Posts about urban planning, land use, and city development.
Zoning decisions shape everyday life for decades. As the Helsinki metropolitan area grows, new homes belong along good rail connections, and new residential areas need kindergartens and schools at the same pace as residents arrive. Markets can do more of the work: abolishing parking minimums lets builders and residents decide how many spaces they need and lowers the cost of housing, and dynamic road-usage charges are a far easier and more sensible answer to congestion in the capital region than blasting a billion-euro tunnel.
Nature must show in zoning too, and residents should have a say in logging in their local forests already at the planning stage. The demand that recurs across these posts is simple: the impacts of a decision must be assessed before it is made. As a Kirkkonummi councillor I saw what skipping that step costs when the council withdrew from the Western Rail Link without assessing the consequences, against the officials’ proposal, and a planned station area lost its station.
Related posts
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Kirkkonummi bypassed residents in planning forest logging
Kirkkonummi approved its forest management programme without consulting residents and without an advance assessment. The municipal strategy promises otherwise.
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More Markets!
Five proposals that harness the market mechanism to solve problems in transport, urban space, public procurement, and land use.
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The West Railway revealed problems in Kirkkonummi's governance
The West Railway decision revealed shortcomings in Kirkkonummi's strategic planning. The municipality risks bearing the costs without the benefits.
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Lyyra opens new possibilities for Kirkkonummi's future
Kirkkonummi's renovation creates a culture cluster of Fyyri, Lyyra and Rovastinpuisto park. It sets conditions for growth for decades to come.
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I voted for the Western Rail Link
I voted for Kirkkonummi to join the Western Rail Link. The decision determines whether Northern Kirkkonummi gets a commuter rail station.
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A growing municipality needs a vibrant centre
Kirkkonummi's centre renovation is a golden opportunity. A vibrant centre attracts residents and businesses — and improves the municipality's finances.
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The Varuboden-Osla co-op elections affect us all
The Varuboden-Osla co-op elections are now under way. By voting you influence people's jobs, consumer behaviour and local services.
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Our nature is our trump card — year after year
One of Kirkkonummi's greatest attractions is our nature. The participatory budgeting that has just begun has shown this once again.
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New year, familiar poor winter maintenance in Kirkkonummi
Kirkkonummi's winter maintenance has again proved as poor as in previous years. It does not have to be this way — we can choose to demand quality.
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The municipality must plan for the long term
Municipalities must plan for the long term. Short-sighted decisions lead to extra costs and poorer services for residents over time.
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Things were better before
That is, for light traffic — pedestrians and cyclists. What if we stopped building society on the terms of private car use?
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Local nature must be cherished
Not every forest needs to be felled. Local nature that is in active use in particular must be preserved, and it is an important part of our municipality.
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The adequacy of early childhood education must not be compromised
There is already a shortage of early childhood places in Kirkkonummi's centre. New plans will increase demand — adequate provision must be secured.
