From the Galway City Tribune – Two agricultural sites in Roscam have been rezoned by city councillors to allow for housing to be built – despite strong objections from planners.

Councillors voted to rezone from agriculture (G) to residential (R2) a 1.67-hectare site close to the coastline in Roscam.

Cllr Noel Larkin (Ind) proposed the material alteration, and it was seconded by Imelda Byrne (FF) and supported on a vote of 13 for, three against, one abstention and one absentee.

Save Roscam Peninsula, a lobby group of local residents, had campaigned against the rezoning.

The Office of Planning Regulator (OPR) said it was contrary to national and regional planning policy, and the Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Brendan McGrath, and the Planning Department team strongly advised elected members not to rezone.

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Mr McGrath said that the G zoning are predominantly agriculture lands “but also have an important natural environment and landscape value, which distinguishes them from less visually sensitive and amenity rich agricultural lands”.

Cllr Larkin said that the reason he was proposing the motion was to allow the landowner to build a family home. He insisted it was for immediate family.

Senior Executive Planner Caroline Phelan said moving from agriculture to residential zoning “is not to facilitate a family home”.

Cllrs Frank Fahy (FG) and Declan McDonnell (Ind), who both supported the material alteration, said the landowner had to move to Craughwell due to planning issues at the site.

Cllr Fahy said the land was zoned agriculture, but the owner was not permitted to farm on the site.

“If you can’t carry out agriculture on an agricultural site then there is something seriously wrong with our planning system,” he said.

Ms Coleman said that site was close to a monastic site, Roscam tower and church, which were protected structures of archaeological interest.

The site is also at a protected panoramic view, she said, and there were concerns the rezoning would conflict with that.

Mr McGrath said rezoning the land would be contrary to national and regional policy.

“This site is located in an area that is at a remove from existing water and wastewater services and lacks proximity to the existing public transport and pedestrian networks. To allow this rezoning would represent and uncoordinated piecemeal approach to zoning. Expanding residential use in this area is unsustainable and will create additional demands for services and essential infrastructure,” he said.

The current zoning helps climate action by “supporting carbon sequestration and extensive biodiversity” and it forms a “buffer between the built environment and the coastline”, he said.

Meanwhile, another site in Roscam was also rezoned from G agriculture to R2 Residential against the advice of planners.

Some 14 councillors voted to rezone the land and insert a specific objective that it is for one house reserved for the immediate family of the landowner.

Senior Planner Helen Coleman said there was no requirement for additional residential lands.

Ms Phelan said the rezoning would not be democratic, sets a precedent and would undermine sustainability.

Mr McGrath urged them to retain the existing zoning otherwise it could “erode the character of the area” and conflict with planning policy.

(Main map shows the 1.67-hectare site close to the coastline in Roscam, smaller map is of the 0.877ha land)