Public feedback is currently being gathered in Hyères regarding a proposal to replace the existing Kiddy Parc with two commercial buildings focused on the nautical industry.
The project, located at 1914 Avenue de l’Aéroport, faces local opposition as municipal authorities evaluate the site's future through November 18.
The developer has applied for a permit to construct 1,500 square meters of floor space with a maximum height of seven meters on the 39,689-square-meter parcel. While the proposal includes plans to plant numerous trees to minimize visual impact from the Redon pond and adjacent roads, the project remains contentious due to the site’s history as a wetland area and the current lack of authorized status for existing structures.
- The project operates under an OAP (Orientation d’Aménagement et de Programmation) within the local urban plan, which mandates a balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
- The developer cites an inability to establish an “initial state” of the land prior to the illegal construction of Kiddy Parc, complicating the regulatory approval process.
- Institutional stakeholders, including the Conservatoire du littoral, argue that the development fails to address the essential requirement of restoring the site’s former wetland ecosystem.
The municipal government, which is hosting the public participation process, has declined to comment on the project’s viability until the consultation period concludes. The project is currently being reviewed against the municipality’s own development guidelines for the Palyvestre sector. These guidelines acknowledge that the area has historically suffered from unauthorized construction and a disregard for environmental protection standards.
The project’s architects, Biomeo environnement, maintain that the proposed buildings adhere to the current local urban plan regulations. However, the Mission régionale d’autorité environnementale (MRAe) has criticized the proposal for failing to consider the option of fully or partially restoring the site. The MRAe recommended that the developer re-examine the impact study by benchmarking against the land’s condition before the current, unauthorized structures were erected.
Opposition to the development is widespread, with approximately 30 public submissions recorded as of mid-November. The Conservatoire du littoral, a neighbor managing the nearby Redon marsh and the Pesquiers salt flats, has expressed strong disapproval. They said that the project contradicts the objective of reclaiming the area as a functional wetland, a sentiment echoed by the environmental association Changer d’ère.
“The repair of the site is the indispensable starting point. The Kiddy Parc facilities were never authorized, said an association spokesperson to Nice-Matin.”
Changer d’ère argues that the current proposal uses existing illegal activity as a baseline for improvement, rather than addressing the necessary environmental restoration required by the municipality’s own planning documents. The developer has not responded to requests for comment regarding these claims or the project’s long-term environmental strategy.
| Metric | Proposed Development Data |
|---|---|
| Total Land Parcel | 39,689 m2 |
| Building Footprint | 1,500 m2 |
| Max Construction Height | 7 meters |
| Public Consultation Window | Oct 19 – Nov 18 |
The municipality intends to assess the findings from the public consultation before meeting with the site owner to determine the next steps for the Palyvestre zone.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
