Mikkeli City Board proposes update to land use policy

The Mikkeli City Board has approved a proposal to update the city’s land policy program regarding land use agreements. The update will be presented to the City Council for final approval.

Under the new principles, the land use fee will generally be set at 40 percent of the increase in value generated for a plot by a detailed plan or a plan amendment. The determination of this value increase will take into account the specific conditions of the plot.

If a landowner assumes responsibility for specific infrastructure works identified in the agreement, the land use fee may be reduced by the amount that covers the costs otherwise incurred by the city. The payment schedule for these fees will be phased according to the progress of the project, with final payment required no later than 10 years after the detailed plan becomes legally binding, unless otherwise specified in the agreement. These new principles will not be applied retroactively to previous land use agreements.