The giant plan to expand Beit Shemesh encounters opposition

Ahead of the decisive discussion in the District Planning and Building Committee on the "BS/3000" policy document, the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) presents a firm front against the expansion of construction to the east and places a detailed planning alternative on the table. According to KKL's position, Beit Shemesh will be able to grow into a metropolis of more than 550,000 residents — without touching the forest areas and open spaces with high environmental sensitivity located east of Highway 10 (Highway 3855).

The fund clarifies that they do not oppose the growth of Beit Shemesh, but see great importance in turning it into an independent, large, and strong city. The bone of contention focuses on the proposal to cross Highway 10 and develop about 980 dunams of valuable green areas. These areas include neighborhoods V-2 (270 dunams), V-3 (320 dunams), neighborhood H (230 dunams), and an additional development strip of about 160 dunams along the axis.

The gap: only 3,000 apartments

In a professional review conducted by KKL in collaboration with the company "Urbanix", the implementation of the municipal program was examined while canceling the neighborhoods east of Highway 10 and leaving neighborhood V-1 to its west. At the same time, the updated construction volumes in complexes in advanced planning stages were factored in: complex T (about 5,000 housing units) and the central quarter in complex K (about 15,000 housing units).

An analysis of the data shows that the gap between the plans is negligible relative to the total volume: the original "BS/3000" plan: about 111,474 housing units and about 569,669 residents. In contrast, KKL's environmental alternative proposes about 553,000 residents.

This is a difference of only about 3,000 housing units — about 4.8% of the total new housing volume proposed for the city. KKL emphasizes that this figure pulls the rug out from under the argument that crossing Highway 10 is necessary to meet population targets.

Doubts surrounding the transport axis and light rail

The alternative plan also criticizes the transport justification of the district planners. While the planners claim that the future passage of a light rail along Highway 10 requires construction on both its sides, KKL rejects this: an addition of 3,000 apartments does not justify the establishment of such a system.

In addition, due to topographic conditions and the Zanoah stream channel, KKL warns that the highway will not be able to become a continuous urban street, and the move will create a disconnect that will lead to the establishment of an isolated area and fatal damage to the protected space of the Judean Mountains.

"The forests east of Beit Shemesh are not a land reserve for construction but vital infrastructure for the future city. They provide leisure and recreation areas near residences, contribute to quality of life, and assist in dealing with climate change. The fund's position is that they must be preserved and even add forest areas west of the city. There is no need to choose between the growth of Beit Shemesh and the preservation of open spaces - the city can reach more than 550,000 residents even without development east of Highway 10, thereby leaving future generations an open planning space, instead of making an irreversible environmental decision now," said Eyal Ostrinsky, Chairman of KKL.