This article is from page 12 of the 2008-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
THE owner and manager of an En- nis business park has appealed a town council decision to approve a proposed three-unit industrial ware- house facility in Ennis.
Last month, Ennis Town Council granted planning permission to John Bonfil to construct the units at the Clonroadmore business park.
In response, Alan Lewis has re- tained planning consultant, Brendan McGrath to lodge the appeal against
the council decision.
In the appeal to An Bord Pleanala, Mr McGrath said Mr Lewis was fun- damentally opposed to the develop- ment because it would undermine the character and operation of the busi- ness park.
“The Clonroadmore business park is being transformed into an urban facility with a distinctive community role. That role is entirely appropriate for this central urban location and should have the support of the local authority. My client accepts that the
site should be developed but wishes to see development that is fully com- patible with the establishing char- acter of the business park and takes account of the fact that there is no suitable access for HGVs.”
Mr McGrath is arguing that the pro- posed development would seriously injure the amenities or depreciate the value of property in the vicinity; would endanger the health or safety of persons occupying or employed in an adjoining structure; or would endan- ger public safety by reason of traffic
hazard or obstruction of road users.
“The proposed development is in accordance with the commercial zoning objective but, in every other respect, 1s contrary to the policy of the development plan.
“The proposed land uses and ac- tivities are inappropriate given the established character of the business park; the proposed access is unsuit- able for the uses proposed and there are related deficiencies in application and assessment procedures.
“This 1s not a typical industrial es-
tate. The majority of occupiers are involved in some form of community activity. The park has a distinctive identity and function and the devel- Opment under consideration would have serious adverse impacts on that identity and function.
“There remains a number of small- scale manufacturing and distribution activities in the park. However, it is intended that the whole of the busi- ness park will be given over to com- munity-type activities.”