MAYNOOTH, 2 October: by Bill Trapman. Labour’s Deputy Emmet Stagg and Cllr John McGinley have lodged an objection to the proposal for 90 apartments in six 3-storey blocks at Parson Street, Maynooth.
The present proposal is similar to the previous one rejected by Kildare County Council in July this year except for the reduction in height to three-storey blocks instead of four-storey blocks.
However, Deputy Stagg remains convinced that this new proposal is 'as inappropriate as the previous one', for this historic part of the town which includes Maynooth Castle, St Mary’s Church, St Patrick’s College and the Harbour Area.
Deputy Stagg further stated that the present application is 'premature pending the adoption of an Action Area Plan for this area' as proposed in the Maynooth Draft Development Plan 2000. The Action Area Plan covers the area between Leinster Street, The Harbour and Parson Street. "The proposal would also reduce the amenities of the Royal Canal and views of the Harbour." he says.
The site in question is effectively landlocked except for the access which is sought through the small residential development of Parson Lodge. Both oublic representatives say the proposal, if accepted, would cause a traffic hazard within Parson Lodge due to increased traffic. It would also cause further traffic congestion on Parson Street itself.
The developers have been involved in a number of developments in the Maynooth area, which to date have not been taken in charge by the Council. The councillors further want the Development Control Section of the Council to provide a report in relation to North City Builders, and say this report should be considered as part of the planning process.
They believe the appropriate development for the particular site should be two-storey detached houses with low density and say the applicants should be asked to consider resubmitting revised proposals in line with this.
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