Multiple appeals filed against zoning changes for Arina Tower Hotel in Rovaniemi

Multiple appeals have been filed with the Northern Finland Administrative Court concerning the planned tower hotel in downtown Rovaniemi, with at least three objections submitted. The city council approved the zoning changes for the so-called Arina Tower Hotel plan, which would allow for the construction of an 18-story tower in the city center, alongside a 14-story residential building by As Oy Rova-Pekka.

One objection came from a private individual, another from neighboring hotels, and the third from a residents’ association in central Rovaniemi. The hotel companies involved in the complaint include Sava Group Oy, which owns Santa’s Hotels, as well as Arctic Light Hotel Oy, City-hotelli Oy, and Rovaniemen Kauppalantalo Kiinteistö Oy, all part of the Gröhn family business.

The complaint, spanning 16 pages, argues that the zoning amendments fail to meet the goals of good building practices and planning set out in land use and construction law. Key issues identified include inadequate assessment of maximum building heights and associated landscape impacts, as well as insufficient consideration of shadow and wind nuisances. The planned tall buildings would significantly increase shadowing on several streets in Rovaniemi, affecting daylight not only during the terrace season but also throughout the dark winter months.

Both the residents’ association and the hotel companies express concerns over the zoning changes’ impact on Rovaniemi’s identity and architectural history, advocating for broader regional planning to mitigate the anticipated changes to the landscape and environment. Their objections suggest that the zoning process has been overly influenced by the interests of the Arina grocery chain, raising concerns about how economic interests may overshadow proper urban planning.