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Fury as Kellystown rezoning gets green light

Thursday, 07 August 2008

FINGAL councillors clashed recently during a vital vote to pass a controversial variation to the Fingal Development Plan.
The proposal to rezone 60 hectares of green belt land at Kellystown in Dublin West for development was voted in by a margin of 12 to 10.
Some local representatives were left fuming over the outcome.
“Many parents of school-age children supported this proposal because they were told that this was the only way a new secondary school could be opened in 2009,” Deputy Joan Burton (Lab) said.
“In the wake of the rezoning, it remains to be seen whether or not this will happen.”
The local TD said she and her Labour colleagues were opposed to the kind of high-rise, high-density housing that appears to be on the table for the lands.
“Based on recent, similar developments, the Kellystown rezoning could give rise to the construction of 1,500 to 2,500 homes on a narrow 61-acre strip,” she told Northside People.
“It is important that any housing in Kellystown should be two and three bed units in two and three storey buildings. Castleknock and Clonsilla must remain attractive, family-friendly areas.”
She added: “Labour Party councillors tabled a number of important amendments to the effect that any Kellystown development could only go ahead when new public transport facilities were in place.”
Meanwhile, local councillor Eithne Loftus (FG), who supported the rezoning, criticised those who opposed the plan.
“I don’t want to see development taking place but the land is of absolutely no use to the community as it is owned by four land owners,” she told Northside People.
“I voted in favour of the variation as it was in the best interests of the local community.
“I know it goes against the grain to support more housing but at least the area will reap some benefits from the rezoning.”
She added: “The rezoning almost didn’t happen because of some people’s stance. Some councillors were against the variation but yet they were making submissions and conditions about what should happen to the land if it was rezoned..”
The approved variation will see almost 25 hectares of land rezoned from green belt to residential.
Just over 32 hectares will be rezoned as open space land to provide recreational amenities for the community.
Almost three hectares of greenbelt land will be rezoned as a suburban centre.
The provision of two schools was included in the proposed variation. A 32 classroom primary school is to be provided close to Porterstown, together with a 1,000 pupil post primary school.
A second school site was also identified near the Luttrellstown Road.
The site adjoins the south of the Dublin-Maynooth rail line, running from the Clonsilla train station environs to the west across to the lands east of the Porterstown Road at the St Mochta’s football ground.
The southern boundary of the lands is defined by the Luttrellstown Road.
The eastern extent of the lands adjoins the alignment of the future Metro West project as proposed by the Railway Procurement Agency with a future commuter rail-metro interchange at Porterstown planned

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