Author Archives: david

Motions to amend Chief Executive’s draft of County Development Plan

The consultation draft of the Fingal Development Plan was agreed by Councillors this evening. The first draft was produced by the Chief Executive following initial input from the elected Council. Over the last few weeks, we considered a series of 917 motions to agree the draft for public display. The following are the motions submitted by the Green Councillors.

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Observation on Racecourse Park planning application

My comments are here. I strongly support the application, but I have asked An Bord Pleanála to make some important changes, including

  • reducing the very large area of car parking planned (2x the size of the Racecourse shops car park plus an extra “overflow” car park);
  • providing low level lighting like that on the existing greenway instead of 6m high lights;
  • ensuring that the bridges don’t become dangerously icy like the existing greenway bridge;
  • putting resources into planting rather than corten steel objects.

Councils should be encouraged to use the Development Plan to protect the climate

My response to the Department of Housing’s consultation on draft Development Plan Guidelines asks the Department not to try to prevent local authorities using the planning system to drive the decarbonisation process.

It refers to this article on Fingal’s successful energy standards innovation at a local level, where Fingal led Ireland to higher building energy standards.

Motions in relation to County Development Plan

We are at the start of the process for adopting the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029. There was a public consultation this Spring in advance of the Draft. In a series of meetings starting on 30th August, the Council will consider the responses to that consultation. Motions from Councillors to give direction for the drafting of the Development Plan will be discussed. I have submitted the following motions based on the responses from the public and my own submission:

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