National Planning and Building Council to Discuss Rezoning Forest Land for New Neighborhoods in Beit Shemesh

The National Council for Planning and Building is expected to deliberate this week on a proposed amendment to the master plan for the Jerusalem District. The amendment involves clearing forests near Beit Shemesh to allow for the construction of two new residential neighborhoods totaling approximately 3,500 housing units.

The plan in question, TAMAM/30/1/5, covers an area of about 740 dunams (approx. 183 acres) in the Netiv HaLamed-Heh Forest, currently designated as forest land. The purpose of the rezoning is to transfer the land to municipal planning jurisdiction, thereby enabling residential development.

The two proposed neighborhoods are:

• RBS Vav 1: A new neighborhood to be built on open land in the eastern part of the city, between existing neighborhoods. It will include around 2,600 housing units over an area of approximately 664 dunams.

• RBS Hey1: An expansion of the Neve Shamir neighborhood, comprising 890 housing units on roughly 90 dunams.

In discussions held by the district committee in November 2024, the plans were deemed appropriate, making efficient use of available land within the city while adhering to principles of quality urban planning and mixed-use spaces.

The district committee emphasized that rezoning the area from forest to urban land is necessary for the continued growth of Beit Shemesh, in harmony with the existing urban fabric.

The National Council is now expected to decide whether to approve the plan's submission - a critical step toward expanding the city and building thousands of new housing units.

Residents of the area have already expressed their firm opposition to the plan, as long as the municipality does not improve the existing infrastructure.