Two areas of land in Dunboyne dezoned

Councillors have opted to dezone two parcels of land that had been rezoned to residential and mixed community use in the draft local area plan (LAP) for Dunboyne. There was confusion as to why the two parcels of land were included in the draft plan when no submissions had been received from landowners to rezone them. Councillors were dealing with the manager"s report on the draft LAP for Dunboyne, Clonee and Pace, where a total of 68 submissions were received. Dunboyne Combined Residents Association (DCRA) sought the omission of the two areas of land to the north and south of the Station Road over fears that they were eating into the green belt between Dunboyne and Clonee. The manager"s report stated that the extra residential zoning was required to meet the population target set out in the plan and are within one kilometre of Dunboyne Railway Station, and no change was recommended. However, Cllr Maria Murphy said the two parcels of land 'eat into the green belt 'and said that there were no representations from landowners to have the areas rezoned. She said they initially thought it had been a mapping error, as there had been no details and explained that councillors had not got to it at their planning meeting which was directly before the full council meeting. Cllr Jimmy Fegan said: 'This should have been resolved at area level. It is not the first time the other members have been left in an awkward position.' Cllr Nick Killian responded that the Dunshaughlin electoral area is the largest in Meath with the largest population and had the largest number of submissions. He said they had met from 9am to 4pm over two days and had not been able to conclude because of the number of decisions and the importance of the decisions. Cllr Fegan said he was not 'locking horns'. Councillors may need more time to deal with the plan at their area meetings, he added. At the suggestion of Cllr John Farrelly, it was agreed that the issue be parked for the Dunshaughlin members to break for 15 mins to discuss the submission. Cllr Brian Fitzgerald suggested that the reason for the land"s inclusion could be to take in the natural boundaries and this could have been why it was proposed by the consultants. Cllr Regina Doherty said the proposal posed a problem for the people in that area who are worried about retaining their green belt. After the Dunshaughlin members discussed the plan, it was agreed that the zoning would be removed from the two parcels of land. The plan must go back on public display again with these amendments. Meanwhile, Dunshaughlin councillors went along with the manager"s recommendation regarding a submission from the Keating family for lands in Clonee, and left the land zoning unchanged. The submission sought the zoning of 8.2ha for employment uses, 1.8ha for town centre expansion to the west, 6.8ha for a riverside park between Clonee and Loughsallagh, 4.9ha for sports and community facilities, 0.8ha for a Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) college, 1.4ha for a primary school and 10.5ha for residential development as well as 0.2ha for a neighbourhood centre. The plans included two playing pitches, a clubhouse and car parking for St Paul"s GAA Club and a site to Meath VEC for a Post-Leaving Certificate College or Gael Colaiste. A new overpass route over the M3 would be required. Cllr Nick Killian said the plan was premature but that there was merit in it. Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Murphy said that, from her own point of view, she was delighted with the Dunboyne plan and said it was a balanced and fair scheme for the area going forward. She added that the railway station or ring road haven"t opened yet and there is a lot of zoned land that is not build on yet. Dunboyne, she added, needed to 'settle' and to develop from the centre outwards.