{"id":59726,"date":"2024-07-19T07:23:14","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T04:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=59726"},"modified":"2025-12-01T15:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:39:07","slug":"smooth-zoning-and-permits-support-the-development-of-tourism-in-the-koli-region","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/projects\/smooth-zoning-and-permits-support-the-development-of-tourism-in-the-koli-region\/","title":{"rendered":"Smooth zoning and permits support the development of tourism in the Koli region"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Smooth land use planning and permits support the development of tourism in the Koli region<\/h1>\n

Koli’s national landscapes attract more and more tourists, which is why more secure parking spaces are needed. Sweco’s experts in land use planning and the environment promote construction projects on Yl\u00e4-Kolintie.<\/p>\n

Koli\u00b4s Tourism Vision 2050 aims to improve the accessibility and transportation infrastructure of Koli National Park and to increase tourism. The City of Lieksa is currently zoning areas in Koli for the construction of a hotel and parking area, among other things.<\/p>\n

“The aim is to expand the parking opportunities for those travelling to the national park, especially in Upper Koli,” says Susanna Saastamoinen<\/strong>, Director of Vitality at the City of Lieksa.<\/p>\n

Sweco helps the city in Yl\u00e4-Kolintie in drawing up the partial master plan and detailed plan<\/a>, which is why it was logical to trust the water permit process for the new parking area to the same expert. “In recent years, Sweco has carried out several zoning work for us in the area, so they were able to secure the necessary experts within the same organisation,” Saastamoinen says.<\/p>\n

The parking place is coming to the spot where the seepage surface was found, i.e. the area where the water from the spring seeps through the ground. “The parking area cannot be built directly according to the building permit, because construction in the seepage area requires an exception in accordance with the Water Act,” says Linnea M\u00e4kinen<\/strong>, <\/strong>designer at Sweco.<\/p>\n

Construction will not compromise the habitat\u2019s favorable conservation status<\/h2>\n

In addition to understanding legislation, natural science expertise was emphasised in applying for a derogation. The permit application included, among other things, basic information about the site, location and zoning information for the area, and future construction measures.<\/p>\n

“In the application, we also assessed the effects of the construction on the area’s seepage surface and ways to reduce the environmental impact,” M\u00e4kinen says. The result of the review was that even if the seepage surface remains under the parking area, the construction will not significantly jeopardise the favourable conservation status of the habitat in the area. “There are a relatively large number of different spring habitats in the region.”<\/p>\n

In addition, Sweco’s experts gave recommendations on ways to reduce the impacts of construction, such as damage to the landscape. “It is essential to manage the stormwater generated in the parking area and ensure that alien species do not spread with the topsoil,” M\u00e4kinen says. In addition, efforts are made to minimise landscape disturbances by removing only the amount of trees and vegetation necessary for construction.<\/p>\n

Authorities satisfied with the quality of the water permit application<\/h2>\n

In M\u00e4kinen’s opinion, cooperation with Lieksa’s local authorities, such as the ELY Centre, was very smooth. “It made the work involved in the application permit process, such as obtaining source data, easier.”<\/p>\n

Saastamoinen, on the other hand, is satisfied with the independent work and quality of work of Sweco’s experts. “The process went smoothly, and the quality of the content of the application has also received good feedback from the authorities. The documents had been executed so well at once that AVI did not need additional or additional attachments.”<\/p>\n

Sweco supports the area’s permit and zoning processes at different stages until their approval.<\/p>\n

Picture: City of Lieksa, Pekka Ovaskainen<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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