Land use plan preliminary draft will be available for participation

Information on early public participation in the "preliminary draft" of the updated land use plan for the city of Jena

Land use plan preliminary draft will be available for participation -
Update sets framework for the development of the city of Jena until 2035

A "preliminary draft" of the city of Jena's land use plan, which has been in effect since 2006 and is currently being updated, is now available. From 20.02. to 31.03.2023, citizens can comment on the first phase of the update, the preliminary draft, as part of the early public participation process.

"With the preliminary draft, we have reached the first milestone in the development of this complex plan," says Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of Urban Development and Environment of the City of Jena, adding: "To ensure the sustainable development of our city and in view of the challenges in the areas of housing supply, the continued dynamic development of Jena's economy and the consequences of changing climatic conditions, it is imperative that the land use plan from 2006, which is currently still valid, is updated."

Contrary to the population forecast on which the FNP 2006 was based, the number of inhabitants in 2020 was not the predicted 90,600, but just under 108,900. In addition, the city of Jena continues to see positive development - according to this, the number of inhabitants with their main residence will continue to rise until 2035. At the same time, Jena's economy continues to develop dynamically, primarily thanks to above-average development in high-growth sectors. Among other things, this is accompanied by additional demand for living space, which is clearly reflected in the current vacancy rate of less than 1%. Due to the dynamic development of the city, the careful designation of new building areas is necessary in addition to the redensification of existing and the revitalization of derelict areas.

"The land use plan provides a framework to ensure sustainable and climate change-adapted development in Jena in the future and at the same time provide areas for living and working in line with demand while maintaining a high quality of life. Against the backdrop of rising prices for building land and rents, the price-stabilizing target of an additional 4,830 residential units by 2035 adopted by the city council is particularly important," says Christian Gerlitz.

In recent years, a number of strategically important concepts have been updated and underpinned by city council resolutions. These form the basis for the preliminary draft. These include, for example, the concepts for residential and commercial development, as well as for schools and playgrounds. In addition, the "Integrated Urban Development Concept Jena.2030+" (ISEK), which was drawn up in a broad-based coordination process, provides cross-departmental guidelines for future urban development.

"In a growing and attractive city like Jena, it is no easy task to bring together the various interests in a kind of overarching master plan. The limited amount of available space requires a strategically sensible approach to land use. This will be one of the major challenges for the coming years," explains Mayor Gerlitz and continues: "An important goal is therefore to continue to maintain Jena as a 'city of short distances'. Compact and mixed-use structures with a compatible density and good accessibility to local amenities and the diverse recreational areas are in line with Jena's sustainability goals and the objectives of a climate-change-friendly city"

Citizens can participate in the preliminary draft in various ways in the period from 20.02.2023 to 31.03.2023 inclusive.

All documents relating to the preliminary draft can be viewed on the city of Jena's website. An online participation platform has been specially prepared via the website www.jena.de/fnp, which can be used to submit comments electronically during the exhibition period. Comments can also be sent to the city administration of Jena by post or email.

The planning documents are also available for public inspection during this period in the administration building at Am Anger 26. After all comments received have been examined, the "draft" of the land use plan will be produced, and the public will once again have the opportunity to participate.

Further information on the preliminary draft:

What is a land use plan?

The land use plan organizes the land requirements for the individual land uses with a certain degree of abstraction. In contrast to development plans, which are generally limited to individual settlement areas, the land use plan sets out the type of land use for the entire urban area and establishes a framework for a long-term time horizon of approx. 15 years. It presents this in a coarse-meshed structural concept for larger areas of use and refrains from making plot-specific statements (no parcel definition). The updating of the land use plan is a mandatory municipal task in accordance with the German Building Code. As a so-called "preparatory urban land-use plan", it does not produce any direct legal effects vis-à-vis citizens, but rather has the function of a planning commitment of the municipality and the authorities involved in its preparation.

How can citizens participate?

In accordance with the nationally prescribed procedure, the public has the opportunity to comment on urban land-use planning in (at least) two different procedural stages - firstly on the "preliminary draft" planning status (stage 1) and then on the "draft" (stage 2).

Phase 1 currently involves early public participation in the "preliminary draft" of the land use plan. This will be on public display from 20.02.2023 to 31.03.2023 inclusive and can be viewed on the City of Jena's website during this period.[https://rathaus.jena.de/de/ausschreibungen-auslegungen]

Comments can be submitted electronically via the online participation platform www.jena.de/fnp during the exhibition period (from 20.02.). An automated confirmation of receipt will be sent immediately as well as information on the further course of the procedure and how to deal with the comments in principle.

In addition, comments can be sent to the Jena City Council by post or email.

Please note:

The public announcement of the early publication of the preliminary draft of the land use plan update will be made on 09.02.2023 in the official gazette no. 06/23 of the City of Jena. https://rathaus.jena.de/de/amtsblatt