COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 11, 2013

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor M. Devine

That the Manager compile a report on the feasibility of rezoning vacant/derelict sites within the county to better serve the public and their interests

REPORT:

The Zoning of land for particular uses is a mandatory objective of the County Development Plan and accordingly, all land and sites in the County are subject to land use zoning objectives in the current South Dublin County Development Plan 2010-16.  Land use zones are relatively broad and relate to a certain land use or land use mix category, appropriate to the overall planning context of an area, rather than specific to individual sites, e.g. residential, industrial or commercial.  A statutory review of the current County Development Plan must commence by September 2014 and is the appropriate opportunity for the Council to consider zoning objectives.

The Development Plan Guidelines, issued by the Department of Environment clearly state:-

"To support public confidence in the planning system and the development plan, decisions to zone land must be made in an open and transparent manner, must be clearly justified on the basis of established need and must support the aims and strategy of the plan."  "In addition to the above, when considering the suitability of specific lands for development, within the process of preparing zoning objectives in making a development plan, the members are restricted to considering the proper planning and sustainable development of the area to which the development plan relates, statutory obligations and Government policy. Matters typically relevant to the proper planning and sustainable development of areas, inter alia, include:

• Need

• PolicyContext

• Capacity of Water, Drainage and Roads Infrastructure

• Supporting Infrastructure and Facilities

• Physical Suitability

• Sequential Approach

• Environmental and Heritage policy, including conservation of habitats and other sensitive areas."