Important Decisions and Developments in Wiesmoor – March 2026

Building Turbo and more – March in Wiesmoor

What was important this month

• The Building Turbo was approved – a procedure to accelerate building permits in Wiesmoor.
• Three loans in the millions were approved to finance investments and projects.
• The lunch fees in kindergartens and schools will be adjusted as of 1 April.
• A municipal housing cooperative could be established to create affordable housing.
• New cemetery fees for the period 2026–2028 have been set.
• A disability ombudsman has been appointed for the next five years.

Urban Development and Building Turbo

In March, Wiesmoor approved the so-called Building Turbo, a procedure to accelerate building permits. The goal is to stimulate investment in urban development and to implement projects more quickly.

The city has defined clear responsibilities:

• Approvals under § 31 (3) and § 34 (3b) Building Code (BauGB) will be reviewed by the Administrative Committee.
• Applications under § 246e BauGB will be decided by the City Council in public sessions.
• Public reports on issued approvals under § 36a BauGB are planned.

In addition, the Second Amendment to the Land Use Plan A 11 "Hortensienweg" was approved after considering comments. This underscores the focus on planning transparency and public participation.

Finances and Loans

In March, three loans were approved:

1. 500,000 € from the RVB (term 5 years, interest rate 2.930 %)
2. 1,850,000 € from the RVB (term until 30.10.2026, interest rate 2.550 %)
3. 1,400,000 € from the NBank (term 30 years, interest rate 3.910 %)

The loans are part of the city's financial planning and are intended to fund investments in infrastructure, tourism, and marketing. The Committee for Finance, Economy, and Tourism also decided to install additional marketing signs in several towns to improve the cityscape and visibility.

Social and Educational Matters

The Council approved the appointment of Ms. Gesa Kruse as a voluntary disability ombudsman. This position is limited to five years and has an annual financial impact of 1,800 €. The role of the disability ombudsman is to represent the interests of people with disabilities in urban development and administration.

In addition, the hourly rates of the construction workshop were adjusted:

• Regular staff: from 37.80 € to 43.50 €
• Skilled workers/master craftsmen: from 41.30 € to 47.50 €
  This corresponds to an increase of approximately 15 % and emphasizes the appreciation of skilled labor in the city administration.

In the educational sector, the Council decided to expand the school catchment area of the Cooperative Comprehensive School Wiesmoor to cover the entire city. The new school district ordinance will henceforth be named “Ordinance on the Determination of School Districts for Primary Schools and Secondary Schools in the Ownership of the City of Wiesmoor.”

The lunch fees in kindergartens and schools will be adjusted as of 1 April 2026:

• Schools: from 4.00 € to 4.50 € per meal
• Kindergartens: from 48.00 € to 55.00 € per month
  An additional salad will be available for approximately 5.00 € in the future.

Housing and Housing Cooperative

The CDU faction submitted a motion for the review of the establishment of a municipal housing cooperative. The goal is to strengthen the municipal influence on the housing market and to create affordable housing in Wiesmoor. The Council discussed the motion and thus took a step toward greater social housing diversity.

Final Summary and Outlook

March 2026 was a month of clear decisions and future-oriented projects in Wiesmoor. The city has decided to accelerate building permits, finance investments, and focus on education, social matters, and affordable housing.

In the coming weeks and months, it will be particularly exciting to see how the Building Turbo procedures are implemented and which projects are realized with the new loans. The development of the housing cooperative and the effects of the fee increases in the educational sector will also be of great importance.

Stay informed – Wiesmoor is moving toward becoming a vibrant, livable, and future-oriented city.