Councillor’s avoid Minister’s intervention

Councillors avoid Minister’s intervention


Anna-Marie Flynn

COUNCILLORS in Ballina voted to retain a site-size clause in their Environs Draft Development Plan after being warned by officials that the document could be the next to be personally tackled by Environment Minister John Gormley.
Members of the area committee were warned last Monday that a proposal to amend the residential site size in the agricultural land zone outside the town boundary would ‘not be pushed through’ without a challenge from the Environment Minister, mirroring the current situation at County Council level.
Mayor of Ballina, Cllr Michelle Mulherin, proposed that site allocations for one-off, low-density housing in the agricultural zone be reduced from 3,000 square metres to 2,000 square metres. “The market for semi-detached housing is saturated but I would say that a half-acre, or 2,000 square metre, site is more workable. We have to be responsible and provide this,” she said.  The proposal was seconded by Cllr Johnnie O’Malley who referred to it as ‘a more tenable size’ and the motion was unanimously supported.
However, Planning Consultant Stephen Dowds said that while he appreciated the argument for the amendment, a reduction would see ‘an enormous amount of ribbon development’ which could hinder future lucrative projects.
“I urge you to think twice before getting rid of that size,” he told elected members.
Senior Planner John McMyler echoed the consultant’s opinion stating that the Department of the Environment ‘will say that this plan is contrary to the County Plan’ and therefore a reduction in standards would result in an imposition of the County Development Plan’s much more restrictive clauses.
Reaffirming the position of the executive, Town Manager Paddy Mahon told councillors any amendment would have to be submitted to agencies including the Department, which would subsequently be within its rights to raise the issue. “I would expect the Department to come back and apply the County Council restrictions and I feel very strongly that that would be the case if this proposal is to be adopted,” he said.
An adjourned sitting of the meeting took place three days later, on Thursday last.
After Cllr Mulherin withdrew her proposal, a counter-proposal was tabled by Cllr Seamus Weir and seconded by Cllr O’Malley, as a means of compromise. “I think where lands have access to services such as sewerage there should be an exception to the general rule, enabling those sites to be half an acre in size,” he said.
The two proposals were put to councillors for a vote, and after an equal ballot, casting voter, Chairperson Cllr Staunton, opted to retain the status quo, leaving sites at a minimum of 3,000 square metres. 
“We need to be honest and responsible about this matter and I am happy to let the situation, which is currently working in the majority of cases, remain unchanged,” he said.