Zoning for houses ‘could impact Galway City Ring Road plan’
Published:
-
-
Author: Dara Bradley
~ 2 minutes read
From this week's Galway City Tribune
Councillors have voted to rezone farming land in Rahoon to allow for houses to be developed, against the advice of planners who warned it could impact on the planned Galway City Ring Road.
The Office of Planning Regulator and Chief Executive of Galway City Council both advised elected members not to change the zoning use from agricultural to residential on the 2.842-hectare (7-acre) site. But it was passed with 14 in favour, three against and one absent.
Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind), who proposed the motion, said there was a need for more land to be zoned residential to facilitate the growth in population of 40,000 over the next 18 years. Cllr Noel Larkin seconded his proposal.
Brendan McGrath, the Chief Executive, said there was “no requirement to rezone additional land for residential purposes to meet the needs of the targeted population increase up to 2029”.
He said there was sufficient zoned land available to enable development.
The OPR said voting to change the zoning represented a piecemeal approach to planning and was inconsistent with national and regional policy.
“It is also considered that the proposed rezoning could prejudice the strategic future optimal use of these lands in the longer term. With regard to impact on the objective for the N6 Galway City Ring Road Scheme (GCRR), all development has to take cognisance of the objective for the N6 GCRR.
“It is also noted that the draft plan includes that the objective for the N6 GCRR has priority over all land use zoning objectives which is considered to provide sufficient protection to safeguard the scheme objective,” Mr McGrath said.
The National Transport Authority said this rezoning should not be allowed as it is likely to lead to development that was “wholly car-dependent and contrary to national and regional objectives”.
More like this:
Plans for habitat restoration works along Nanny River in Tuam
Plans are underway for habitat restoration works along the Nanny River in Tuam. Inland Fisheries ...
Call for urgent safety improvements to “treacherous” city footpaths
There’s a call for urgent safety improvements to “treacherous” footpaths across...
Galway TD Ciaran Cannon cites ‘toxicity’ as reason he is leaving politics after 20 years
Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon has announced he will not contest the next General Elections. The Fi...
65 new homes planned for Loughrea and Tuam
Galway County Council has announced plans to deliver more than 65 new homes on local authority-ow...
Loughrea councillor Declan Kelly joins new Independent Ireland party
Loughrea councillor Declan Kelly has joined the new Independent Ireland party ahead of June’...
Nina Carberry to seek selection to run as a Fine Gael Candidate in the forthcoming European Elections
It has been revealed that Nina Carberry, a former champion jockey and a seven-time winner at the ...
Galway City Council called on to prioritise pitch drainage on the Eastside of the City
A Fianna Fail Councillor has called on Galway City Council Recreation and Amenity to prioritise p...
Man pleads guilty to sexual assault at Galway Garda HQ
A 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a female at the Garda Regional HQ in ...
University of Galway’s Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week opens tomorrow
A number of events are taking place this week for the University of Galway’s Nelson Mandela...