Although the standards on which the local plans are formed are stipulated in the Planloven (Planning Low), specific and detailed value criteria are not specified, therefore it is operated by the city's discretion. In Copenhagen, when there are new developments in and around the area specified by the local plan, the development is not restricted, instead the plan its self is modified. In which case, the local plan enacts specific projects while the municipal plan is supplemented accordingly and be tails are finalized.
Insight into a land use review system involving the public, shown below, was gained through individual case analysis of the method for public involvement used in the formulation process of the local plan in the city of Copenhagen.
1) A system operated with various opportunities for public involvement by the city's discretion.
In addition to the basic obligatory public hearing, in Copenhagen, as an original process, unstipulated in the Planloven, citizen meetings are also held during the public hearing period. This discussion involves briefing the public of the specifics of the project and exchanging of opinions with the sponsorship of the local committees accordingly. The obligatory Neighbor Orientation, in which exchange of public opinions regarding the departure from regulations of existing local plans are conducted, may also be held during the heavy editorial period of unfinished plans.
In this way, the process is operated with various opportunities for public involvement by the city's discretion.
2) The repetition of the involvement process to achieve consensus.
After the public hearing, the city discusses a proposal for the local plan which reflects the opinions of the public. As a result, when sizable changes occur, additional hearings may be held independent from the original public hearing. When minor changes occur, subsequent public hearings are held.
This process insures public consensus, through separating minor and major issues efficiently and repetition in this manner.
3) Opinions from varied participating bodies and the function of local committees.
Participating bodies considered to be public institutions are, local committees, the local council, the museum of Copenhagen, and electricity, gas and railroad companies. Landowner associations comprised of homeowners, public associations for each housing complex, and the developer themselves may also give their opinions. Especially legally appointed local committees play an important role, not only as sponsors for the citizen meeting, but during the formulation of the local plan as well.
4) Revision of the plan based on accumulated various public opinions.
The contents of the accumulated opinions consisted of various topics not only specific plan details such as applications for land and buildings, building scale etc, but approval and disapproval of the formulation of the plan its self, on the lack of public involvement in the formulation process and so on.
Opinions which led to the modification of the local plan were, concerns regarding their living environment such as building height, shade, exposure of privacy, sound etc, demands regarding the maintenance of existing structures and increase of parking space, proposal of design changes from the developer and local committees, on the resolution of restrictions on environmental preservation and corrections on building plans.
