An important and in-depth presentation was held in the community of Potamos, Kythira, with the aim of informing residents about the urban development of their region over the past 100 years and the critical changes brought about by the new Presidential Decree (PD) regarding small settlements.
Speaker Andreas Mariatos, an engineer and municipal councilor for Kythira representing the «Free Kythira» party, using detailed historical data, maps, and a critical analysis, presented how—from 1923 and the first building code through the 800-meter zones (of 1983) and the demarcation of settlements (of 1989), the community of Potamos went through successive phases of urban planning regulations, which often did not correspond to the reality of Kythira. Particular emphasis was placed on the absurdity of blanket legislation, which was applied to all villages in Greece without taking into account the unique characteristics of each location.
The presentation highlighted critical issues, such as the lack of a land-use plan for Potamos, the existence of «ghost villages» (such as Karydianika) that are not currently even considered settlements, as well as the approach to postwar constructions, which is out of touch with reality.
The risks posed by the implementation of the new Presidential Decree were also noted, as many residents may lose the building rights to their properties. It was emphasized that citizens must take an active role and submit well-documented proposals in a timely manner to the planners of the Local Urban Plan (LUP), which will be opened for public consultation in August.
