The leader of the business community «MriyDiy» supported the demolition of 192 trees for the construction of a petrol station in Mykolaiv

Maksym Brevda supported the demolition of trees for the construction of a petrol station, photo collage NikVesti

Maksym Brevda, a Mykolaiv-based entrepreneur and leader of the «MriyDiy» association, has publicly expressed his support for the construction of a petrol station in the green zone on Kobera Street near the «Zoria»-«Mashproekt» plant, where 192 trees are planned to be demolished for the project, including oaks 40-60 years old.

He expressed this opinion when commenting on the publication NikVesti in Telegram.

Maksym Brevda believes that this area is not a green zone, as it is located along a four-lane road with heavy traffic and high levels of pollution. In his opinion, the place is unsuitable for recreation or walking, and the trees there do not form a real recreational area, but only grow along the carriageway.

«Go look at that location and the oaks, what a fucking circus. What a green zone along a busy road where it is not advisable for children to even walk, because there is dirty air with exhaust gases. Instead of receiving taxes and using this money to build parks and green areas in normal places. It's a complete circus. What oaks... there is a pile of burnt grass and zero infrastructure for recreation, and zero ecology,» wrote Maksym Brevda, commenting on the statement of city council member Tetiana Dombrovska on the development of the green zone.

An oak grove at the intersection of Bohoyavlenskyi Avenue and Kobera Lane, where a petrol station is to be built, photo by NikVesti

Businessman Maksym Brevda's opinion on the construction of a petrol station near «Zoria». Screenshots

Entrepreneur Maksym Brevda's opinion on the construction of a petrol station near «Zoria». Screenshots

The entrepreneur added that he has nothing to do with the «OKKO» network and does not invest in petrol stations, but he himself «would be happy to» implement a business project in this area.

«What do I have to do with the OKKO network? I would love to build a project there that would pay taxes to the city and provide jobs. But this will cause outrage here, because these are oak trees. Go to that place and see the distance from a wide 4-lane road and measure the emissions. Then take a calculator and calculate the taxes and jobs. And maybe it will become clear that the park will not work there, and the money could be spent on normal green areas, parks and playgrounds. But no one here is interested in this, because all the people here are super professional people with MBAs («Master of Business Administration», which means a qualification degree in management, — note). I look at this circus and just realise that nothing changes,» he wrote.

He added that the city now needs taxes, not «imitation of protecting the green zone» in a place unsuitable for walking.

Environmentalists have marked with paint the trees that, according to the development plan, are to be cut down, a screenshot from a story by Suspilne Mykolaiv

«I think that there can't be a green zone near a dirty road and a large industrial enterprise, but another good project along the road that will provide jobs for 20-30 Mykolaiv residents, plus taxes, can. But this is an unpopular opinion, because no one cares, the main thing is to raise the hype. The green zone is being killed, it's interesting that there is also a petrol station up there (further along Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue ,— note), and a large area has been sold for a service station, so nobody cares,» writes Maksym Breveda.

Businessman Maksym Brevda's opinion on the construction of a petrol station near «Zoria». Screenshots

The opinion of entrepreneur Maksym Brevda on the construction of a petrol station near «Zoria». Screenshots

It should be noted that the area where the petrol station is to be built used to be a green zone, as evidenced by the materials from the Detailed Plan of the territory, which was ordered by the Mykolaiv Department of Architecture in 2023. Now, according to the detailed plan, the green zone on this site has been significantly reduced, and a petrol station is now planned to be built in place of the oak trees.

Scheme of the approved detailed plan of the territory, where the green zone has been significantly reduced and a petrol station is now planned to be built in place of the oaks (marked with the number 1), screenshot from the Detailed Plan of the territory

Previously, the territory where the petrol station is to be built belonged to the green zone, a map of existing restrictions at the time of the development of the detailed territory plan in 2023, screenshot by NikVesti

«In Barcelona, petrol stations are located next to houses, no problems»

Maksym Brevda also cited the Spanish city of Barcelona as an example, noting that petrol stations are built near residential buildings there.

«I was in Barcelona in 2019, a gorgeous place and very advanced in terms of developing zones and traffic. So there I saw petrol stations right next to residential buildings, no problem. Don't we have enough vacant plots and abandoned buildings in the city that can bring the city funds for development? There are plenty,» wrote Maksym Brevda.

Responding to the remarks made by MP Tetiana Dombrovska regarding «policy» in this matter, Maksym Brevda expressed hope that after the war a new «young generation» would come to power in Mykolaiv.

«Tetiana, I know the politics well and this concerns not only you, but in general I have been hearing about these oak trees from everywhere, this is the most important issue for the city now, and only the lazy have not commented on it. The same situation was with OKKO at the 1st filling station, but now we see no problems, a clean and beautiful area, quality service for the townspeople and jobs. Is it possible for OKKO to develop a plan to avoid cutting down the entire territory from the trees and make the adjacent green area look good? I think it is possible. Did this situation happen yesterday? Not since 2014, or do we have perfect DBN norms and zones? I hope that when the war is over and the younger generation comes to power, the time will come when the city will have a management that can not only spend the budget, but also earn it for the development of the city. The city needs to develop a private partnership format and learn how to attract investments, we have a lot of economic problems today,» wrote Maksym Brevda.

Comments by Maksym Brevda and Tetiana Dombrovska on the construction of a petrol station. Screenshots from the NikVesti telegram channel

Maksym Brevda also claims that the site is not suitable for either a park or a health centre due to its proximity to the road and industrial zone. He considers the idea of creating recreational facilities on this territory unrealistic.

« A health centre? How big should the recreation centre be to preserve the trees there? Your conclusions are a little hasty for my benefit, but let's just say so. If you also believe that there are no problems with jobs in the city, you probably know the problems of the city's economy better than I do. And do you really think that a health complex should be 20 metres away from a four-lane motorway with a huge flow of freight traffic,» added Maksym Brevda.

The opinion of entrepreneur Maksym Breveda on the construction of a petrol station near «Zorya». Screenshots

The opinion of entrepreneur Maksym Breveda on the construction of a petrol station near «Zorya». Screenshots

As you know, preparatory work for the construction of a filling station «OKKO» and shops began in the Inhulskyi district of Mykolaiv this spring. The site is located at the intersection of Bohoiavlenskyi Avenue and Kobera Street, in the green zone between high-rise buildings and the territory of the state-owned enterprise «Zoria»-«Mashproekt». On 7 May, the contractor and a representative of the State Environmental Inspectorate inspected the site. According to estimates, 182 trees — mostly oaks aged 40-60 years — are to be destroyed for the project.

It should be noted that the previous public hearing was held online on 2 July. At that time, participants criticised the environmental impact assessment report and accused the developer's representatives of plagiarism.

The chief architect of Mykolaiv, Yevhen Poliakov, also criticised the developer. Although he had previously expressed surprise that almost two hundred perennial oak trees were planned to be demolished on the land plot. Yevhen Poliakov stated that he did not agree to the felling of oaks on this plot, but rather demanded that the tenant plant an additional 57 trees, which, according to him, was stipulated in the lease agreement. In addition, the chief architect of Mykolaiv assures that the company «Svit Zdorovia» has no right «to take actions that will change the environmental situation», despite the fact that the very fact of building a petrol station will already affect the environmental situation there.

Read more about the history of the issue in the article «How did the city council give land for the construction of a petrol station in Mykolaiv instead of going to court?»