This is the third meeting with the residents held by the Mayor since he was elected for an additional term, and following earlier meetings with the residents of the Kiryat Sharet and Rasco neighborhoods.

During the meeting held at the Yad LaBanim in an open and friendly atmosphere, the Deputy Director of Urban Development, Shlomo Gueta, gave a presentation reviewing the planning vision for the coming 20 years, which will ensure that Raanana’s standing as a sustainable city is maintained.

Among the projects presented in the field of transportation:  Master plan for transportation to include the paving of bicycle paths and encouragement of walking, integration of the BRT track in the city, continuation of the building of Highway 531 that will link Raanana to the Trans Israel Highway and the Coastal Road, and completion of the city’s northern bypass road.

Among the projects in the field of construction:  Promoting affordable housing projects, Raanana 2014 (the Neot Uzi Neighborhood), Raanana 2016 in the Burla-Hanesi’im area, other building projects including 2015 in the northern section of the city that includes many green spaces and walking paths and three new neighborhoods in the southern section that will be built together with the construction of Highway 531.

Moreover, the Evacuation-Construction projects for older apartment buildings were presented, according to the planning and environmental guidelines and the implementation of TAMA 38 in the city.

Afterward, additional projects were presented including:  master plan for employment areas, city center renewal, building a new city hall including office buildings and subterranean parking, expanding the Yad LaBanim compound, preserving historical municipal buildings, building the municipality park as a learning center and developing a metropolitan leisure center in cooperation with the Hof Hasharon Regional Council.

During the meeting, there was a Q&A panel, including Mayor Nahum Hofree and his three deputies:  Attorney Orit Sayad Yitzchaki, Ronit Weintraub and Aryeh Friedman and with city council members:  Eitan Ginzburg, Bella Tzur, City Manager Avi Laufer and senior directors of the Engineering, Welfare, Culture Divisions and the City Ombudswoman.

The residents' questions dealt primarily with housing for young couples, the city square project and housing and transportation solutions promoted by the municipality.

Mayor Nahum Hofree:  “Such meetings are very important in expanding our relationship with the city’s residents, offering a fruitful discussion regarding the various needs and providing answers to the subjects and issues of interest to our residents and which are on the public agenda.”

In the photo:  The Mayor speaks with residents at the meeting in Yad LaBanim.  Photographer:  Motti Ben Aroya.