Planning issues (zoning review)

An annual land-use review is produced, presenting the pending and most significant planning projects and other plans. A website is used as a planning review, where all pending planning projects are listed.

According to the land use policy programme, projects are divided into categories, with the greatest emphasis on economic policy projects.

Economic policy projects
Business plan projects support the operating conditions of existing businesses and the creation of new jobs.

Projects to improve the supply of land
These projects aim to support a high-quality, diverse and affordable supply of land.

Other projects in the city
Other city projects include changes to city-owned buildings and public areas

Other private projects 
Private projects include extensions to residential plots. About 10 private planning initiatives have been registered and only projects in progress are shown on the website.

At the regional level, planning is the responsibility of a consortium of municipalities in the region (the Regional Association). Varkaus is part of the North Savo Regional Association. Varkaus has a valid North Savo Regional Plan 2040, 1st phase (2019) with updates and a valid North Savo Regional Plan 2040, 2nd phase (2025). The current maps and pending issues can be found on the Regional Planning website of the North Savo Union.

The purpose of the master plan is to provide general guidance for the urban structure and land use of a municipality or part of a municipality and to coordinate activities. A general plan may also be drawn up to guide land use and construction in a specific area.

The general plan sets out the principles of the desired development and designates the necessary areas as a basis for detailed town and country planning, building and other land use.

The zoning plan is a detailed land use plan. The land-use plan defines, among other things, the location of different activities, the use, size and position of buildings. A land-use plan can cover an entire residential area with residential, work and recreational areas, or sometimes just a street, a plot of land, etc. The land-use plan may be supplemented by building design guidelines, which give detailed instructions on how the built environment is to be shaped.