. am through a single system.

Concerning spatial planning, which is the main function of the Committee, it was reported that the program of elaborating combined spatial planning documents is being implemented in order to ensure that all communities have master plans in 2017-2021. Narek Sargsyan cited 6 combined spatial planning documents covering 55 communities of Tavush Marz that were developed by the Committee in 2017. According to the Chairman of the Committee, in 2018 it is envisaged to implement a similar program in Syunik and Ararat Marzes for the total of 233 settlements.

In the context of the activities aimed at developing Sevan National Park, Narek Sargsyan elaborated on the proposals already submitted, thus envisaging construction of the seafront hiking trail in the Lchashen-Sevan section by implementing comprehensive mapping of the area to encourage the implementation of investment programs, separating the beach, rest and other facilities areas. The project proposals were said to be under development.

It was reported that the program aimed at solving housing problems of homeless families continued in 2017. With reference to presidential instructions, Narek Sargsyan presented the investment projects implemented by the State Committee for Urban Development in 2017, as well as a number of large investment projects to be implemented in Yerevan and the regions in 2018.

54 investment projects were said to have been implemented at the expense of public and private borrowed resources, of which 19 – public and 35 - private. According to Narek Sargsyan, the projects are in the final stage of completion. It is planned to continue and bring to completion 7 investment projects in 2018 with the coordination of the Committee, as well as coordinate the implementation of more than 24 construction investment projects.

Using State budget funds, the Committee ordered and implemented construction and maintenance activities for educational, sports, cultural, healthcare, residential facilities and 32 administrative buildings in 2017, including Vanadzor Medical Center in Lori Marz and Levon Kalantar State Dramatic Theater in Gavar town of Gegharkunik Marz.

The construction of Hrant Matevosyan Cultural Center, Yerevan State Chamber Theater, a subsidiary building for Vanadzor’s youth boxing and sports school in Lori Marz, and design and survey works for 24 pre-school institutions and schools, sports, cultural and administrative institutions are nearing completion.
The Chairman of the Committee also presented the investment projects for the development of the sites of special construction objects. Construction of a hotel complex with indoor and outdoor swimming pools within the framework of the city development program in Jermuk, a number of investment projects aimed at developing residential areas and city improvement, the Vanadzor ski resort and recreation zone project, rehabilitation of urban transport and engineering infrastructure under Tsakhkadzor Development and Improvement Project and construction, building façade parts, night lighting system installation, and so on.

Serzh Sargsyan gave a number of assignments to the State Committee for Urban Development. In particular, the President urged them to continue work on facilitation of construction permit issuance procedures and improve Armenia’s comparative advantages recorded by the Doing Business index.

It was also instructed to consider future large-scale programs for the development of provincial towns and individual rural communities, considering the priorities identified in terms of ensuring tourism productivity and the establishment of a conducive, sustainable urban environment and identifying the necessary arrangements for keeping in the spotlight urban development programs in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Jermuk, Dilijan, Tsaghkadzor and other settlements.