City Planning

 

 

NATIONAL LAND USE OBJECTIVES are a part of the land use planning system in accordance with the Land Use and Building Act. The purpose of these land use guidelines is to ensure that important issues on the national level are taken into account in regional and municipal land use planning. They also help with achieving the most important objectives of the Land Use and Building Act which are a good living environment and sustainable development.

REGIONAL LAND USE PLANS are drafted by regional councils and they cover each of Finland's 18 regions. These plans set out the mid-term and long-term principles of land use and strategies and guide regional development. The regional plans for the North Savo area are drafted by the Regional Council of Northern Savo.

LOCAL MASTER PLANS provide general guidelines for land use in municipalities. For example, the master plan defines the locations of residential areas and places of employment and traffic routes. The master plan guides the city's development in the mid-term, over the next 10 to 20 years. In Kuopio, master plans are drafted by the Strategic Planning Department of the Service Area for the Urban Environment and approved by the City Executive.

LOCAL LAND USE PLANS define the detailed organisation of land use, building and development. They define building heights, street widths and other matters that affect the cityscape and the structure of the area. A land use plan can cover either an entire residential area or only one plot. In Kuopio, land use plans are drafted by the Urban Planning Department of the Service Area for the Urban Environment and approved by the City Executive. Major land use proposals are passed to the City Council after the City Executive's approval.