Independent councilor Jorge Afonso Freitas voted against the Carmo Detailed Plan, approved by the Funchal Municipal Chamber. While acknowledging the document's technical quality and its importance for the historic area's rehabilitation, Freitas expressed reservations about municipal resource allocation priorities and proposed parking solutions.
Freitas emphasized that his unfavorable vote was not due to the plan's technical quality but rather "political priorities that should guide the use of the Municipality's technical and human resources." He considers the plan "globally well-structured and adequate" but warned of risks in the adopted parking model, which allows a minimum of zero private spaces per dwelling, relying on collective solutions.
The councilor argued that the Municipal Chamber must ensure the effective construction and availability of public and collective parking, especially with the potential creation of new dwellings. Insufficient parking could increase pressure on surrounding streets and existing public parking in a densely occupied area with physical limitations.
