Cllrs vote to rezone former GAA grounds

Councillors have voted to rezone the former GAA grounds at Farnbeg, Strokestown for new residential developments.

Overruling the recommendation of Roscommon County Council at a special meeting on the County Development Plan, councillors adopted a proposal by Cllr Tom Crosby, who told a council meeting recently that the site would be ideal for a retirement village.

During the meeting, Director of Services, Mark Keaveney said the land measuring around three hectares, was outside of the Strokestown settlement boundary and the council was recommending that the land not be zoned and remain outside the Strokestown boundary.

Cllr Crosby said that the company that owned the land, a brown field site, wanted to build a retirement community facility.

“Strokestown is ideal for this type of retirement village, and ideal for any type of residential development for young families,” he said.

He warned that it was vital that he county did not return to the late ‘90s or early 2000s when it was very restricted in terms of planning.

Cllr Sean Moylan said that he completely supported the proposal, saying that the site was adjacent to the new N5 road and was not far out from the town.

“Strokestown is crying out for this. There isn’t a house to be rented in the town,” he said.

Furthermore, the land could not be used for anything other than this sort of development, he added.

Cllr Liam Callaghan said the councillors in the Boyle MD were approached by the owners of the land, “which was a central part of Strokestown when it was an active GAA pitch”.

“It is a great opportunity,” he added. Cllrs Valerie Byrne, Leah Cull, and Micheál Frain also supported the motion.

Mr Keavney pointed out that the council had already reached the additional 50 per cent in new residential zonings sought under national guidelines.

“We have zoned as much land as possible in accordance with regulations,” he said. “This is a large area that is being considered. This will bring us well over what we are allowed to zone.”

The motion was carried after being proposed by Cllr Crosby and seconded by Cllr Moylan.

Council Chief Executive Shane Tiernan reiterated that not accepting the council’s recommendation was the prerogative of the councillors.

“What we have put before you today in terms of the additional zoned lands, we have already done the work from an environmental and appropriate assessment perspective,” he said. “Anything that you propose today hasn’t been tested in that regard.”

The special meeting heard that the proposal constituted a material alteration of the development plan. This required the council to engage with its environmental consultants to undertake an assessment on the proposal to see if a full strategic and environmental assessment was triggered.

Senior Planner Mary Grier said if a full assessment was required, “we may have to stop the clock” on the material alteration. This would be followed by public consultation and further reports.

Cllr Crosby said this was ultimately the decision of the councillors.

“And if so it can be referred to the Office of the Planning Regulator. And if that decision comes back negative, it can then be referred to the minister,” he said. “I can’t see the minister, if they are genuinely interested in addressing our housing crisis, that they would leave eight acres of land out for housing.”

Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.