Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan - submissio

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Submission by Kilternan Residents Association to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council 

Date: 18th November 2009 

Subject:    Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan 

Background: 

Kilternan Residents Association have perused this document, and have met with Council officials and with Councillors over the last 2 weeks, in response to this document. 

Firstly it should be said that Kilternan Residents Association has submitted many proposals to DLRCC over the course of the current DLR Development Plan, and the future DLR Development Plan as well as the Kilternan LAP itself and we are glad to see that many of our wishes which we espoused have been included in this Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan, which we support in principle.  

However, laudable and welcome, as it appears to be, we would like to make the following key submissions to this plan as follows: 
 

1. The cost of the District Distributor Road adjoining this plan makes no sense for the taxpayer or residents. The road is costing €145m which is resulting in a around a €43k levy per new residential unit. This is 6 times the national average and contravenes the department’s own guidelines for this type of levy.

“It is essential that development contributions are not pitched at such a high level as to act as a deterrent or a disincentive for future prospective investment and development…..excessive charges can also affect the affordable of housing “ quote from Dept. of Environment circular letter PD 5/2007 which gave County Councils guidelines on how to apply development levies. 

The implication of a 43k levy on each unit will have a detrimental impact of the build quality of new units as part of the Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan as developers try and recoup high land purchase costs.  This issue should be of major concern to the council, and should be of major consideration of down scaling the size of the road. 

Submission: We again stress that this Section 49 is an unnecessary use of taxpayer money and we also believe that in the context of this Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan – it cuts the village and the LAP area in half, in terms of inaccessibility.  We ask the Council and Councillors to re-consider for all of the above reasons.  
 

2.  A MISLEADING DOCUMENT – The Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan must be rectified.  

A Misleading Document - the document while beautifully put together and inspiring, we believe is very misleading and deceiving for the following reasons. The diagrams drawn show plenty of green fields which do not accurately portray either today’s environment or the future built up town.  The pylons are not drawn in, the planned ponding is not drawn, and the heights of the buildings are far below the heights, densities and styles of the rezoning in the local area plan.

The colours used on the maps are deceptive, as the use of green tone inaccurately suggests open space and low density, when in fact it represents buildings up to 4 storeys in height and medium to high density. 

The document also outlines the cycle area which is effectively every new road in the area!  Also there is no cycle lane drawn on the new road? Why? 
 

Submission:   We believe that all Plans for Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan, whether drawn up by DLRCoCo or by individual developers, MUST provide for a scale and contour Model, as well as 3D, with Accurate density and heights of buildings displayed, and adhering to the Council planning guidelines. 

This was already agreed in principle at a KRA meeting with the County Manager and Ward Councillors and should be stitched in to all Planning Permission Submissions and made clear to all developers and builders as well as Council planners as well as making it clear that the Council has clear guidelines which the Developers continue to flaunt when making planning applications.  
 

3. Loss of view of the Dublin mountains- the council’s own consultation document actually states that there will be "long distance views, through gaps in the buildings"!! Considering that Kilternan is located at the foothills of the Dublin mountains, with The Lead Mines nearby, and that the Council themselves guaranteed views, is this how they actually envisage us getting those views?

Submission:    The Council must protect the views of the Dublin Mountains, up to the Dublin Mountains and down to the Lead Mines and Carrigollagan , at all cost and properly. 

And this must be made clear to all developers and builders.    
 
 

4. The Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan – Pretty Pictures or a future Reality?

Submission:  Kilternan Residents Association would like to ask DRLCoCo if this Vision can be imposed on Developers and Builders – and how they propose to do this?

And if this Framework Plan is a binding document for that Purpose? 
 

5.   Neighbourhood Centre:   As we have just learnt that a new development within The Park was voted in by Councillors, despite the County Manager’s view that the area is more than adequately served for retail, does this mean the Neighbourhood Centre might not be supported by retailers: 

SUBMISSION:   All planning within the Greater DLRCoCo must be considered in order to make this Kilternan Neighbourhood Framework Plan work.    
 
 
 

Issued by Kilternan Residents Association

18th November 2009 
 

www.kilternanra.ie