COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 93

MOTION: Councillor F.N. Duffy

On page 76 

Include additional sub secs:

A  Agriculture

1  Recognising the increasing demand for recreational space, provision should be made for the recreational use of agricultural land, particularly commonage and other rough grazing land which shall be regarded primarily as a recreational resource.

2   Farmers will be encouraged to see themselves as custodians of the countryside and the rural landscape which are valuable to present and future generations

3  Agriculture is an integral part of the management of large parts of the rural environment and landscape and provides an amenity for enjoyment of the general population.

B  Forestry

Objectives

1  Provide, encourage and protect access to forestry and woodlands, including private forestry, in co-operation with Coillte, the Forest Service and other agencies, for walking routes (including long distance and looped walks), mountain trails, nature trails, mountain bike trails, bridle paths, orienteering and other non-noise generating recreational activities for the benefit of local people and tourists.  The Council will support the development of purpose built trails and cycle tracks.

2  Identify public rights of way and established walking routes before planting commences.

3   Forestry shall not obstruct existing public rights of way, traditional walking routes or recreational and tourism amenities and ensure that they protected and retained as Public Rights of Way/Walking Routes.

REPORT:

Re. Agriculture

Section 4.1.1 of the Draft Plan 2016 – 2022 states that ‘Agriculture, horticulture and rural related enterprises define the economic character of the rural and mountain areas of the County and continue to play a defining role in the rural landscape’.

Agriculture is provided for under the following policies/ objectives of the  Draft Plan 2016 – 2022;

ET9 Objective 1:

To support and facilitate sustainable agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other rural enterprises at suitable locations in the County.

ET9 Objective 2:

To support farm diversification and agri-tourism, where a proposed business initiative is subordinate to the primary agricultural use of the site, subject to traffic and environmental safeguards.

ET9 Objective 3:

To protect agriculture and traditional rural enterprises from unplanned and/or incompatible urban development.

HCL 9 Objective 1:

To restrict development within areas designated with Zoning Objective ‘HA – DM’ (To protect and enhance the outstanding natural character of the Dublin Mountains Area) and to ensure that new development is related to the area’s amenity potential or to its use for agriculture, mountain or hill farming and is designed and sited to minimise environmental and visual impacts.

It is considered that the intent of the proposed motion is provided for under these policies / objectives of the Draft Development Plan 2016 – 2022. As such the wording of the proposed motion is not warranted within the Draft Plan.

Re. Forestry, Rights of Way and Permissive Access Routes;

Relevant Policies and Objectives are provided for under the Draft Development Plan as follows;

ET9 Objective 1: (see above)

ET9 Objective 4:

To support sustainable forestry development at suitable locations in the County, subject to the protection of the rural environment, sensitive areas and landscapes.

Policy HCL16:

It is the policy of the Council to continue to promote and improve access to high amenity, scenic, and recreational lands throughout the County, including places of natural beauty or utility, for the purposes of outdoor recreation, while avoiding environmental damage, landscape damage and impacts to Natura 2000 sites.

HCL 16 Objective 1:

To promote the preservation of public rights of way that give access to mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other places of natural beauty or recreational utility such as parklands, geological and geo-morphical features of heritage value and to identify and map such public rights of way as they come to the attention of the Council.

HCL 16 Objective 2:

To promote and facilitate the creation of Permissive Access Routes and heritage trails that will provide access to high amenity, scenic and recreational lands including rural areas, forests, woodlands, waterways, upland/mountain areas, the Grand Canal, the Dodder Valley, the Liffey Valley and between historic villages (utilising modern technology), in partnership with adjoining local authorities, private landowners, semi-state and other public bodies such as Coillte and the Forest Service.

HCL 16 Objective 3:

To promote and facilitate the continued development of the Dublin Mountains Way and the Wicklow Way in association with the Dublin Mountains Partnership, particularly Permissive Access Routes that provide access to regional and local networks of walking, running, hiking and mountain bike trails and other recreational facilities. The routing of new trails and rerouting of existing trails off public roads is encouraged.

HCL 16 Objective 4:

To promote and improve access, in partnership with the relevant landowners, to all the historic sites in the County and seek to maximise their tourism potential in partnership with the relevant landowners.

HCL 16 Objective 5:

To bring mountain amenities closer to residential communities by promoting the establishment of a network of formal footpaths, off-road paths and cycleways that facilitate casual walkers and cyclists.

It is considered that the intent of the proposed motion is provided for under these policies / objectives of the Draft Development Plan 2016 – 2022. As such the wording of the proposed motion is not warranted within the Draft Plan.

Recommendation

No amendment required to the Draft Development Plan 2016 – 2022.