DUBLIN City Council planners could not grant developer Sean Dunne permission for his 37-storey landmark tower at Ballsbridge because of a lack of policy governing high-rise buildings.
Internal documents also show that the city's planners considered the scheme "high quality, carefully considered, innovative and creative".
While the office tower "could be said to be desirable", it was "not permissible" under the site's zoning. A "lack of sufficient policy support", meanwhile, had ruled out the 132-metre tower in Dublin 4, "despite many positive aspects".
Mr Dunne and local residents are expected to appeal the decision, which saw planning permission granted for most of the site. Mr Dunne wants An Bord Pleanala to rule that the 37-storey tower should be allowed, while residents want the whole scheme refused.
Local TD Lucinda Creighton (FG) said the development "completely ignored" the high-rise strategy for Dublin, and added that she would be mounting an appeal.
Paul Melia
Showing posts with label arklow planners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arklow planners. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Outcry over discharge of raw sewage into river
A poster protesting against the discharge of raw sewage into the Avoca river in Arklow, Co Wicklow, and the lack of any sewage treatment facilities for the town, has been placed in the middle of the river.
The poster erected by Independent town councillor Peter Dempsey, shows a cartoon figure sitting on a toilet alongside the words: "Cut the crap, stop the objections, Arklow needs its sewage plant now."
A sewage treatment facility was originally planned for the town 14 years ago, but its development has been held up because of objections to the council's site selection.
An Bord Pleanála finally granted permission for construction of the plant at Seabank, on the coast near Arklow town, in January 2005; however, the decision was appealed to the High Court by Arklow Holidays Ltd, a company that owns a caravan park at Seabank.
The case will come before the court again on July 10th and work cannot commence on the plant unless the court decides against the appellants.
Mr Dempsey said the delays were unacceptable. "While this is being dragged through the court, turds are running down the river less than 30ft from people's front doors," he said.
The smell from the river was particularly bad during the summer months, he said, in addition to the public health risks posed by raw sewage.
"The stink is absolutely vile. We're going to have a typhoid epidemic on our hands unless something is done about this."
Olivia Kelly
© 2007 The Irish Times
The poster erected by Independent town councillor Peter Dempsey, shows a cartoon figure sitting on a toilet alongside the words: "Cut the crap, stop the objections, Arklow needs its sewage plant now."
A sewage treatment facility was originally planned for the town 14 years ago, but its development has been held up because of objections to the council's site selection.
An Bord Pleanála finally granted permission for construction of the plant at Seabank, on the coast near Arklow town, in January 2005; however, the decision was appealed to the High Court by Arklow Holidays Ltd, a company that owns a caravan park at Seabank.
The case will come before the court again on July 10th and work cannot commence on the plant unless the court decides against the appellants.
Mr Dempsey said the delays were unacceptable. "While this is being dragged through the court, turds are running down the river less than 30ft from people's front doors," he said.
The smell from the river was particularly bad during the summer months, he said, in addition to the public health risks posed by raw sewage.
"The stink is absolutely vile. We're going to have a typhoid epidemic on our hands unless something is done about this."
Olivia Kelly
© 2007 The Irish Times
Monday, 16 April 2007
Roche Opens €3m extension to St. Joesph's National School, Templerainey, Arklow
This story is of interest to my own County ...
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local T.D. Mr. Dick Roche today (16th of April.) opened the extension to St. Joseph's National School, Templerainey.
The Minister officially opened the state of the art extension including nine classrooms, a computer room and resource rooms that have transformed the historic National School of Templerainey. The Minister stressed that this school has served the local community very well since it opened on the present site in 1942.
The Minister said he was delighted to meet pupils, parents and teachers. He congratulated the Chairperson of the Board of Management Mick McEvoy and the other members of the Board of Management on their achievements and dedication. He also praised the work of the Principal and proud Kerryman Mick O' Callaghan and his dedicated staff for their energy, enthusiasm and dynamism.
"The school has strong parental support, in particular, in relation to helping to provide a state of the art and fully equipped computer room and I note that the school was going from strength to strength. This was evident in the fact that the school now has 570 pupils as against 90 when it opened in 1942," Minister Roche said.
"I am particularly pleased to see the Green Flags proudly displayed outside of the school. I am aware that the school were pioneers in this regard," added . Minister Roche. He praised the school's energetic involvement in recycling as well as in water and energy conservation and the development of very well produced and informative websites.
The Minister paid tribute to the Builders and the Architects for combining their skills in order to blend the old and new buildings in such a way as to meet the needs of pupils, parents and teachers now and in to the future.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local T.D. Mr. Dick Roche today (16th of April.) opened the extension to St. Joseph's National School, Templerainey.
The Minister officially opened the state of the art extension including nine classrooms, a computer room and resource rooms that have transformed the historic National School of Templerainey. The Minister stressed that this school has served the local community very well since it opened on the present site in 1942.
The Minister said he was delighted to meet pupils, parents and teachers. He congratulated the Chairperson of the Board of Management Mick McEvoy and the other members of the Board of Management on their achievements and dedication. He also praised the work of the Principal and proud Kerryman Mick O' Callaghan and his dedicated staff for their energy, enthusiasm and dynamism.
"The school has strong parental support, in particular, in relation to helping to provide a state of the art and fully equipped computer room and I note that the school was going from strength to strength. This was evident in the fact that the school now has 570 pupils as against 90 when it opened in 1942," Minister Roche said.
"I am particularly pleased to see the Green Flags proudly displayed outside of the school. I am aware that the school were pioneers in this regard," added . Minister Roche. He praised the school's energetic involvement in recycling as well as in water and energy conservation and the development of very well produced and informative websites.
The Minister paid tribute to the Builders and the Architects for combining their skills in order to blend the old and new buildings in such a way as to meet the needs of pupils, parents and teachers now and in to the future.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Permission sought to build new sewage facility at Ballyraine Lower Plans lodged for e35m sewage treatment plant
Mystery still surrounds a shock new plan to build Arklow's long-awaited e35 million sewage treatment plant on a new site in Ballyraine Lower.
A council-built facility has been earmarked for Seabank, but objections have delayed the project in the courts for the past 10 years.
But now a private developer has applied for planning permission to build a sewage treatment facility big enough to cater for a population equivalent of 45,000 on a new site.
The facility could then be leased back to the council, saving them the set-up costs of their own plant.
But Wicklow County Council officials say they know nothing about the development and are still committed to their own Seabank scheme, which comes up before the courts again on March 20.
Pipeline
'Our scheme has been in the pipeline for a long time and we have no intention of abandoning it,' said council spokesperson Phillip Duffy.
Mr Duffy said the planning permission documents and environmental impact statement had not arrived at the council by yesterday, and he did not know who was behind the application.
The planning permission application is in the name of a Dublin solicitor, but the Wicklow People has learned that the development team includes local man Greg Kavanagh.
He was keeping tight-lipped this week, though.
'I won't be commenting at all, it's just too sensitive at the moment,' he said.
The location of the intended sewage plant is the marsh behind the new St Anne's Halting Site on the Vale Road.
This land was recently sold to the developers and workers were busy on the site on Tuesday.
News of the facility took almost everyone in Arklow by surprise this week, with Arklow council officials and councillors saying they were in the dark beforehand.
One theory suggests that if the treatment plant is not intended to be used for the town's sewage needs, it could signal the arrival of a major new industry in the town with heavy wastewater treatment requirements.
A council-built facility has been earmarked for Seabank, but objections have delayed the project in the courts for the past 10 years.
But now a private developer has applied for planning permission to build a sewage treatment facility big enough to cater for a population equivalent of 45,000 on a new site.
The facility could then be leased back to the council, saving them the set-up costs of their own plant.
But Wicklow County Council officials say they know nothing about the development and are still committed to their own Seabank scheme, which comes up before the courts again on March 20.
Pipeline
'Our scheme has been in the pipeline for a long time and we have no intention of abandoning it,' said council spokesperson Phillip Duffy.
Mr Duffy said the planning permission documents and environmental impact statement had not arrived at the council by yesterday, and he did not know who was behind the application.
The planning permission application is in the name of a Dublin solicitor, but the Wicklow People has learned that the development team includes local man Greg Kavanagh.
He was keeping tight-lipped this week, though.
'I won't be commenting at all, it's just too sensitive at the moment,' he said.
The location of the intended sewage plant is the marsh behind the new St Anne's Halting Site on the Vale Road.
This land was recently sold to the developers and workers were busy on the site on Tuesday.
News of the facility took almost everyone in Arklow by surprise this week, with Arklow council officials and councillors saying they were in the dark beforehand.
One theory suggests that if the treatment plant is not intended to be used for the town's sewage needs, it could signal the arrival of a major new industry in the town with heavy wastewater treatment requirements.
Developers asked to leave room for road beside river
Developers of the river-fronting Marine Hotel and Alps sites have been asked to leave room for a new road beside the Avoca River that it's hoped will solve the town's traffic woes.
But it is likely to be years before the new road would be built.
The road would basically follow the path of the existing Riverwalk, beginning at the N11 beside the Bridge Hotel and linking with the Vale Road below St Saviour's church.
At last week's town council meeting, councillors discussed a meeting they had earlier attended with the Arklow Chamber where the idea for the road was discussed.
Cllr Donal O'Sullivan supported further investigation of the idea of the roadway.
'The idea did have merit and it would be worth looking at,' he said.
'It would be very unfair to impose it (on developers of the sites) but if it could be accommodated in the plan it would be good.'
Town clerk Des Nichols said the issue of leaving room for a roadway had already been raised in pre-planning discussions between the council and the Marine Hotel developers.
He said the developers had had no objections to the proposal and setting back their buildings so the road could be accommodated.
If built, it is hoped the river-side road would relieve pressure on Arklow's Main Street and even help lead to its eventual pedestrianisation.
Mr Nichols said a one-way road was envisioned, linking the N11 behind the Bridge Hotel with either Upper Main St, or the Vale Road.
But Cllr Nicky Kelly said there was already a potential problem with a Vale Road link.
'If the road ends under St Saviours that includes land that the developer doesn't have yet.'
Mr Nichols said the road was first proposed in Arklow's development plan of 1946.
Wicklow People 22/2/2006
But it is likely to be years before the new road would be built.
The road would basically follow the path of the existing Riverwalk, beginning at the N11 beside the Bridge Hotel and linking with the Vale Road below St Saviour's church.
At last week's town council meeting, councillors discussed a meeting they had earlier attended with the Arklow Chamber where the idea for the road was discussed.
Cllr Donal O'Sullivan supported further investigation of the idea of the roadway.
'The idea did have merit and it would be worth looking at,' he said.
'It would be very unfair to impose it (on developers of the sites) but if it could be accommodated in the plan it would be good.'
Town clerk Des Nichols said the issue of leaving room for a roadway had already been raised in pre-planning discussions between the council and the Marine Hotel developers.
He said the developers had had no objections to the proposal and setting back their buildings so the road could be accommodated.
If built, it is hoped the river-side road would relieve pressure on Arklow's Main Street and even help lead to its eventual pedestrianisation.
Mr Nichols said a one-way road was envisioned, linking the N11 behind the Bridge Hotel with either Upper Main St, or the Vale Road.
But Cllr Nicky Kelly said there was already a potential problem with a Vale Road link.
'If the road ends under St Saviours that includes land that the developer doesn't have yet.'
Mr Nichols said the road was first proposed in Arklow's development plan of 1946.
Wicklow People 22/2/2006
Moves must made to ensure the protection of historic landmarks before any development at the Alps site in Arklow's Main Street commences, Arklow Town
Moves must made to ensure the protection of historic landmarks before any development at the Alps site in Arklow's Main Street commences, Arklow Town Council has been told.
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald told the meeting that he wanted to see the Victorian postbox and a historic marker stone preserved on the site.
'I welcome the development but there are historic things there that people don't want left under concrete.'
Cllr Fitzgerald called for them to be relocated somewhere else in the town if the development gets the go-ahead.
Mayor Vincent McElheron also raised the issue of preserving the old castle wall.
'In the wall that houses that postbox, the stones were from part of the castle.'
He asked town engineer Kevin Scanlon to investigate whether the development would affect the stonework.
Mr Scanlon also revealed that the developers behind the Alps-site project had paid almost e40,000 in planning fees to the council, with no guarantee of the project even getting approval.
'It's common knowledge that the maximum fee is e38,000 and they paid close to the maximum,' he said in response to a question from Cllr Sylvester Bourke.
He said the planning application had included an environmental impact statement, and archaological report of the old castle, as well as full details of the proposed development itself.
Cllr Pat Fitzgerald told the meeting that he wanted to see the Victorian postbox and a historic marker stone preserved on the site.
'I welcome the development but there are historic things there that people don't want left under concrete.'
Cllr Fitzgerald called for them to be relocated somewhere else in the town if the development gets the go-ahead.
Mayor Vincent McElheron also raised the issue of preserving the old castle wall.
'In the wall that houses that postbox, the stones were from part of the castle.'
He asked town engineer Kevin Scanlon to investigate whether the development would affect the stonework.
Mr Scanlon also revealed that the developers behind the Alps-site project had paid almost e40,000 in planning fees to the council, with no guarantee of the project even getting approval.
'It's common knowledge that the maximum fee is e38,000 and they paid close to the maximum,' he said in response to a question from Cllr Sylvester Bourke.
He said the planning application had included an environmental impact statement, and archaological report of the old castle, as well as full details of the proposed development itself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)