The Planning Process
The Initial Phase
The initiative behind the preparation of the zoning plan may be taken by the land owner, the municipality, municipal residents or some other interested party. The municipality can either zone the land in its possession or privately owned land. In such cases, a contract with the land owner is drawn up in order to be able to being the zoning. The zoning plan is announced via a public notice. The formulation of a master plan is determined by the Municipal Council.
In connection with the commencement of the plan, a participation and evaluation plan is prepared in which one describes the plan projects vantage points and the projects means of interaction, time schedule, goals and im-pact assessment. Interested parties pertain to all those sectors that the plan clearly can affect.
Draft
For most plans, a draft is formulated before the actual proposed plan. However, no draft plan is made if, e.g., there is no alternative to the plan solution that needs to be examined in the draft phase.
The draft plan is approved by the municipality's elected bodies before it is made official, most often within 30 days in order to allow for viewpoints to be submitted. This also allows for a public event to be held. The land owner and the adjacent neighbours are informed via mail, and other interested parties are informed via the press about the preparation of the zoning plan.
Recommendations
Land use contracts are negotiated with private land owners. Based on the response received from the draft plan, the plan is developed and the equivalents are developed for the viewpoints. Then the recommended plan is approved by the municipalitys elected officials before it is made public for at least 30 days for written re-marks.
During the presentation, one can familiarise himself with the plans on the municipalitys website or at the municipal building, and plans pertaining to Jokela or Kellokoski can be found at local libraries. Public events are also arranged for important plans. These are announced in public notices.
Inhabitants and interested parties are given an opportunity to present their opinions or concerns about the plan. The remarks are submitted in writing to the municipal executive. Those having submitted their remarks and having included their addresses are later informed of the municipalitys position with regard to their re-marks.
Approval of Plans
Based on the response received with regard to the recommended plan, small revisions can still be made in the plan. Answers are given to the responses received. Then a plan is submitted for approval.
During the appeal period, the decision to approve the plan can be appealed to the administrative court. The plans can also be appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court; however, in some cases leave for appeal must be granted. The plan takes effect via a public notice in the press once the appeal period has expired - or if any ap-peal is denied.