Participation Omgevingswet

Are you working on an initiative and do you need one or more permits? Please note that the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo considers it important that the community is properly involved in a timely manner. We refer to this as participation. 
 

Roadmap participation

1. Report the initiative to the municipality, 

Always report your initiative through the intake table to the municipality. If your initiative fits within the environmental plan, you can then start informing and involving the environment (participation). If your initiative deviates from the environmental plan, do not start the participation before the municipality has given its opinion on the desirability and overall feasibility of your initiative.

2. After approval by the municipality, complete the impact meter.

The municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo believes that the degree of participation should be in proportion to the impact of your initiative on the environment. There are several aspects that influence this impact. 

In general, the larger and more comprehensive the initiative, the more important participation is. In addition, factors such as political sensitivity and expected inconvenience also play a role. Furthermore, we see that the environment in which the initiative is taken is different each time. An initiative in a residential area differs from an initiative at a detached farmhouse in the countryside. All of this affects how your participation process is structured. 

We find it important that the participation is a good reflection of the environment (representativeness). We also find it important that the direct stakeholders were given the greatest influence in the process (proportionality).  

We use the concept of impact as a measure for this. Within the municipality there are 4 levels of participation. Because participation is customized, we would like to use the impact meter to help you determine which participation level applies to your initiative. When you answer the questions in the impact meter, you will see the participation level that fits your initiative.  

To the impact meter

3. Preparing for participation by means of the participation approach 

We always advise you to start by creating a participation approach. By using a proven method in doing so, you increase the chances of a successfully implemented participation. The method uses 5 steps. By properly completing these steps, the plan for your participation approach is created: 

  • 1: why engage in conversation
  • 2: what to discuss
  • 3: Who to talk to
  • 4: How to engage in conversation
  • 5: When in conversation

Click here to complete the participation approach.

Below is the explanation of how to use the 5 steps in the Participation Approach Roadmap: 

1: Why engage in conversation? 

You take an initiative. That is, of course, the subject of the participation conversation. But consider in advance what you want to achieve with the discussion, what you want to know from your discussion partners and whether you can offer room for thinking about your initiative. At the same time, determine what is already fixed and what cannot be discussed (the frameworks). The discussion partners can be given the following roles: 

  • Taking part (informing)
  • Thinking along (asking for opinions)
  • Cooperating (asking for opinions and asking for suggestions/recommendations for the initiative)
  • Co-decision (joint decision)

2: What to discuss

Make it very clear what your initiative entails so that your interlocutors get a complete picture. Don't forget to mention the topics that are fixed. Next, formulate as concretely as possible the questions you have for the various interlocutors. You formulate these questions according to the role you can give them. Someone who only thinks along should ask different questions than someone who allows you to help decide. 

3: Who to talk to

When you have a low-impact initiative, the number of stakeholders will also be small. Perhaps it is only your immediate neighbors that you want to involve. However, if you take an initiative with more impact, you will undoubtedly have to deal with more groups you want to involve. By the way, a small initiative does not mean that the impact for stakeholders is always small. Putting an extra floor on your house can strongly influence the view of your two direct neighbors. For them, then, it is a high-impact initiative.

4: How to engage in conversation

You can fill in the conversation about your initiative in many different ways. It may be sufficient to inform your neighbors personally about your initiative and ask them for their opinions. But if you want to involve more people, you might need an information evening or a walk-in afternoon. Think carefully about the set-up, because the more attractive it is, the better the turnout and yield can be. 

5: When to talk? 

Once you have heard from the municipality that your initiative seems feasible in outline terms, you can begin participation. Do this at an early stage of making your plans. This will give you enough time and opportunity to do something with any objections, opinions and creative input.

 

4. Participate

Participation is an important pillar within the Omgevingswet. Participation ensures that all interests, opinions, knowledge and creativity are directly on the table. By discussing objections, but also good ideas with each other, you can improve the initiative and increase the chances of support.  

Fill in the signature list 

5. Participation logbook

Fill in the participation logbookand write a report 

6. Apply for an environmental permit, 

Send all documents, including the participation log, report, and signature list.

Environmental permit 

Learn more

Do you have questions or would you like more information? Then please contact case manager environmental permits on tel (0)40 289 38 93

Documents Participation

The guide to participation and the various form needed to record participation can be downloaded below.