VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
d) Enhancement of ‘gateway’ features and natural
edges as the opportunities arise, so as to increase
the sense of place and character of the village.
e) Facilitate and encourage the redevelopment of
dis-used and/or derelict sites within the village.
f) Examine possible measures which could
facilitate the provision of a public open space
within the village.
g) Examination of the possibilities for the provision
of more structured off-road car parking / setdown
areas for the school, particularly as the
village expands.
h) Access points to be provided where necessary,
within the village.
5.6 Zoning Objectives
Lands within the village boundary are formally zoned
under this plan. The zoning objectives are those
contained within the County Development Plan 2009 –
2015.
In the case of ‘residential’ zoning, no maximum or
minimum densities are specified in this plan. However,
this zoning will accommodate the more mainstream
types of development and particular regard will be had
to standards contained in the County Development
Plan 2009-2015, Chapter 19, Built Form and the
Residential Density Guidelines, (Department of the
Environment, Sept. 1999), or any reviews thereof.
5.7 Flooding
Lands surrounding the River Clodiagh may potentially
be at risk from flooding. Any proposed development on
these lands must demonstrate to the Planning
Authority that it will be protected, by design, from flood
risk and incorporates minimum setback from the bank
as required by the Office of Public Works, (OPW).
Council that it will be protected from flooding.
2. This area, if proposed for development must be
the subject of a masterplan to address, in
particular, integration and connectivity with the
village. Linkages of particular importance
include, pedestrian access to the school and
bridge, services, open space areas for the benefit
of the development(s) and the village as a whole.
Design themes and ‘grain’ of proposed
development should be included, particularly in
relation to the ‘front’ (north) of the site. Due
regard to boundary retention / integration of
development within the village should be part of
the masterplan.
3. Any proposed development on these lands must
satisfy the Council that it will not have any
negative impacts on the archaeology which may
be contained within these lands. In this case, a
detailed assessment on the archaeology of these
lands will be required.
4. These lands between the Canal (a Natural
Heritage Area) and the Zone of Archaeological
Potential are zoned as open space within this
plan and for the plan period. This is to protect
these features and to retain an attractive visual
buffer to the adjoining lands zoned as 'other
settlement lands', in particular on this approach
road into the village from Killina. As this is a visual
protection / buffer, its use for normal rural land
uses, i.e. agriculture or forestry, etc. will not
conflict with the purpose of the zoning.
5.8 Map Annotation – Guidance &
Requirements for Development
1. An indicative open space ‘buffer’ has been zoned
along the river in order to ensure that any
developments respect the river aspect, to reflect
the fact that this area may be subject to flooding
and to allow for a strip free from development for
river maintenance if required by the Office of
Public Works. The boundary of the proposed
‘Open Space’ area is not intended to attempt to
reflect the flood risk. Any development proposed
must contain design proposals to satisfy the
February 2009 | Rahan Village Plan | page 138