This article is from page 4 of the 2008-04-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
moje sultants for Clare GAA have told the
council that the new RiverSide Quar- ter could be operational by 2013.
A new Ennis Development Plan is being drawn up which will include a range of new zonings.
However, consultants for Clare GAA have told the council that it may be early 2009 by the time the process of drawing up the new de- velopment plan 1s completed. Rather than seeking to have the site rezoned as part of the plan, Clare GAA are
seeking a standalone rezoning of the site. The process could be completed in five months.
The consultants have told the coun- cil that the development of schemes for both the Cusack Park site and the new GAA stadium “are well ad- vanced”.
Taking into account appeals to An Bord Pleanala, Clare GAA are an- ticipating that the planning process in relation to the scheme will take
two years.
The consultants state that it 1s in- tended that the RiverSide Quarter will act as a landmark site, point- ing out, “If we are dependent upon the adoption of the new Ennis Plan before we can lodge the application, there is a possibility that the site will not have the benefit of planning per- mission until 2010-2011.
The consultants state, ““The sooner the planning permission is received for the development of the site, the sooner Ennis Town Council will be able to utilise the significant income derived from commercial rates and development levies.”
The consultants argue that the shorter timeframe will significantly benefit Ennis in terms of an immedi- ate improvement in the town centre and the provision of a new GAA sta- dium.
The consultants state that the de- velopment is not designed to take consumers from the existing retail centre and, in particular, the town centre but to contribute to the re- tention and consolidation of retail spending in Ennis in the face of in- creasing competition from other re- tailers and leakage of retail spending from the area.
The consultants also argue that the development of retailing in the scheme would improve the diversity in the Ennis retail offer.