On June 7, Fukuoka City announced plans to relax the regulations on development in eight of its rural districts. The eight districts—Shikanoshima, Katsuyama, Wakiyama, Uchino, Magaribuchi, Kitazaki, Imazu and Noko—are zoned as so-called urbanization control areas. With this move, the City hopes to use private development to spur growth in these areas. “People living in our rural districts are working hard, but the population in these areas is declining and aging. We hope that innovative ideas from the private sector can be used to create businesses that attract people to these areas,” remarked Mayor Takashima. New development will be approved if City Hall deems a business plan to contribute to regional revitalization and the local residents agree with said plan. Fukuoka is the first designated city in Japan to undertake this kind of deregulation. Source: RKB News, 6/7
(Photo: provided by the City of Fukuoka)
