Israeli Planning Committee Approves 160 New Apartments in Kiryat Ono Redevelopment Project

The Subcommittee for Appeals of the National Council for Planning and Building recently approved a large-scale urban renewal project in Kiryat Ono, allowing the demolition of old buildings and construction of 160 new apartments in the Tzahal complex. The project focuses on replacing 64 aging railway-style apartments and three shops with two new residential buildings. The local municipal committee had filed an appeal against the plan, arguing that the project should be expanded to include adjacent buildings and that it would harm preservation values and unnecessarily remove trees.

However, the subcommittee, led by attorney Moran Brown, rejected these objections, emphasizing that the plan appropriately balances urban renewal needs with heritage preservation. The subcommittee noted that the core characteristics of the neighborhood, including the layout, inner courtyard, and most mature trees, would be preserved. The local committee’s appeal was also dismissed because there was no evidence the plan would hinder future renewal of nearby buildings, some of whose owners opposed inclusion in the current project.

The developer, Bony HaTichon, reported holding agreements with 92% of apartment owners for the redevelopment and accused the local committee of delaying tactics. The subcommittee highlighted the importance of streamlining planning procedures given Israel’s security situation and unanimously decided to uphold the regional committee’s approval. The project was initially approved in November 2023 and published for public deposit in October 2024, with the appeal process concluding recently.

This decision clears the way for significant urban renewal in Kiryat Ono, addressing the need to replace outdated, unprotected buildings with modern housing while respecting the area's heritage and green spaces. The full decision is available through the Israeli legal website Paskdin, which collaborated on the report.