Municipalities along Lake Zurich must adapt their land-use plans and watercourse zone designations to changed regulatory conditions — triggered by the entry into force of regional structure plans and new legislation on watercourse space planning. To support the municipalities, the Canton of Zurich is developing a planning guidance document.
During my time at Kontextplan, we collaborated with Holinger Engineers and AMJGS Architecture to examine a possible methodological approach using test areas in the pilot municipalities of Rüschlikon and Meilen. The aim was to develop a process that allows simultaneous revision of land-use plans and watercourse zones while meeting a wide range of requirements.
Client: Canton of Zurich
Collaboration: For Kontextplan in collaboration with AMJGS and Holinger
Year: 2024/25
This project required balancing a wide range of competing interests, including shoreline revitalisation planning, existing nature and heritage protection inventories, urban design considerations, and residents’ interests in waterfront access.
Given the numerous conflicts of interest and objectives, a careful and balanced weighing of interests was the key success factor. The process addressed not only built and ecological aspects but also recreational uses, and was conducted through workshops with representatives from municipalities, regional bodies, and various cantonal specialist offices.
The findings from the two pilot municipalities will form the basis for model regulations and a guidance document for the planned cantonal planning tool.
