Naas draft development plan is adopted by UDC members

NAAS, 29 May 1999 (PM): by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The Naas Urban Draft Development Plan has been accepted as the way forward for the development of Naas over the next five years. This follows a 6-3 vote by the members of the council (pictured above) this afternoon, adopting the draft plan after often-controversial deliberations that have taken two-and-a-half years.

Prior to the discussions, town manager Terry O Niadh emphasised for the third time that he was still recommending that Naas did not need any further residential rezoning from the previous plan, and that only 150 acres of land should be rezoned for industry. “I am saying this for the record, and to remind you that I have been consistent on this, but legally you could not comply with my wishes now even if you wanted to, as you have already voted to rezone 100 acres for residential development, and you may now only make adjustments as to how this is arrived at.”

During discussions on several of the many final submissions which had been handed in up to 5pm last Thursday, the council agreed to change the route of the proposed N41 distributor road so that it would not exit on the north end close to Hennesy’s Garage, but rather at the junction of the Sallins Road and Old Monread Road, and on the south-west end would link to the Newbridge Road at Jigginstown Park and would include a new bridge over the canal.

The members also reversed a previous rezoning decision that would have preserved 180 metres on either side of a stretch of the canal between Tandy’s Bridge and Osberstown, bringing the zone back to 90 metres. A block of seven acres of land belonging to the Sisters of Mercy adjacent to the school was also rezoned for residential purposes, as was extra land on Naas Race Course for more houses in The Gallops.

The council also officially passed the rezoning of Devoy Barracks for housing and public offices, but decided not to allow a submission request for retail and office use for around two acres of land on Corban’s Lane, on the strength of objections by both CBS schools in the area.

In the final vote on the overall plan, those in favour were Cllrs Paddy Behan, Seamie Moore, Timmy Conway, Willie Callahan, Evelyn Bracken and Mary French-Coughlan. Those voting against were Cllrs Teresa Scanlon, Charlie Byrne and Sean English.

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