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Residents concerned over apartments plan

Thursday, 24 April 2008

A GROUP of Northside residents have voiced concerns over a proposed development for their area.
Residents of Railway Avenue and McCormack Gardens, Sutton, have lodged appeals against the development that will include 80 apartments and crèche facilities.
It’s proposed that the apartments will be built in three, five and eight-storey blocks.
The residents are concerned their homes will be overshadowed as a result and that there may also be serious access problems.
Annette O’Mahony lives with her father, Patrick O’Dowd, in a cottage on Railway Avenue, which he has occupied since his days as a conductor on the Howth trams. The cottages were originally built for the families of tram workers.
Ms O’Mahoney said she is not opposed to the development of the vacant factory lots located at the end of Railway Avenue.
However, she believes there are problems with the current plans and has called for consultation with residents.

“My objection is based on access and housing density problems,” Ms O’Mahoney stated.
“The site must be developed but not at the current scale and size proposed.
“This massive development will greatly increase traffic. We already have the overflow from the DART station and the width of the road we live on is too narrow.
Residents of McCormack Gardens, which is situated on the opposite side of the DART line to the proposed development, fear it will block out the sun and prevent them from enjoying their gardens.
Brendan Buck, head of planning for the project, said he would welcome any views expressed by locals on the issue. He believes the project will be of great benefit to the community.
“This has been an industrial site accessed by HGVs and other vehicles for almost 100 years,” he told Northside People.
“With our project there will be no more industrial use, just families and cars using the road.”
Ms O’Mahoney argued that point and said the site’s former use as a factory was over 20 years ago.
“Heavy vehicle access was via another entrance,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Mr Buck said the project has been established to have minimum impact on the environment and to be ecologically friendly, with residents walking their kids to the crèche before taking the bus or DART to work.
“We are trying to make the proposal environmentally friendly in terms of car use and energy rating,” he stated.
“We will have a rainwater collection system, as well as solar panels and energy efficient windows.”
Mr Buck believes another benefit for locals will be access to the DART station via a nearby lane.
“The lane is currently full of graffiti, empty bottles and cans, and is clearly a prime site for anti-social behaviour,” he added.
“In this development, there will be high quality landscaping, lighting and full surveillance so nobody will have to fear walking to the DART.”
If planning is approved, Mr Buck is hoping the project can commence by Christmas 2009.

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