PLANNING PROCESS
The chart below illustrates in simplified form the various stages of drawing up a plan, in other words how planning takes place in practice. Below the chart there is information on how and at what stages interested parties (e.g. a resident, housing cooperative or company) can influence the plan. The description is based on the Planning Office's guide 'Kaavoitusprosessi' (The Planning Process).
How can I make my voice heard?
How can I influence the participation and assessment plan?
A participation and assessment plan (PAP) is drawn up for each and every plan. The participation and assessment plan can be obtained from the Planning Office. Feedback on the participation and assessment plan should be submitted to the planner responsible for the plan in question.
The participation and assessment plan is added to when necessary as work progresses. If the plan is weakened, interested parties will be informed of this fact.
Before the plan proposal is placed on public display interested parties have the opportunity to propose to Keski-Suomen ympäristökeskus (Central Finland Environment Centre) that a meeting be held to discuss the adequacy of the participation and assessment plan (Land Use and Building Act 64§).
Where can I find out that a plan is pending?
Official announcement that a plan is pending must be made in such a way that interested parties have the opportunity to obtain information on the points of departure for planning and on the participation and assessment procedure. Consideration is given in the case of each plan as to the appropriate manner of announcing a plan is pending.
When plans are important, announcement is made in the Jyväskylä official bulletin (Jyväskylän tiedotuslehti) in connection with planning reports to be published, by letter or in the newspaper Keskisuomalainen. In the notice/announcement/letter details are given of where the points of departure for planning as well as the participation and assessment plan can be studied. Public information on planning is described further in appendix 1 of the guide 'Kaavoitusprosessi' (The Planning Process).
Announcement of a pending master plan is generally made in both the newspaper Keskisuomalainen and the city's official bulletin.
Where small alterations of plan which are of minor significance are concerned (e.g. a small house plan involving one plot) the pending announcement and the drafting stage hearing may be combined.
How can I influence matters during drafting-stage cooperation?
During the drafting stage time is set aside to allow interested parties the opportunity to present their opinions. Announcement of drafting-stage cooperation is made in the following manner:
1. Planning matters of importance or likely to provoke general interest are announced in the Jyväskylä official bulletin.
2. Notice of plans with broad impacts is given in the newspaper Keskisuomalainen. A sample notice of a plan being placed on public display during the drafting stage is available here in PDF format ('The Planning Process' - appendix 7).
3. In the case of master plans and important town plans a public meeting is arranged (comments documented). In the case of plans of particular importance a public meeting may be held as soon as the plan is declared pending. Plans of this sort are sent to Central Finland Environment Centre for information.
4. Where master plans are concerned landowners are informed by letter as considered appropriate.
5. Where town plans are concerned letters are sent at least to the owner(s) of the area concerned. Other parties are informed in the manner considered most appropriate in each case.
6. Säynätsalo area board is sent all plans concerning Säynätsalo for comment.
From the perspective of the planning process it would be preferable that the interested parties submitted feedback on the plan at this stage in order to avoid unnecessary objections at a later stage.
During the drafting stage feedback can be given to the planner in writing, by email or word of mouth e.g. by phone or at a public meeting.
How do I submit an objection to a plan proposal?
Every plan proposal is placed on public display and notice of this fact given in the newspaper Keskisuomalainen. Residents of the municipality and interested parties can submit objections. Objections must be sent in writing by the due date to the address stated in the notice.
If no objections to the plan have been received then after public display the plan proceeds direct to the City Board. If there are objections, the Planning Office prepares answers to objections and opinions and also makes possible changes to the plan.
The plan is then placed on public display once again, should important changes have been made to the plan after objections.
Appeal procedure
The minutes of the City Board or City Council are scrutinized subsequent to each meeting on Monday of the following week, from which time a 30 day period for lodging an appeal commences. During the appeal period residents of the municipality, interested parties as well as officials and organizations etc. mentioned in §191 of the Land Use and Building Act have the opportunity to appeal to the Hämeenlinna Administrative Court regarding the decision to grant approval (Land Use and Building Act §188, §191, Municipal Act §90, 92, 93). The City Office checks whether an appeal has been made. If no appeal has been made, notice of the plan is given in the newspaper Keskisuomalainen roughly 2-3 days after the appeal period has come to an end. (Land Use and Building Act §200, Land Use Statute and Planning and Building Statute §93), at which time the plan assumes the force of law (roughly 6 weeks after approval).
Even though an appeal has been made, the municipality may, after the close of the appeal period, order a master or town plan to come into force before it has assumed the force of law in respect of that part of the planning area with which the appeals are considered not to be concerned, Land Use and Building Act §201.
Possible further appeals are made to the Higher Administrative Court (Local Government Act §97).
The Environment Centre has the opportunity to request amendment in a planning matter (Land Use and Building Act §195), if the plan has been drawn up without due regard for national regional use goals, or in a manner otherwise contrary to the regulations contained in the act and it is in the public interest to have the matter resubmitted for decision in the municipality. A request for amendment must be made during the appeal period. As a result of a request for amendment the City Council must make a decision on the plan within six months or the decision to grant approval becomes void.
The plan assumes the force of law subsequent to the appeal period roughly 6 weeks after approval has been granted, provided no objections have been received and when notice of the plan has been given in the Keskisuomalainen.
