Together, the municipality’s land policy and zoning form the municipality’s land use policy. The purpose of the land use policy is to create the conditions for an excellent living environment and to promote sustainable development ecologically, economically, socially and culturally. Our land use programme promotes the realisation of the municipality’s strategic targets and ensures a coherent course for decision-making, which is particularly important when employing coercive measures in relation to agricultural policy.
The land use policy as a whole sets out guidelines for land acquisition, the zoning scheme and bargaining policies, as well as for the conveyance of plots and building sites. The consistent application of land policy measures ensures an efficient, well-functioning and cost-effective community structure. At the same time, it creates favourable conditions for developing the municipality in a methodical way and for offering a wide variety of plots, which in turn will promote the building of the municipality’s economic competitiveness in the long term. A new land use policy programme is prepared during every City Council term. This programme for 2019–2022 relies heavily on the land use goals of the Local Plan 2035 for the City Centre, which is currently under preparation. The purpose of the land use programme is to support the land use goals of the growth themes that are presented in Kajaani’s City Strategy.
The focus of the municipality’s land policy lies in the zoned area and its immediate surroundings. In other areas, the master plan and building by-laws are the primary instruments of construction management. We must not forget, however, that the effects of land policy affect the entire municipality, and the main purpose of the land policy is to ensure, as far as possible, wide-ranging opportunities for living and business both in the city centre and in rural areas. While doing so, we are aware of the prerequisites of the efficient use of the communal infrastructure and the limits of supplying social and commercial services.