Public Notice
COMHAIRLE CHONTAE NA MÍ
MEATH COUNTY COUNCIL

Planning & Development Acts 2000 – 2015
&
Planning & Development Regulations 2001-2013

Variation No. 3 of the Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 as made by the Council on the 23^rd May, 2016

Draft Direction in the matter of section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) LANDS AT PACE, NORTH DUNBOYNE

TAKE NOTICE THAT:

On 17^th June, 2016 the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government notified Meath County Council of his intent to issue a Direction pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).   The draft Ministerial Direction relates to Variation No. 3 to the County Meath Development Plan 2013 – 2019 (as varied).

The reasons given for the draft Direction are:

1. Written submissions were made to Meath County Council on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on 26 January, 2016 on Proposed Variation No. 3 and on the 19 April, 2016 on the material alterations to the variation which advised the Council to remove the proposed residential content/zoning at Pace, north of Dunboyne and ensure that there was proper traffic and transport assessment of all development policies in order for the proposals to accord fully with Ministerial Planning Guidelines issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Acts, 2000-15.

Meath County Council was advised to address the issue satisfactorily in order to ensure compliance with the Minister’s Guidelines.

On 23^rd May, the Elected Members voted by resolution to adopt Proposed Variation No. 3, as previously placed on public display resulting in –

• The creation of a new residential development detached and distinct from the existing urban area of Dunboyne in clear breach of the sequential approach to zoning of lands as identified in the Development Plan Guidelines (2007)
• The provision of an objective for high technology/office/logistics employment uses in close proximity to Junction 5 of the M3 Motorway in the absence of a comprehensive traffic assessment which has the potential to generate traffic volumes to limit the operation of the nearby national motorway interchange.
• The Dunboyne/Clonee/Pace LAP 2009 (Objective RET OBJ1) provided for the development of a new Level 2 retail centre at Pace and has now been inappropriately translated into a separate isolated residential objective A2 and employment Objective E1-E3 zonings.

2. The decision by the members to alter the policy in regard to zoning objectives as outlined in this direction was inconsistent with national policy (the Local Area Plan Guidelines, 2013, the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines, 2012 and the Development Plan Guidelines 2007) and the requirements of Section 19(2) of the Planning and Development Acts, 2000-2015 as it is not consistent with the Core Strategy of the Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019.

A copy of the draft direction may be downloaded below

Draft Direction in the matter of section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) LANDS AT PACE, NORTH DUNBOYNE

or viewed at the following locations (excluding public holidays);

For a period of 2 weeks from the 29/06/2016 to 13/07/2016

Written submissions or observations in respect of the draft direction may be made to the planning authority during the stated period and shall be taken into consideration by the Minister before he directs the planning authority pursuant to Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000-2015.

Submission or observations in respect of the draft direction should be marked “Meath County Development Plan 2013-2019 Variation No 3 – Draft Direction”, and posted to:

Seán Clarke Administrative Officer, Planning Department, Meath County Council, Buvinda House, Dublin Road, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 Y291.

or emailed to variation3mcdp@meathcoco.ie

Submissions made via email must include the full name and address of the person making the submission and where relevant, the body or organisation represented.

Please make your submission by ONE format only i.e hard copy by post OR email to variation3mcdp@meathcoco.ie

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 5.00 p.m. on Wednesday 13^th July, 2016.