Unique Reference Number: 
SD-C147-132
Status: 
Submitted
Author: 
Eamon Brennan
Author: 
Eamon Brennan

Cover Letter

[Redacted personal information] I attach 3 files with this submission, titled Submiss Map1 / Map2 / Map3. Submiss Map1 shows the general area of Lucan where Clonbrone is located and identifies the 'Forest area' and the 'right-of-way steps'. The house sits on a level site (marked B in Submiss Map2) of c. 0.75 acres and the boundaries of this land are marked by an orange line on Submiss Map2 and Map3. This land is zoned RES. Immediately north of this land/site and comprising a separate folio of land is c. 0.5 acres of forested & sloping land (marked A in Submiss Map2) whose boundaries are marked by a purple line in Submiss Map2 and Map3. It is bounded by the Lucan Road along its northern boundary and the right-of-way steps along its western boundary and is zoned OS.

To facilitate improved pedestrian movement in the immediate environs and to provide better access to the top/southern edge of the forested area, I seek to have a section of the OS zoned lands rezoned to RES.

The file named Submiss Map3 shows a dotted line and this is the proposed line that the RES zoning would be extended to. This line ranges from 5 metres to 9 metres north of the existing boundary line, so it is a very modest boundary movement and would leave most of the forested land zoned OS.

It should be noted that no maintenance or remedial works were carried out on this forested land since at least 1973 (when it was bought by the previous owners) while I commissioned a full survey of the forest (completed) and this will be followed by the implementation of all works recommended in that survey, at a very significant cost. The works will primarily involve ivy removal from all trees and the reduction or felling of a significant number of trees. This survey report has been shared with SDCC (Environment and Roads Department) and they agree the works are appropriate and required.

Observations

Improved access to & use of green space; improved pedestrian movement & permeability

The forested land described in my cover letter and detailed in Submiss Map2 and Submiss Map3 has not been maintained for probably >100 years  and as a result almost all of the trees on this land are blighted by heavy Ivy plus a large number of dead trees litter the forest floor. Some trees are in poor condition, posing a possibe hazard, and so require reduction or felling. The forest has been professionally surveyed and required works identified; these work are now ongoing.  But access to the forest lands from the east, west or north is hugely problematic, due to the ESB power lines along Lucan Road and no access points along the eastern or western boundaries for heavy machinery or tall cranes. Access from the south is difficult due to limited access & egress from the Clonbrone site. And so I need to clear an area at the top of the forest slope to access trees in the centre and edges of the forest. In addition, rezoning a modest section of the forested land, from OS to RES, would enable me make better use of the land and forest, now and in the future. It will also provide for access/egress to the right-of-way steps and so improve pedestrian movement from the Clonard & Clonbrone lands. No trees will be felled or removed except trees identified as requiring such action/s in the Arborists survey completed in early 2020.

 

Main opinion: 

The rezoning of this small section of forested land would provide improved access & egress to the forest generally but especially for heavy machinery to the middle and edge sections of the forest. It would also facilitate improved maintenance of the forest generally. In addition, enabling the strip of land to be used for typical housing uses (back garden, open space, etc.) would greatly improve its amenity value. And finally, rezoning this small strip of land would facilitate its use for pedestrian access/egress from the Clonard and Clonbrone lands to/from the Lucan Road, via the right-of-way steps. This would improve permeability of this section of Lucan and provide enhanced amenity in tandem with an attractive pedestrian route that would enhance the general characteristics and attraction of Lucan village and its immediate environs. Kindly note that NO trees not previously identified as requiring felling would be felled for these uses.

Information

Unique Reference Number: 
SD-C147-132
Status: 
Submitted
No. of documents attached: 
3