The residents of the municipality of Stegen in Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald have halted plans to build a new Edekasupermarket on the festival grounds in a binding referendum on 8 November. According to the official announcement, 52 per cent voted against selling a plot of around 5,700 square metres of the municipal festival grounds, while 48 per cent voted in favour. Turnout was around 70 per cent; according to the municipality, about 3,500 people were eligible to vote.
The decision rejects the proposed sale of the land, making the planned site unviable. Under municipal law, the vote has the force of a decision by the municipal council and is binding on the municipality. The municipality Stegen published the result on the day of the vote; regional media such as SWR Aktuell reported consistent details of the process and figures.
The starting point was a proposal by the family operating the existing store to move to the edge of the village and build a significantly larger, modern Edeka store there. Supporters cited an improved range of services, accessibility and the safeguarding of local services Opponents warned of additional land being sealed over, the loss of green space and an events area on the Festwiese, as well as possible effects on cold-air flows, surface water drainage during heavy rain and traffic. Criticism came, among others, from a residents’ initiative and NABU Dreisamtal. The official information materials for the vote highlighted outstanding issues that would have needed to be resolved in subsequent planning processes.
With the majority voting no, the Festwiese remains the property of the municipality; the sale of the affected section is prohibited. For the retail site, this means that the specific expansion plan for this location cannot be pursued further. Options now include modernising the existing site or looking for alternative sites, provided these are viable under planning law and environmentally. The municipal council is likely to discuss the next steps; local services, transport access, environmental protection and flood protection will once again play a central role.
The figures, process and positions are based on official statements from the municipality of Stegen and regional reporting. Statements about the economic or urban-planning consequences remain assessments for now and will be subject to later reviews and decisions.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).