Smiltene Expands, Incorporating Five Suburban Villages
The new territorial plan for Smiltene municipality has come into effect, adding five villages – Kalnamuiža, Vidzeme, Silva, Saltupi, and Grotūzis – to the city. The change aims to streamline administration and reflect existing functional ties.
On June 18, the Smiltene municipal council approved a new territorial plan that officially extends the city boundaries. Five formerly separate suburban villages – Kalnamuiža, Vidzeme, Silva, Saltupi, and Grotūzis – have been incorporated into Smiltene. Previously, these villages belonged to the parishes of Smiltene, Branti, and Launkalne.
Mayor Ervins Labanovskis describes the move as a natural step, noting that these areas have long been functionally integrated with the city – residents use Smiltene's services and share infrastructure. The city's Economic Management Department now handles maintenance, simplifying development and improving access to EU funding.
Local resident Inga Ērgle from Silva supports the change, saying cooperation with the distant Launkalne parish was cumbersome. She appreciates that the village names will be retained as neighbourhood designations, except for Saltupi which merges with Silva.
Property addresses will change for some owners. The municipality states that the State Land Service and Land Registry will update records automatically and free of charge. However, residents must update their address with banks and other institutions themselves; legal entities must notify the Enterprise Register. Property tax will increase because urban land has a higher cadastral value.
Beyond the annexed villages, the city has expanded northwest and north to create new business development zones. The plan also includes unified land-use regulations, updated transport infrastructure, and rules for wind and solar installations. Detailed documents are available on GeoLatvija and the municipal website.
