Property Deals in Leobersdorf: Allegations Against Mayor

The mayor of Leobersdorf (Baden district), Andreas Ramharter (List Future Leobersdorf), is said to benefit from the business park and rezoning in his community. According to "WZ" and "Falter", Ramharter allegedly secured the right to install a PV system on the roof of the planned commercial property during the sale of land where a women's concentration camp once stood. Ramharter did not comment on Tuesday when asked by APA. Criticism came from the NEOS.

PV System on Roof Areas of the Business Park

In the purchase contracts, Ramharter's real estate company is granted the right to "develop, construct, and operate an energy generation system" on the roof areas of the business park, it was reported. A lease of five percent of the net income is planned. The buyer has the right to purchase the produced electricity "preferably under market conditions".

Purchased Land, Co-decided Rezoning Himself

Ramharter is also said to benefit from rezoning for photovoltaic areas: In 2020, he reportedly bought about 3.6 hectares of arable land from two farmers for 450,000 euros. In August 2022, the municipal council rezoned the properties to greenland-photovoltaic, with the mayor voting in favor, reported "WZ" and "Falter". When asked by an SPÖ councilor if he was not biased, the protocol stated: "The mayor cannot understand this inquiry and denies this question." According to reports, Ramharter plans a ground-mounted photovoltaic system with around 2,600 kilowatt peak on the site. The mayor wants to implement a second such project near the highway. In 2017, he acquired five hectares of greenland for 650,000 euros, which were also rezoned in the municipal council meeting in August 2022. Both projects have reportedly already been approved.

Furthermore, Ramharter is said to have ceded areas for a "young citizens' forest" through an exchange and transfer contract with the municipality in October 2022 and received 8,600 square meters of greenland along with an adjacent road. In the event of rezoning to commercial area within ten years, the mayor would have to pay 40 euros per square meter - "well below market value", reported the "WZ".

NEOS Demand Stricter Rules for Rezoning

The Lower Austrian NEOS reacted with criticism. "If the reports are true, Mayor Ramharter has exploited his position to enrich himself and his friends through rezoning deals. This is an apparently systemic problem and shows once again that rezoning should be placed at a higher level. Too often, personal and party-political interests are pursued," said the pink municipal spokesman Helmut Hofer-Gruber: "That mayors align their sense of wrongdoing solely with the penal code is not enough."

The business park on the site of the second-largest former women's concentration camp in Austria has repeatedly drawn criticism since the plans became known last year, including from the Jewish Community (IKG). According to earlier media reports, Ramharter's real estate company sold land for 15.25 million euros and received an additional 1.34 million through rezoning - in which he is said to have voted himself. He did not see any conflict of interest. All approvals for the business park are in place, Ramharter said at the end of August. In the municipal council election on January 26 this year, the List Future Leobersdorf lost the absolute majority but narrowly defended first place with 37.12 percent.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.