Submissions sought for local area plans
MEMBERS of the public have until the end of this month to have their final say on a set of comprehensive plans that will shape the development of their respective communities for the next five years.
Last year officials with Cork County Council commenced drawing up a series of draft documents setting out the authority’s land use planning strategy for towns and villages across the county to the year 2022.
It is intended that once finalised, these documents will replace the existing Local Areas Plan’s (LAP’s) adopted by the authority in 2011.
Last November council chief executive Tim Lucey issued an open invitation to the public to view the draft plans, setting a deadline of early January for people to make observations and submissions in relation to them.
At the time Mr Lucey was keen to stress that once finalised the contents of the eight Local Area Plan’s would have implications for every village and town across the length and breadth of the county.
“The draft Local Areas Plans set out the blueprint for how these towns and villages will develop over the coming years in terms of the provision of new houses, shops businesses and amenities such as schools, parks and roads” said Mr Lucey.
This is the ideal time for people to get involved in the process and to share their views about what is needed in their own areas. We would like to get feedback from the public on the many issues raised in these documents and any other areas of particular interest to them,” he added.
In light of the submissions received, the council has issued a number of proposed amendments to the draft LAP’s for each of its eight municipal districts.
Members of the public now have until May 30 to view these proposed amendments, which relate in the most part to land zoning, changes to development boundaries and changes/additions to linear routes such as roads, walkways and cycle paths.
A council spokesperson said that all written submissions would be considered when drawing up the final Local Area Plans, which will be formally adopted by the authority in July 24 before coming into effect four weeks later.
“In order to make sure we have the best plan for each district, it is important that the people who will be affected by the proposed amendments get involved in the making of the plan and have a say in how their area develops,” said the spokesperson.
“Therefore the council is inviting submissions on the proposed amendment, details of which will be included in the chief executives report that will be submitted to the elected members in June.”
For a detailed breakdown on each of the LAP’s and instructions on how to make submissions to the proposed amendments visit www.corklocalareaplans.com.