The project is launched, the consultation process has begun!
Christian Tordo, President of the EPA Plaine du Var: “Because the success of the Eco-Vallée is crucial for the economic and social future of our territory in the broad sense, the project must necessarily be a shared project. This is the goal of the consultation that has just started. This dialogue can now be expanded because the Eco-Vallée now has solid foundations and clear missions entrusted to the public establishment by the State and local authorities for which the board of directors that I have the honor to chair is the guarantor.”
Eco-Vallée, a collective commitment
Jean-Michel Drevet, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes: “The State, which approved this operation by decree, will contribute to its full development and success.” It assigns several objectives to the Eco-Vallée:
– Contribute to the attractiveness of our country,
– Anchor sustainable development, the driving force of tomorrow’s projects in decision-making processes,
– Design a rational development of the Plaine du Var, creating a balance between all the activities it is meant to host: the economic sector, housing, environmental protection, higher education, agriculture, leisure.
Christian Estrosi, Deputy Mayor of Nice, President of Nice Côte d’Azur: “This area is strategic for our economic and social future. Nice Côte d’Azur needs a new start, but also to reconnect with the essential characteristics of the “Riviera” of yesteryear. The Eco-Vallée perfectly symbolizes this dual movement which is at the heart of the actions of the Nice Côte d’Azur Urban Community; “Eco” meaning both Economy and Ecology.”
Eric Ciotti, President of the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes: ‘Conciling progress and nature, growth and heritage, humanism and technology! This ambition becomes reality in the Alpes-Maritimes with the implementation of the Éco-Vallée National Interest Operation, located in a symbolic area due to its position between the sea and mountains and its situation as a link between the banks of the Var, once a ‘border’.
Patrick Allemand, representing Michel Vauzelle, President of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: “Today, with the opening of this long-awaited consultation phase by the population and all local stakeholders concerned with the future of the Plaine du Var, we approach a major turning point for the success of this National Interest Operation initiated by the State and the concerned local authorities.
Eco-Vallée, an exceptional territory to be restructured
The Plaine du Var extends 23 kilometers from north to south, from the Mediterranean Sea to the first Alpine gorges, and approximately 3 to 5.5 kilometers from crest to crest, east to west. It is a territory characterized by the presence of the river and remarkable valleys, natural and agricultural spaces, a rich built heritage (hilltop villages), more dense urbanization in the southern part of the plain, and metropolitan-level transportation infrastructure (highway, Marseille-Vintimille railway, international airport, etc.).
Eco-Vallée, a challenge underway
2007: The Government launches a prefiguration mission to define, with local authorities, the strategic principles of development and planning of the Plaine du Var.
2008: The Plaine du Var Public Planning Establishment is created
2009: Initiation of definition studies with three major international planning and architecture firms (Jose Lluis Mateo, David Mangin, Adriaan Geuse)
Election of Christian Tordo as President of the EPA following Henri Revel, Mayor of Saint-Laurent du Var.
2010: Emergence of the first priority operations (Grand Arénas, Nice-Méridia urban technology park, la Baronne, etc.), analysis of development potential, complementary engagement of major projects by local authorities (Nice Stadium by NCA notably).
2011: Consolidation of foundational studies in environment and ecology, continuation of technical studies (Nice-Airport multimodal hub, hydraulic scheme, etc.), application to the EcoCités project call, deepening of forecast financial balances…
End of 2011: the time for a shared territorial project
Eco-Vallée, a National Interest Operation
By granting the status of National Interest Operation to the 10,000 hectares of the Plaine du Var, at the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes, the State, in agreement with local authorities, considered this strategic territory enabled the engagement of a new phase of development for the Nice Côte d’Azur urban area, which is one of France’s main international metropolises, while basing this new growth on eco-exemplary foundations. This double transformation will profoundly change the ways of planning, development, working, living, and commuting throughout the territory, restoring its long-standing roles of experimentation and avant-gardism that made its originality and reputation, and returning its ‘fundamentals’ of quality of life and nature quality.
Eco-Vallée, the EcoCité Nice Côte d’Azur project
The southern part of the National Interest Operation has been selected by the State to participate in the “EcoCités” sustainable urban development approach, and revolves around four strategic axes:
– Choose responsible urbanization
– Create the mobility of tomorrow
– Strive for energy autonomy
– Embody the smart city of the future.
In this context, two operational intervention perimeters for the “city of tomorrow” fund have been identified:
– Grand Arénas – Nice-Saint Augustin-Airport multimodal hub
– CADAM – Méridia – Les Moulins
Eco-Vallée, key figures
- 10,000 hectares along the Plaine du Var, 23 km from south to north, 3 to 5.5 km from east to west. 450 hectares are intended for enhancement and urbanization (4.5% of the area)
- 15 municipalities, 116,000 inhabitants, 60,000 jobs
- A potential construction area of 3 million m² has been assessed, including 1.5 million for economic activities and 1.5 million for housing, shops, facilities…
- 2 billion euros of investment planned (including 75% private) from 2010 to 2025
- The eco-exemplary Nice Stadium with 35,000 seats under construction in the Saint Isidore district.
- An international purpose exhibition center of 75,000 m² near the airport.
- 40,000 to 50,000 additional jobs expected within the Eco-Vallée perimeter within 30 years, of which 27,000 jobs in the first four priority operations over about fifteen years.
The consultation process for the territorial project
The project development process will allow exchanges and dialogues with territorial actors, notably through “workshops” designed according to the principle of the 5 colleges that prevailed during the Grenelle de l’environnement (State, elected officials, associations, employee representatives, employer representatives).
Eco-Vallée, the highlights of the Territorial Project consultation
From September 26 to October 10: workshops and debates. Urban planners, local actors, elected officials, and associations will confront their analyses and visions through workshops and roundtable discussions.
- Technical opening session, Monday, September 26, 2011 – Parc Phoenix Salle Linné
- Thematic workshops from September 27 to 29, 2011 – EPA Plaine du Var / Arénas
- Synthesis roundtables of contributions, Monday, October 10, 2011 – Parc Phoenix Salle Linné
October to end of November 2011: consultation with the mayors within the Eco-Vallée perimeter and approval of the Territorial Project by the EPA board of directors.
A questionnaire for residents and users of the Plaine du Var
A website www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.com to download or fill out the questionnaire, to access all information regarding the Eco-Vallée project. An email address to directly share opinions on the Eco-Vallée project: jeparticipe@ecovallee-plaineduvar.com
