COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
MOTION NO. 9
MOTION: Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor S. O'Hara
This motion refers to Chapter 2 Core Strategy, page 33 of CE Report, CS10 and submission SD-C195-227 Motion: To maintain existing OS zoning for this site (map attached) Submitted by Cllr Shirley O'Hara and Cllr Brian Lawlor
REPORT:
The proposed motion seeks to maintain the existing zoning Objective OS – Open Space in the Draft Plan on the subject lands. By default, this is rejecting the CE Recommendation which was made on foot of the CS10 SLO1 in the Draft Plan and submissions received, where these lands would retain an area of OS zoning with the remaining area within this motion being zoned RES-N.
This Motion and Motion ID 73853 are related as the motions, as proposed, would divide the lands that were subject to CS10 SLO1.
CS10 SLO 1 inserted into the Draft South Dublin County Development Plan 2022 - 2028 (July 2021) reads:
“To investigate the potential for alternative land uses for the lands currently zoned RES-N (To provide for new residential communities in accordance with approved area plans) and OS (To preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities) as identified by the SLO on the CDP land use zoning map, having regard to protecting existing habitats, Biodiversity and the Rathcoole Woodlands, the need for social and affordable housing, community infrastructure and access. Following this assessment, and where alternative land use arrangements are identified in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, to bring forward proposals for re-zoning.”
A detailed habitat assessment was carried out on the lands subject to CS10 SLO1. The team of ecologists that comprehensively investigated the lands included a specialist with experience in the survey, assessment and monitoring of grassland and wetland habitats including Annex I Alluvial Woodlands and Annex I Lowland hay meadows.
Of the approximately 28 hectares of lands investigated, 11 hectares of lands relate to this motion which seeks to retain the OS Zoning Objective.
The majority of the 11 hectares that relate to this motion were found by the ecologists to accommodate scrub, blackthorn, grassland and immature woodland while approximately 0.9 hectares were found to accommodate Annex I habitat in the form of Lowland Hay Meadow. In terms of their current use, an area of the lands are actively used as part of the maintained parkland open space with dedicated walkways adjoining the perimeter of the identified Lowland Hay Meadow while the larger southern portion of the lands comprises of informal open space largely populated by the immature woodland and scrub outlined above and which are separated from the maintained parklands open space by a boundary post and rail fence.
As an outcome of the investigations undertaken on foot of the Draft Plan CS10 SLO1, a preferred land use framework was put forward which informed the CE’s re-zoning recommendation incorporated into Appendix 2A and 2B of the Chief Executive’s Report on Draft Plan Public Consultation.
The preferred land use framework and resulting recommended zoning provides for a cohesive approach to the need to protect important habitat while also meeting the need for housing, a school, a library hub and sports pitches with associated facilities.
In regard to the sports pitches, it is worth noting that a large proportion of the land subject of this motion will remain zoned OS in the CE Recommendation on foot of CS10 SLO1 and the intention is to supplement the existing GAA pitch to the east by providing additional pitches and a sports pavilion on the lands with vehicular access to be provided via Stoney Hill Road/Lane.
The preferred land use includes both the lands subject to this motion and the lands to the west, subject to motion 73853 (to rezone from RES-N to RU). By re-zoning the lands within the wider study area in the way recommended by the CE it has been demonstrated that the local primary school, sports pitches, access arrangements and housing can be accommodated on the lands with:
no net loss to Annex I Alluvial Woodland;
no net loss to Annex I Lowland Hay Meadow;
no net loss to overall woodland; and
protection and incorporation of hedgerows, water courses, wet grasslands, and springs.
The preferred land use concept retains 7.6ha of Alluvial Woodland (a reduction of 0.4ha along the north extent to facilitate access). However, as a compensatory measure for this loss it is proposed to supplement the existing woodland by providing for 1.8ha of new additional Alluvial Woodland.
This motion seeks the retention of the OS Zoning for lands on the eastern side of the alluvial woodlands. These lands are divided from the alluvial woodlands by a hedgerow and drainage ditch and are largely populated by immature woodland including blackthorn scrub and scrub grassland. Further to the preferred land use arrangement, there would be no net loss to Annex I Lowland Hay Meadow which lie to the north of the motion lands.
Access to the subject lands was also investigated and an access arrangement along the north-western side from Stoney Lane has been identified. Motion 73853 seeks to rezone the lands across the area where access would be achieved from RES-N to RU.
It is considered the proposed motion together with Motion ID 73853, as currently worded, would unnecessarily compromise the recommended zoning which was subject to extensive investigation and consideration under CS10 SLO1, undermining the coherent and sensitively co-ordinated approach to investigate the delivery of social and affordable housing, a school, sports pitches and associated facilities and access arrangements in parallel with the protection of the most ecologically sensitive areas of the lands and therefore it is recommended that this motion is not adopted
CE Recommendation: It is recommended that the motion is not adopted.