An active discussion of nature values ​​during the presentation of the draft general plan

The draft of Imatra's new master plan was presented by the design manager of Ramboll Oy, which prepares the plan Iris Broman. 

Broman said that the general plan defines the broad outlines of the city's land use development. In the general plan, the main uses of the areas are indicated, but a permit for construction cannot be granted directly on the basis of the general plan, but construction requires site planning.

- Generality and flexibility have been sought in the area reservation designations, so that the general plan would not become outdated quickly but would last for time and leave room for more detailed planning. The goals of Imatra's draft general plan still include an increase of 4000 residents. 

City dwellers have been particularly interested in the zoning of Saimaa's beaches.

- The draft plan enables controlled utilization of coastal zones. Beach areas can also remain a recreation area, i.e. the plan is not obliged to carry out beach construction.

Broman emphasized that the master plan will solve many other important issues, for example the development of the surroundings of the centers. By law, the city must also keep the master plan up to date.

- The development of Vuoksi's environment has been taken into account in the draft plan. Efforts have been made to preserve and develop the vitality of villages and rural areas, safeguard natural diversity, and preserve temporal stratification in buildings. The theme of sustainable mobility is a very essential part of the preparation phase. Efforts have been made to secure sufficient area reservations for the business sector.

Discussion about beach construction

Summer in Rautsialan in my opinion, the beach construction in the draft does not correspond to the provincial plan.

- Regarding Hosseinlahti and Lempuka, the provincial plan has not been taken into account. The beach zone is narrower in the draft. Imatra's land policy program talks about densifying the urban structure. Hossukka and Lempukka are far from schools and building there would disperse the urban structure and also fight against climate goals, he stated.

The need for beach plots was also questioned by someone online via Teams Kari Smolander.

- I wonder about the motive for drawing the construction of plots with private shores in the plan. 

The reasonableness of zoning for beach construction was doubted in many speeches. The reasons cited were the expensive construction costs of the beach area, the conflict with tourism goals and recreational use, the deterioration of biodiversity, and the lack of demand for new plots of land.

Currently building Mustalamme Anne Iivonen found Imatra's urban structure compact, good for cyclists, and the plot offer interesting. Iivonen proposed free public transport.

- Then, for example, Sienimäki would be a great place for the elderly to live, he envisioned.

You can leave your opinion on the plan draft on 28.3. until. After this, a plan proposal will be drawn up, on which the townspeople will again be able to express their opinion. It is estimated that the plan proposal will be available for viewing in the coming autumn.
 

For more information:

City engineer Päivi Ala-Vannesluoma, tel. 020 617 4418, paivi. lower rim creaseimatra.fi (paivi[dot]ala-vannesluoma[at]imatra[dot]fi) 

Planning engineer Timo Könönen, tel. 020 617 4425, timo.kononenimatra.fi (timo[dot]kononen[at]imatra[dot]fi)