Concerns raised about retirement home plan

CONCERNS have been raised about plans for the construction of a retirement home village in a scenic area at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.

Last July, councillors at Dun Laoghaire Rathdown voted to pass an amendment to make a variation to the County Development Plan that would allow for the development of a retirement home on lands that are currently zoned for agricultural use. Councillors voted to accept the motion by a majority of 14 to 11.

The proposed development, known as Grange Independent Living and Retirement Village, would be located on a 16-acre site on the mountain side of the M50 at Ticknock.

The scheme would include a nursing home, residential units, a stroke rehabilitation clinic and community and recreational facilities including retail outlets, restaurants and a

‘village centre’.

Kathleen Holohan, director of planning at the council, said councillors will shortly take another vote on whether to permit certain land uses at the site under its current zoning.

She said these additional land uses would include

“residential, independent assisted and convalescent living, ancillary medical and related uses, associated retail, pharmacy retail, and village centre uses

?.

The site is currently zoned B –

‘to protect and improve rural amenity and to provide for the development of agriculture’.

Cllr Lettie McCarthy (Lab) believes the proposed development would be unsuitable in an area of such scenic, natural beauty.

She also maintains that the local authority has sufficient lands elsewhere in the county already zoned to allow for the development of nursing homes.

“I will be voting against this proposal when it comes before council,

? she said.

“As far as I am concerned, we have more than enough zoned land in the county to last us for some time. I don’t think it is wise to add further zoned lands at this time.

“In my opinion, retirement/independent development should be central to community living, close to public transport, libraries, places of worship and shopping and not on a mountainside.

?

She has also urged local residents to familiarise themselves with the proposals and make submissions on the plans accordingly.

Cllr Tom Murphy (FF) said it was important that such facilities were made available in the county to cater for its large population of elderly residents. In addition, he did not believe that the development would set a planning precedent in the area.

“We have a very elderly population in the community and in the council area of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown so I think we need these facilities for these people,

? he said.

As part of the variation process the public can make observations on the proposals until 5pm on Friday, October 12. A report will be presented to the council after that date and councillors will then finally decide whether or not to vary the County Development Plan with regard to the specific proposal.

Details of the proposed variation and the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Screening reports may be inspected at the council offices in Dun Laoghaire and Dundrum until Friday, October 12.

Details of the proposal can also be viewed online at www.dlrcoco.ie in the

‘Latest News’ section.