No recession in Tuam as area councillors go on rezoning spree

By TONY GALVIN 'TUAM councillors are obviously expecting better economic times than the rest of us,' quipped the Mayor of Co Galway Jimmy McClearn after they went on a rezoning blitz when considering the Tuam Local Area Plan at a specially convened meeting in County Hall on Friday. 'It seems to me you want one zone which is anything, anywhere,' the Mayor said, adding that the Tuam Area councillors displayed a very liberal approach to zoning. Informed sources have indicated to The Tuam Herald that there is now a very real likelihood that the Department of the Environment will reject the plan and send it back to be redrawn in accordance with proper planning guidelines. There is also concern that the jumble of planning zones to be presented when the plan goes back on public display could make it more difficult rather than easier to get planning for development projects because of confusion and contradictions. Co Council Director of Services for Planning Kevin Kelly pleaded with councillors that Tuam already had 400 acres zoned as residential in the current plan and there was no realistic possibility of even a fraction of this being developed in the lifetime of the new plan. He argued that regional planning guidelines indicated that no more than 28 hectares (approx 70 acres) need be available in a town of Tuam's size. 'Tuam certainly doesn't need more rezoning. All requirements are met in this plan,' he stated. But despite this plea he was ignored on several issues and recommendation after recommendation was voted down following counter proposals for rezoning from Tuam Area council members. It is unclear how many acres are now zoned residential in Tuam but it is estimated that the population would have to rise by at least 11,000 in the five-year lifetime of the plan for the existing 400 acres at 10 units per acre to be used up. Planners cannot see the population of the entire county increasing by this figure in this time frame. The fear is that increased zoning will serve to devalue existing zoned land and prove a futile exercise for those who hope to benefit from it. There is also concern that rezoning in the vicinity of the planned Tuam bypass and M17 motorway could fall foul of strict National Roads Authority (NRA) requirements and put another obstacle in the way of the project. At one stage during Friday's meeting Athenry Cllr Peter Feeney accused his Tuam Area colleagues of 'railroading' changes through, adding that if this was the case councillors from other areas may as well go home as it appeared all the decisions had already been made. This was denied by Cllr Sean Canney who stated that he was just trying to ensure the planning matrix in the plan suited Tuam. The rezoning process crossed all political divides with Cllrs Tom McHugh (FG), Michael Connolly (FF), Colm Keaveney (Lab) and Sean Canney (Ind) all pushing through proposals contrary to the advice of the planners. In a move that may yet prove controversial a 7-8 acre site on the Milltown Road opposite the Town and Country Garage was rezoned to allow 'large scale shopping centre.' The site, known locally as the 'Tesco site' was granted planning permission in the past for a shopping centre but this was turned down by An Bord Pleanala. Again, Mayor McClearn intervened, inquiring as to why this was being done in spite of the fact that there was more than enough zoning under this category elsewhere in the town. 'So you are allowing a large scale shopping centre in an area you have zoned as a neighbourhood centre?' he said. An application to have 101 acres of agricultural land at Tirboy was withdrawn at a preliminary stage but it was decided to zone over 20 acres industrial despite concerns from planners that such zoning was dispersing the zoning system or 'matrix' and there was enough land zoned in this category already. The rezoning of a site on the Milltown road was also opposed by County Hall officials on the ground that its location would run into difficulties with regional planning and go contrary to NRA policy. Kevin Kelly warned that there would be difficulty developing the 5.2 acre site because of its remote location and its proximity to the planned M17 and Tuam by-pass route. He said the site was too far outside the town to be considered for retail development. The council decided to rezone the site commercial by a vote of eight to one with two abstentions. When concerns were expressed over whether the resulting mix of zones in the plan could  put development in jeopardy, Cllr Tom McHugh stated that Tuam had an IDA site on the Dunmore Road with sheep grazing on it and the local councillors would be happy to see any operation, even a cash and carry, located there if it promoted development. The details of the new Tuam Area Plan can be viewed by the public when it goes on display in Tuam Library in the coming weeks.