Agenda - June 2022 Development Plan Meeting Meeting

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Date:
22/06/2022 15:30
Location:
Council Chamber

Headed Items

H-I (1)
Submitted by:
Landuse Planning & Transportation
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie

Chief Executive's Report

H-I (2)
Submitted by:
Landuse Planning & Transportation
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie

Environmental Assessments of the Motions to the Material Alterations

H-I (3)
Submitted by:
Landuse Planning & Transportation
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie

Chief Executive's Amendments

H-I (4)
Submitted by:
Landuse Planning & Transportation
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie

Resolution to make the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022 - 2028

Core Strategy & Settlement Strategy

Motions

Mot (1)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

Ref. Amendment 2.13 - This motion seeks to add wording to CSO10 SLO1 as provided and ensures alluvial woodland in Rathcoole is considered where CS10 SLO1 is concerned: From: To ensure that the provision of a primary school, library hub, 2 full sized GAA pitches and 1 junior pitch and associated pavilion, access road and open space is provided in tandem with new residential development. To: To ensure that the provision of a primary school, library hub, 2 full sized GAA pitches and 1 junior pitch and associated pavilion, access road and open space is provided in tandem with new residential development with due regard to GI7 SLO2 referencing Alluvial Woodlands in rural zoning in Rathcoole. 

Mot (2)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

This motion asks that a boundary is drawn around the amended residential zoning the subject of the phasing under CS10 SLO1 in Amendment 2.13 for clarity.

Mot (3)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor R. McMahon
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

Ref Amendment 2.15 Kiltipper Road Page 94 CE Report - Map 9 To amend the draft development plan back to the plan as published and to change the zoning back to RU from RES, of the small area marked on map 9. Cllr Ronan McMahon and Cllr Brian Lawlor

Mot (4)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

2.15 Reject based on the poor public transport and lack of infrastructure and to retain rural zoning.

Mot (5)
Submitted by:
Councillor C. O'Connor
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

We the elected members of South Dublin County Council hereby confirm our decision to change the zoning of lands at Whitestown Way, Amendment No. 2.19 from Objective EE to Objective REGEN 

Mot (6)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor K. Egan, Councillor D. McManus, Councillor S. O'Hara
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Sinead Geoghegan

Material Amendment 2.20 and 9.4 To reject the Chief Executive's Recommendation in relation to Recommendation 1 of SD-C226-65 submitted by the Office of the Planning Regulator, and therefore make the Plan with Material Amendments 2.20 and Motion 9.4, as previously adopted by the elected members. Prosposed by Cllr Kenneth Egan, Brian Lawlor, David McManus and Shirley O Hara.

Natural Heritage & Built Heritage

Motions

Mot (7)
Submitted by:
Councillor T. Costello
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

3.17 To retain TJ Burns cottages as per the draft plan

Green Infrastructure

Motions

Mot (8)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

This motion calls for the adoption of amendment 4.9 as proposed by the Chief Executive: To ensure the adequate protection and augmentation of the identified Alluvial Rathcoole Woodlands within the zoning RU, and in recognising their value as green infrastructure and the potential linkages to Lugg Woods and Slade Valley and other amenity areas, provide for sensitive passive amenity uses which have regard to their Annex 1 status. 

Mot (9)
Submitted by:
Councillor Joanna Tuffy
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

To modify amendment 4.9 regarding G17 SL02 (page 130 CE Report) as follows: that any works necessary to facilitate the development of new residential communities on the lands the subject of CS10 SLO1 are permitted on the lands the subject of G17 SL02, including any works to do with servicing of lands to facilitate the new residential development, and any works to ensure proper access to the new residential development by way of roads and footpaths etc.

Mot (10)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

This motion proposes that amendment 4.10 as proposed by the Chief Executive is adopted and seeing Alluvial Woodlands at Rathcoole are designated a stepping stone. 

Mot (11)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

This motion proposes that amendment 4.11 as proposed by the Chief Executive concerning Rathcoole Woodlands is adopted. 

Mot (12)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Tracy McGibbon

This motion proposes that amendment 4.12 as proposed by the Chief Executive for a walking trail between Rathcoole Woodlands and Rathcoole Park is adopted.

Housing

Motions

Mot (13)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor K. Egan, Councillor S. O'Hara
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Leah Clarke

That Amendment 6.8 remain in the Development Plan to reflect Councillors desire to ensure that people who have grown up or spent substantial periods of their lives in a local rural area and who wish to return to reside near, or to care for, immediate family members, seeking to build on a family landholding, have the same opportunity to qualify for planning permission as their peers in neighbouring Counties. Proposed by Cllr Shirley OHara Seconded by Cllr Brian Lawlor & Cllr Kenneth Egan

Mot (14)
Submitted by:
Councillor F. Timmons
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Leah Clarke

Ref. Amendment 6.8 - That the Below objective stays as written below in the CDP H 17 Objective 2; To consider persons for a rural house in the RU Zone on their basis of their being an intrinsic part of the rural community where such persons have grown up or spent substantial periods of their lives, (12 years), living in the area or have moved away and who now wish to return to reside near to, or care for, immediate family members and are seeking to build on family landholding. Immediate family members are defined as mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister.

Sustainable Movement

Motions

Mot (15)
Submitted by:
Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor K. Egan, Councillor S. O'Hara
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Stephen Willoughby, Camille Bleytou

That Amendment 7.21 remain in the Plan without the modification proposed in the CE's Report, in order to reflect Councillors commitment to ensuring that the Orbital Ring Route links to the N81. Proposed by Cllr Shirley O'Hara Seconded by Cllrs Brian Lawlor & Kenneth Egan

Implementation & Monitoring

Motions

Mot (16)
Submitted by:
Councillor M. Johansson
Responsibility:
Hazel Craigie, Anne Hyland, Ben Duignan

That Amendments 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3 be retained in the Plan, for the following reasons: 1. To fulfil Ireland's Climate Change Targets under EU law Ireland is committed to EU targets of 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. In addition, the Climate Action Plan 2021 was published on 4 November 2021 and provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. Two of the key findings of the most recent Environmental Protection Agency projections report published in June 2022 (https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/EPA-Ireland's-GHG-Projections-Report-2021-2040v1.pdf) are: Urgent implementation of all climate plans and policies, plus further new measures, are needed for Ireland to meet the 51 per cent emissions reduction target and put Ireland on track for climate neutrality by 2050. (emphasis added) Under the Additional Measures scenario, renewable energy is projected to increase to 78 per cent of electricity generation by 2030 with emissions from the Energy Industry decreasing by 10 per cent per annum from 2021-30. Increased coal use from 2021 and growing energy demand, including from data centres, threaten to negatively impact achievement of National targets, particularly for the first carbon budget period. (emphasis added) While it is noted that it is not current government policy to ban, or place a moratorium, on data centres, according to Dr Patrick Bresnihan of NUIM such a measure would contribute to Ireland reaching carbon emissions target. (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/data-centres-could-use-70-of-ireland-s-electricity-by-2030-committee-to-hear-1.4685589 ) In addition, the EPA recognise in its report that data centres have contributed to the growing energy demand. A moratorium on new data centres in South Dublin County for the duration of the Development Plan 2022- 2028 would positively contribute to the reduction in energy use required to meet national targets. Professor Barry McMullin of DCU says a growing data centre sector will only complicate efforts to rapidly decarbonise our energy system. He questions whether new centres should be allowed at a time when total electricity demand is already surging. 'I'm personally very sceptical that any further expansion of data centre deployment in Ireland can be justified in that context,' He says: 'At the very least, I would argue that there should be a temporary moratorium unless and until consistency with the carbon budget programme can be clearly and reliably demonstrated.' (https://www.thejournal.ie/data-centres-2-5693974-Feb2022 There are now around 70, all having storage facilities here) A report from the Irish Academy of Engineering in 2019 argued that even if 30% of the electricity comes from highly efficient gas-fired stations 'data centre development is projected to add at least 1.5 MtCO to Ireland's carbon emissions by 2030'. That's a 15% increase on current electricity related emissions (Irish Academy of Engineering (2019) Electricity Sector Investment for Data Centres in Ireland. July 2019) Taking all the above into account, the amendments 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3 are consistent with National Policy Objective 54 Reduce our carbon footprint by integrating climate action into the planning system in support of national targets for climate policy mitigation and adaptation objectives, as well as targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. 2. Alleviate the pressure on water services and electricity in South Dublin In Chapter 10.2 Sustainable Management of Water of the EMRA Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy it states that Water supply for the wider Dublin area is at critical levels of demand and to facilitate further growth in line with NPF population growth projections, prioritisation of water supply investment should occur. In addition, Objective RPO 10.1 states that Local authorities shall include proposals in development plans to ensure the efficient and sustainable use and development of water resources and water services infrastructure in order to manage and conserve water resources in a manner that supports a healthy society, economic development requirements and a cleaner environment. (emphasis added) Data centres use an estimated 500 000 litres of water per day and are currently putting additional pressure on water infrastructure in the Dublin region. (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/data-centres-could-use-70-of-ireland-s-electricity-by-2030-committee-to-hear-1.4685589 ). In June 2020 a Water Conservation Order was issued by Irish Water for several regions including the Greater Dublin Region. With the increasing risk of severe weather events due to climate change it is in the interest of proper planning to consider the impact of further data centres on water infrastructure in the region. The amendments comply with Regional Planning Objective 10.1 to 'manage and conserve water resources'. Since the beginning of 2020, Semo, the Single Electricity Market Operator, has issued 11 system alerts for Ireland to warn of capacity shortages on the electricity grid, compared with just 13 alerts over the previous ten years. ( Two amber alerts issued by system operator since Saturday | Business Post ) In 2021, it issued at least seven amber alerts, warning of a potential shortfall in power. Six of these alerts were due to a 'reduced margin' between the level of electricity generation and demand. Two amber alerts were issued in early April this year alone. According to Eirgrid; Over the last 4 years we have seen annual increases in demand usage of around 600 GWh from data centres alone - equivalent to the addition of 140,000 households to the power system each year. 3. The proliferation of Data Centres in South Dublin As per the Chief Executive's reply to Cllr Kieran Mahon's Question No. 9 at the May County Council Meeting, there were 34 data centres operating in the South Dublin County area in May 2021. At that time there were 66 operational data centres in the country. This means that as of May 2021 over 50% of all data centres were located in South Dublin. The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for EMRA RPO 8.25 states that local authorities shall 'Support the national objective to promote Ireland as a sustainable international destination for ICT infrastructures such as data centres and associated economic activities at appropriate locations.' (emphasis added). Due to the burden placed on infrastructure by the existing data centres it should be considered that no further data centres should be located in the county for the duration of the Development Plan on the basis of it no longer constituting an appropriate location. It is noted that the RSES for the EMRA contains a regional policy objective (RPO 8.25) which states 'Local authorities shall: … •Support the national objective to promote Ireland as a sustainable international destination for ICT infrastructures such as data centres and associated economic activities at appropriate locations. '. This is contradictory to the achievement of carbon emissions targets, as stated by the EPA, and it is proposed that the National Policy Objective 54 supersedes RPO 8.25. It is also noted that EDE7 Objective 2 and the new Eirgrid guidelines places additional requirements on space extensive developments and data centres. However, there are a number of proposals contained EDE7 Objective 2 that will not contribute to the meeting of carbon emissions targets. For example, the option of corporate purchasing power agreements doesn't mean that data centres are 'green' as they still get their primary energy from the grid which remains heavily reliant on oil coal and gas. Centres will also have back up generation which will usually be gas turbines. In conclusion, taking all the above information into consideration the amendments 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3, which would place a moratorium on data centres for the duration of the Development Plan, constitute an appropriate response to Climate Change and should be considered to be in the interest of proper planning and sustainable development in the county.