COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, June 18, 2015

MOTION NO. 260

MOTION: Councillor D. O'Donovan

11.4.2 Table 11.23: Amend Maximum Parking Rates to Minimum.

REPORT:

The parking rates contained within the current County Development Plan are applied as a maximum rate in areas that are well served by public transport or alternative means of access.  In other areas they are applied as a minimum.  All rates are given as a guideline only, with the Planning Authority determining the final rate based on a number of criteria relating the proximity of services (public transport, shops and employment), No. of bedrooms/dwelling design (residential), Mobility Management Plans and the turnover rates of spaces. 

The approach proposed within the Chief Executives Draft is not likely to differ significantly in practice from that of the current development plan.  The proposed approach will however offer a more comprehensive level of guidance and add greater certainty to the planning process.

The application of a minimum rate is a significant constraint to development, particularly in town and village centres.  Meeting such high standards on constrained sites is not likely to be economically feasible.  This may push potential development out of these areas to more peripheral locations, away from the existing population and transport services.  This will in turn result in more car borne trips throughout the network.

More broadly, there is a long established link between the availability of parking, car ownership and car use.  The application of more generous parking rates in areas serviced by local transport will reduce the viability of such services and result in increased traffic congestion throughout the road network. 

The application of more generous rates would also conflict with the several Policy/Policy Objectives within the Draft Plan, namely:

TM Policy 7 Car Parking:  It is the policy of Council to take a balanced approach to the provision of car parking with the aim of meeting the needs of businesses and communities whilst promoting a transition towards more sustainable forms of transportation.

TM2 Objective:  To generate additional demand for public transport services through integrated land use planning and

maximising access to existing and planned public transport services throughout the network.

TM5 Objective 1:  To effectively manage the flow of through traffic along the strategic road network and maximise the efficient use of existing road resources.

TM5 Objective 3:  To minimise the impact of new development on the County road and street network.

The application of more generous parking rates may also result in conflicts with Items 45043, 45072, 45073, 45254, 45266 which seek to reduce the impacts of traffic within the county road network.

Also see Item 45118. 

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted