Looking for experiences regarding forest conversion in Beelitz

As I said, I had called all the offices beforehand. If even one of them had shown a “frown,” I would have been cautious and submitted a preliminary building inquiry, etc. But since everyone, including the district forester, saw no reason for concern, we started everything. Thanks to Corona, everything took forever, financing, etc. In January, we are out of the fixed price guarantee. From November, provision interest will be added. And next September is the school enrollment.

I know that. I hoped we could have started building by now. The building permit including the neighbors’ conversion took 6 months 1.5 years ago, and I planned for that accordingly. It’s now 8.5 months, and according to the building authority, the permit should come this or next week. The excuse CORONA is just the next one on the list from the forestry and building authority. Before that, it was staff shortages. Among other things, our documents were misfiled and therefore were not forwarded to the forestry authority for over 3 weeks. After that, Ms. T. was on vacation (before that, she was out for about 6 weeks total due to illness + vacation). You really have to have strong nerves and remain friendly but firm.

Could you actually also handle the conversion for the rear property (forest), or is that not possible since it is located in the outer area?

Yes, Mrs. T. is sometimes in a good mood and sometimes less so :)
But the phone call with her was very relaxed. As far as I'm concerned, we can also convert the entire property, hopefully construction can begin.
You won't see Mrs. T. live. Because of Corona.
Did you have any problems that we could resolve in advance? So that we could bring the start of construction forward?

Problems? Well, the 8.5 months was a problem. Otherwise, you need to; if not already done; find an operator nearby who will take over the initial reforestation. We have a contract with "Flächenagentur Brandenburg GmbH" and Mrs. T. did not object to that. However, she had to ask others who are closer whether there is any interest and they have 4 weeks to answer the questions.

May I ask who you are building with? We are building with KB Brandis from Jüterbog.

Problems? Well, the 8.5 months was a problem. Otherwise, if not already done, you need to find a forestry operation nearby that will take over the initial reforestation. We have a contract with "Flächenagentur Brandenburg GmbH" and Mrs. T. had no objection to that. However, she had to ask others who are closer whether there is any interest, and they have 4 weeks to answer the questions.

May I ask who you are building with? We are building with KB Brandis from Jüterbog.

Damn! That this would become such an issue. Searching for a forestry operation is not possible yet because we have no idea what exactly is going to be converted. Especially since the meadow can be considered a clearing and then 2500 sqm would be designated as reforestation, probably proportionally as forest recreation level 2 with a factor of 2 or 3.
If that happens, we can forget the project anyway and the dream is shattered.
How was the planning law permissibility confirmed by the lower building supervisory authority in your case?
We are building with preiswert-bauen24.

Damn! That this should become such an issue. Looking for a forestry company is not possible yet because we have no idea what exactly is to be converted. Besides, the meadow can count as a clearing and then 2,500 sqm would be designated as reforestation, probably proportionally as forest recreation level 2 with a factor of 2 or 3. If that happens, we can forget the project anyway and the dream is over. How was the planning law permissibility confirmed by the lower building authority in your case? We are building with preiswert-bauen24.

Well, we are building within the inner area (near the elementary school, next to the brick house on the main street :) ) and the plots next to us were converted about 1.5 years ago. At the moment there is no problem with the conversion. 2,500 sqm will be quite expensive. We are paying €10,500 for 1,462 sqm reforestation, €10,000 for felling, and I estimate about €5,000-7,500 security retention. So overall around €25,000 - €27,500.

You are building with preiswert-bauen24? Never heard of them. Sounds like a construction discounter. Have you spoken with other builders (not reference customers) who have built with them?

Well, we are building in the inner area (near the elementary school, next to the brick house on the main street :) ) and the plots next to it were converted about 1.5 years ago. There is currently no problem with the conversion. 2,500 sqm will be quite expensive. We pay €10,500 for reforestation for 1,462 sqm, €10,000 for felling, and I estimate €5,000-7,500 retention. So a total of around €25,000 - 27,500.

Oh cool. Did you factor that in? We want to build in the back in Wilmersdorfer. And actually, we only wanted to convert the 1000 sqm, the rest should remain forest and the fences should enjoy existing use protection. That was suggested to us last year. And since there are only a few pines on the 1000 sqm and a lot of open space, a conversion factor of 0.5 was assumed. We calculated with 1:1. In spring 2020, the processing time was estimated at 4-5 months. Now the story looks completely different though. Does anyone know a lawyer for administrative law?

Oh cool. Had you factored that in? We want to build at the back in Wilmersdorfer.
And actually, we only wanted to convert the 1000 sqm, the rest is supposed to remain forest and the fences are to enjoy existing rights. That was proposed to us last year. And since there are only a few pines on the 1000 sqm and a lot of open space, a conversion factor of 0.5 was assumed. We calculated with 1:1.
In spring 2020, the processing time was estimated at 4-5 months.
Now the story looks completely different though. Does anyone know an administrative law attorney?

Yes, we collected the experience from the neighbors and added a bit on top. So yes, the €27,500 are included in the construction financing (concluded 4 weeks ago). We submitted the building application in December 2020. Don’t forget to extend the deadlines for BAFA if you also applied for funding there.

I don’t know an administrative law attorney. Aren’t you members of an association, such as the Bauherren-Schutzbund or Bauherrenverein, through which you can get an external building supervisor? The lawyers there might possibly be able to help.