HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The decision of a residential apartment owner to convert it into an optics center within a residential complex in the Salam district of Agadir sparked a wave of widespread resentment among the residents, who considered the move a clear violation of urban planning laws and the use of joint properties.
According to testimonies from those affected, the function of the apartment, classified as economic housing, was changed to a commercial activity without fulfilling the necessary legal procedures, foremost of which is obtaining the licenses related to the change of use. The creation of an external door that opens directly onto the street also added to the controversy, which the residents considered an encroachment on the building's design and a source of concern for public safety. In light of these developments, a number of residents expressed their astonishment at the absence of decisive intervention from the competent authorities, questioning the role of local authorities and the administrative police in monitoring such violations. Some of them also pointed to suspicions of "tolerance" of the situation, in light of what is being circulated about the possible relationships of the apartment owner. The residents warned of the repercussions of leniency with this case, considering that it could open the door to the spread of unlicensed commercial activities within the complex, which threatens its residential character and affects the quality of life. The affected parties demanded urgent intervention to restore things to their normal state, by stopping the commercial activity and removing the changes that affected the apartment, while emphasizing the need to activate monitoring mechanisms to ensure respect for the laws in force. The file remains open pending the authorities' move, amid anticipation of a decision or explanatory statement from the competent authority, with the aim of creating a balance between respecting the law and protecting the rights of the residents.
