Important Decisions and Developments in Warendorf – March 2026

Housing, Mobility, and Civic Participation in Focus

Housing Policy and Construction Sites

In March 2026, the city of Warendorf intensified its efforts in shaping housing and construction sites. The District Committee Freckenhorst-Hoetmar decided on the marketing of residential construction plots in Einen and Hoetmar with differentiated prices: 215 €/sqm for self-occupation and 260 €/sqm for landlords. Priority will be given to partner plots, which benefits both investors and families.

Additionally, an application for the expansion of the construction area "Kiebitzfeld" was approved. In the future, twin homes in this area can be divided – one for self-occupation and one for investors. This measure aims to increase demand for affordable housing and relieve the local housing market.

Traffic and Mobility

The temporary traffic experiment on the Stiftmarkt in Freckenhorst was unanimously extended until the permanent redesign. In the Environment and Mobility Committee, a bollard regulation for the winter was proposed to prevent shortcut traffic.

Other traffic-related topics included the renovation of the bike path along Freckenhorster Straße and the application to cancel the "Dreibrückenstraße" project, as the costs were considered unjustifiable. The city now plans to examine alternative solutions.

Strengthening Civic Participation

The Sports, Associations, and Civic Participation Committee decided to allocate 10,000 € in the 2026 budget to implement a two-tiered civic participation format for the 2027 budget and beyond. Furthermore, a SPD application to maintain the sports allowance of 156,000 € was accepted, with additional funding for association support also being planned.

Culture and Education

The Culture and Education Committee extensively discussed cultural projects and budget issues. The Left advocated for the continuation of the "Writing at the Cigar Maker's House" project until 2028, including the involvement of local schools and support from the Sparkassen Foundation.

The SPD requested that the grant to Theater am Wall not be reduced by 50%, but only by 25% in order to ensure the financial stability of the theatre operations. In addition, The Left rejected a reduction in the media budget of the city library and advocated for its preservation at 65,000 €.

Finances and Municipal Budget Planning

The Main, Finance, and Economy Committee discussed several financial applications. The Left faction proposed the introduction of property tax C with a tax rate of 1300 points as of January 1, 2027. The goal is to promote urban redevelopment. The administration is now to draft a legally secure ordinance and general administrative order.

In addition, an application to reduce factional allowances by 10% starting in 2027 was submitted – this would result in total savings of 10,200 € over the legislative period. Also discussed was the elimination of catering costs in council and committee meetings, which could save up to 24,000 €.

Property Tax, Church, and Kindergarten

The city council of Warendorf also discussed the application from the Münster Evangelical Church District to take over the funding of the Evangelical Kindergarten in Warendorf. The church sees its financial situation increasingly constrained due to declining membership and rising costs.

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Developments in the Town Hall and Administration

Personnel Structures

In the Urban Development Committee, Mr. Thomas Köhling was appointed as secretary and Mr. Heiner Schultes as deputy secretary. This is an organizational step to further improve the transparency and documentation of meetings.

Brinkhaus Site

The appointment of an external office for the project management of the development of the Brinkhaus site was presented. This project is part of the 2026 budget discussions and aims at a future-oriented use of the site.

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Social and Cultural Impulses

City Center and Parking

The Christmas forest will be extended by one week in 2026 (November 27 to December 20, 2026), and a special budget of 50,000 € for events and city marketing was planned. In addition, an application for temporary free parking in the city center was discussed – as a measure to support the city center during the district heating construction works.

Association Support and Sports

The City Sports Association withdrew parts of its application, including the cancellation of the sports award and the high-performance sports support. The SPD advocated for maintaining the sports allowance and providing additional funds for general association support.

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Cross-topic: Development Focus in March 2026

March 2026 was marked by a clear focus on urban development, civic participation, and financial discipline. Politics opted for pragmatic solutions to stabilize the housing market, improve traffic, and strengthen local culture. At the same time, budget decisions were made that emphasize sustainability and financial security during the legislative period.

Another exciting topic was property tax C. With its introduction in 2027, Warendorf not only wants to generate additional revenue, but also to set urban development impulses. This shows that Warendorf is actively responding to future challenges.

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Conclusion and Outlook

March 2026 was a month of clear decisions and new impulses. The city is focusing on future-oriented housing development, stronger civic participation, and cultural diversity. At the same time, the focus on finances remains sharp – with cuts, but also investments in projects that enrich city life.

In April, it will be interesting to see how property tax C is translated into concrete regulations and which new projects will be launched in the areas of urban development and mobility. The citizens are called upon to remain actively involved – because Warendorf is in motion.