Independent councilor Jorge Afonso Freitas, during a Funchal Municipal Assembly meeting, addressed recent statements regarding the possibility of buildings around 20 stories high.
Freitas reiterated his stance that high-rise construction can be a valid solution for urban development, provided it is framed by clear, transparent rules focused on public interest. He suggests its location should favor the city's outskirts or specific areas, minimizing landscape impact and preserving urban identity.
He proposes revising the Regional System for Territorial Management, introducing mechanisms like 'bonus zoning' and transferable development rights. The principle of compensatory equalization is advocated, where increased building capacity should be matched by fair compensation to the community, such as land cession or infrastructure development, ensuring benefits revert to the collective good.
