With Resolution No. 599 of November 26, the proposal for the Urban Metropolitan and Strait of Messina Area Strategic Plan (PSUM) was adopted, which is a:
– Strategic Plan, intended as a path of change aimed at raising the level of environmental well-being and livability of the territory, with the aim of improving the quality of life, social cohesion, and inclusion of its inhabitants;
– Urban, as a strategic navigation map for the departments of the Municipality that, setting aside traditional logics, will have to orient their policies towards strategic synergy between districts for shared objectives;;
– Metropolitan not only at the administrative level but also as an Innovative Territorial Governance Tool, which refers to the municipal territory but takes into account the influence of the real reference area;
– of the Strait of Messina, conceived as a natural overcoming of administrative boundaries, placing at the center the long-standing historical relationship of the Strait, primarily considering Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni.
Regarding the purposes, the PSUM is recognized as a management tool that helps to understand the idea of city development, an “expanded city,” understood not only as the main hub of its Metropolitan City but also as a key player within the integrated area of the Strait of Messina, consisting of the territory of both shores, with a unifying strategic vision. The PSUM is therefore conceived as a tool for coordinating choices and actions in progress at different territorial scales, in relation to various thematic and operational sectors, both within the Municipality and in the vast metropolitan area..
The ultimate objectives of the PSUM and the Strait of Messina area are multi-scalar
– at the municipal level: harmonize and coordinate ongoing and planned projects at various territorial dimensions and in different sectors at the level of Planning and Programming, also with Flagship Projects;
– at the supra-local level: make the municipal strategy known, clear, and unambiguous to the entities and stakeholders involved in the programming and planning of the integrated area of the Strait.
The PSUM is based on the following unifying themes, shared with the Metropolitan City and other strategic programs/plans in progress in the area::
– Implementation of services. Raising the quantity and quality of services.
• Local identity tourism offer. Recovery of traditions and historical-architectural, archaeological, cultural, naturalistic, and eno-gastronomic heritage, as an identity factor for new forms of tourism.
• Accessible and safe territory. Securing territories, roads, accessibility, and usability of the territory and its resources.
• Urban and territorial margins. Suburbs, villages, open territories.
• Sustainable productive development. Strengthening of production chains, circular economies, health, and well-being for citizens.
• Environment and sustainable mobility.
Working group: TPS Pro, PTS, Alessandro Oliveri