Rezoning of Dublin's `last agricultural land' deferred

Dublin City Council last night deferred a decision to rezone the last remaining tract of agricultural land within the city boundary for residential development amid indications that the move might be defeated.

The city planners have recommended rezoning the land at Pelletstown, between Finglas and Ashtown, for up to 1,000 houses provided that large areas of open space were preserved to enhance the River Tolka and Royal Canal, which form the 105-acre site's boundaries.

Mr Sean Carey, assistant city manager in charge of planning and development, had warned the councillors that Dublin Corporation could run the risk of being served with a compensation claim if the landowners involved were not permitted to develop the site.

At yesterday's council meeting, Mr Carey was compelled to circulate a legal opinion on the matter from barrister Ms Carol O'Farrell, after a number of councillors objected to his initial refusal to do so, arguing that the making of the city plan was a matter for them.

Following a 10-minute adjournment, he described the Pelletstown site as "one of the most significant pieces of land left in the city". It had a rail link "on its doorstep" and he believed it could be serviced quite quickly for housing, subject to protecting conservation and recreation needs.

But Ms Roisin Shortall TD (Labour) pointed out that the planners had agreed to prepare a Special Amenity Area Order for the site three years ago to recognise its "immense potential", but they did not have the resources to do so. Now they were proposing that it be rezoned.

She said there was a "great shortage" of open space in the Cabra and Finglas areas and the land at Pelletstown served as a "green lung" for these densely-built areas. "We should not be destroying for life one of the few amenities left in this part of Dublin," she declared.

Senator Joe Costello (Labour) said if Pelletstown was rezoned for housing, the agricultural zoning category in the city plan would disappear. This was opposed unanimously by local residents, as well as by the Royal Canal task force and the Heritage Council, he added.

He said it was a "short-sighted proposal" to rezone the land for housing. Instead, as the local residents had proposed, it should be developed as a "millennium park", featuring a city farm, organic garden, picnic and pony trekking areas, Mr Costello said.

Mr Ciaran Cuffe (Greens) said there were so few places left in Dublin where "you can hop on a bike and, within 20 minutes, be cycling along a canal towpath listening to the sound of trees". In his view, Pelletstown was such an "oasis" and it should not be rezoned.

Mr Pat Carey TD (FF) said thousands of houses were now likely to be built at nearby Abbotstown and on the Phoenix Park racecourse site. Because of its "real rural character", Pelletstown was of great amenity value and to build 1,000 houses there was "totally over the top."

But Ms Mary Flaherty (FG) said much sought-after housing had been developed along the Grand Canal and the River Dodder on the south side of the city, and the city council could be missing an opportunity to do the same on the north side, in Pelletstown.

Mr Noel Ahern TD (FF) said councillors who opposed the rezoning were "petty people playing petty local politics". He believed that both sides of the argument could win if some housing was built there while protecting local amenities. The council could not "hold back the tide."

Mr Tom Stafford (FF) agreed. "If we vote against this, what we're doing would be politically popular, but it may also be politically immature," he said. In a few years' time, they might look like "awful eejits" if An Bord Pleanala granted approval for 2,000 houses.

Under protest from several councillors, including Mr Tony Gregory TD (Ind) and Mr Eric Byrne (DL), who also made clear their opposition to the current plan, the Lord Mayor, Senator Joe Doyle (FG), adjourned taking a vote on the matter until Monday.