Preparation for Development Plan 2004

The review of the City Development Plan 1998 commenced on December 14th 2002 as required by law. The review will take approximately 2 years to complete and must be adopted by December 2004. The attached document sets out the guidelines for the making of a submission in respect of the review.

A GUIDE TO MAKING A SUBMISSION ON A NEW DEVELOPMENT PLAN

WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENT PLAN?

The Limerick City Development Plan is a strategic policy document setting out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of Limerick city for the period 2004 to 2010. Such plan consists of a written statement with spatial and zoning plans setting out the development objectives and goals for the City. It will provide standards and objectives by which development in the City will be judged. It shall include many objectives, inter alia:

• Zoning of land use.
• Provision and facilitation of infrastructure, including transport, energy, communication facilities, water supply, waste recovery and waste disposal facilities, and ancillary facilities.
• Conservation and protection of the environment, including areas of archaeological or natural heritage.
• Integration of planning and sustainable development with the social, community and cultural requirements of the area and its population.
• Preservation of the character of the landscape, areas of natural beauty and interest.
• Preservation of structures or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific or technical interest. the character of Architectural Conservation Areas.
• Renewal of areas in need of regeneration.
• Provision of travellers' accommodation
• Preservation, improvement and extension of recreational amenities.
• Control of establishments under the E.U. Major Accidents Directive.
• Provision of community services, including schools, crèches and childcare facilities.

In addition, a development plan may include a wide range of other objectives relating to:

• Location and pattern of development.
• Control of areas and structures.
• Community facilities.
• Environment and amenities
• Infrastructure and transport
• The development of specific area plans for designated parts of the city.

Any Development Plan, prepared by the Planning Authority will include periods of consultation with various stakeholders, during which the input of the public and certain designated organisations is both invited and to be welcomed. The City Council is required to consult with its neighbouring local authorities in the Development Plan process. Such Development Plan will be adopted following consideration by the elected members of the City Council.

The programme

The programme for the adoption of the Development Plan is as follows:

• Advertisement in national newspapers announcing the preparation of a new City Development Plan. Submissions and observations invited from all interested persons
• Preparation of report on all submissions received. Preparation and publication of the Draft Development Plan
• Draft Development Plan on public display. Submissions and observations on the draft Development Plan are invited from all interested persons. Report prepared by Manager and submitted to City Council
• Draft Plan may be adopted provided there are no material changes proposed.
• Draft plan amendments must be re-displayed Submissions and observations on the amended draft Development Plan are invited from all interested persons. The final plan must be adopted by the City Council by December 2004.

The current status of the plan is that the drafting of the revised Development Plan is proceeding prior to its consideration by the City Council and its consequent public display.

The Development Plan is a legal document and must be prepared and adopted within a strict timeframe. The processes involved in the preparation of the Development Plan are set out in Part II of the Planning and Development Act, 2000.

A new Development Plan must be prepared every six years. The current Development Plan for Limerick City which was adopted in December 1998, must be revised and the new Development Plan adopted by December 2004. (Within two years of the date of the first public advertisement i.e. 14 December, 2002)

YOUR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROCESS

The Development Plan is prepared with input from a great many people and organisations including the following:

• All Departments and committees within the City Council.
• Government Departments.
• Many Organisations including An Taisce, Bord Failte Eireann, the National Roads Authority, the East Coast Area Health Board.
• Adjoining Planning Authorities.
• The Planning Authority must also consult with providers of energy such as E.S.B. and Bord Gais etc. , Telecommunications such as Eircom etc. and Transport such as C.I.E. etc.
• Organisations representing civil society

It is vitally important that everybody is involved in this process. The Development Plan is for the whole City and will govern all development in the City for six years. Everybody is entitled to give an opinion on any aspect of the Development Plan. All submissions received during the public consultation periods will be considered.

Submissions are invited during two time periods:

• 14 December 2002 to 16 February 2002. Review of existing Development Plan and Commencement of preparation of new City Development Plan
• Public Display of the draft (for at least 10 weeks) Development Plan, following consideration of the draft by the City Council at a date still to be determined.

If the City Council makes material alterations to the draft Development Plan then these alterations will go on a second public display (for at least 4 weeks), and submissions will be invited from the public and any other interested parties.

HOW TO MAKE SUBMISSION ON THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Please keep all submissions clear, simple and concise. A Submission Form is attached to this guidance document and you may find this easy to use. However, submissions do not have to be made on this Form. In either case, please enclose a map, if appropriate.

All submissions must be made orally or in writing to the various public fora convened to consider community representations, or submitted to the office of the Department of Planning and Development by the designated dates.

Forward all submissions marked "Submission on Development Plan" to:


Director of Services
Planning and Development Department
City Hall
Merchants Quay
Limerick

or e-mail to:
plandev@limerickcity.ie stating your name, and where relevant, the body or organisation represented.

Remember this is YOUR opportunity to have an input into the preparation of a document, which will affect you!