Part VIII Report Tralee Fenit Greenway
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Comhairle Contae Chiarraí Kerry County Council Manager’s Report and Recommendation, in accordance with Section 179 (3) (a) of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2017 for the following development; TRALEE-FENIT GREENWAY from Ballynahoulort in Tralee to the village of Fenit August 2018 Prepared by: Capital Infrastructure Unit, Tralee Princes Quay, Tralee. Fenit MANAGERS REPORT & RECOMMENDATION for the TRALEE to FENIT GREENWAY. Document Control Revision Issued For Prepared Approved A Managers Report and Recommendation Tralee-Fenit Greenway AMC TS 180104 180821_Part VIII Report_Tralee-Fenit Greenway (Issued) Page 2 (of 118) Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Proposed Development ..................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Site Location and Description ............................................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Public Consultation ............................................................................................................................................ 6 2. Persons or bodies who made submissions or observations within the prescribed period ..................................... 8 3. Issues raised, with respect to the proper planning and development of the area, by persons or bodies who made submissions or observations, managers response and recommendations ......................................................... 14 4. Evaluate the proposed development with respect to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area 101 5. proposed amendments ...................................................................................................................................... 102 6. Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................. 109 Appendix 1. Drawings ............................................................................................................................................ 110 Appendix 2. Planning Conditions ............................................................................................................................. 111 Appendix 3. Supporting Planning Policies and Objectives ......................................................................................... 112 Appendix 4. Determination Statements on AA and EIA Screening of the Part 8 Tralee – Fenit ............................. 118 180104 180821_Part VIII Report_Tralee-Fenit Greenway (Issued) Page 3 (of 118) 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview Kerry County Council has acquired the ownership of the disused railway line from the Limerick County Bounds to Tralee and Fenit and proposes to develop a Greenway on part of this route from Tralee-Fenit, in line with national planning policy and local objectives. The Tralee Fenit Greenway is a project to progress the completion of approximately 10.65km of rural greenway along the former corridor of the disused Tralee to Fenit railway line which was closed in 1978 as part of the overall closure of the Great Southern railway line. The urban section of the route consisting of approximately 2.2Km of amenity trail in Tralee Town centre was completed by Kerry County Council in 2016 and links Tralee (Casement) Railway Station to Mounthawk at Bracker O’Regan Road. This project aims to complete the remaining rural section of this route from Ballynahoulort to Fenit by constructing a 3m wide greenway suitable for off road walking and cycling in a rural area. The key objectives of this project are: • Develop the local tourist economy by building a safe cycling and walking amenity which allow locals and tourists to cycle safely in a car free environment. • Provide a new link between Fenit, Tralee and the surrounding townlands and thereby improve the social fabric of our local communities. • Provide an amenity that allows for universal access attracting families, the elderly and disabled persons. • Compliment a range of existing and future tourism trails throughout County Kerry. Kerry County Council believes that this project will provide clear positive economic impacts to Fenit and Tralee and will stimulate economic activity between neighbouring townlands. It is consistent with both the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) and the Kerry County Development Plan 2015-2021 and is supported by the National policy in particular the National Planning Framework 2018-2027, Smarter Travel- A New Transport Policy for Ireland 2009-2020 and Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways- July 2018. There will be close collaboration between the communities along the Greenway and business interests in the design and delivery of the project. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the proposed development with respect to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in accordance with the criteria set out in Part XI of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2017 and Part VIII of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2018 1.2 Proposed Development The proposed development consists of the construction of a greenway, 10.65km in length, on the route of the disused Tralee to Fenit railway line from the townland of Ballynahoulort in Tralee to the village of Fenit. The main works will consist of the following: o The clearance of vegetation on the rail line corridor, retaining boundary hedgerows and boundary vegetation o The lifting of old railway rails o The laying of a 3-meter-wide bituminous tarmacadam surface on a crushed stone base to form the cycle and footpath track with a one‐meter wide grass verge on each side of the paved surface o Repair and upgrade of the existing drainage network. 180104 180821_Part VIII Report_Tralee-Fenit Greenway (Issued) Page 4 (of 118) o Reinstatement of two overbridges and associated stone abutments at Kilfenora and Knockanush West o Reinstatement of existing agricultural underpasses where necessary o Removal of existing masonry stone abutments where necessary o Provision of access controls (pedestrian/cycling friendly gates) road makings, traffic calming measures on the greenway o Provision of agricultural and residential crossings o Installation of safety barriers where required o Boundary treatment works including the installation of stock proof fencing, security fencing, privacy screening, planting and boundary walls o All other associated site works It is not anticipated that there will be any significant difficulty removing scrub from the existing route corridor. An invasive species survey of the proposed greenway has been undertaken as per Guidelines on The Management of Noxious Weeds and Non-Native Invasive Plant Species on National Roads Revision 1, December 2010 and species identified will be managed according to these Guidelines The works will be completed in one phase as described in the associated project brief report. The design of the Greenway will be consistent with the technical requirements of TII DN-GEO-03047, Rural Cycle Scheme Design (Offline), April 2017 (RCD). The route will remain predominantly within the existing railway corridor as indicated in the planning drawings. Minor deviations are proposed in the townlands of Fenit without. 1.3 Site Location and Description The proposed route is approximately 10.65km in length and will begin at Barrack O’Regan Road near Mounthawk and will follow the corridor of the disused railway line through the townlands of Ballynahoulort, Bawnboy, Clogherbrien, Knockanush East, Knockanush West, Ballygarran, Ballymakegoge, Kilefenora, Tawlaght, and Fenit Without finishing at the existing car park and public amenity area in Fenit Village Figure 1 Overall Route Corridor from Ballynahoulort Tralee town-Fenit village 180104 180821_Part VIII Report_Tralee-Fenit Greenway (Issued) Page 5 (of 118) 1.4 Public Consultation Figure 2: Public Information day and evening in Fenit Parish Hall 23rd May 2018 Non-Statutory Consultation – Information Day A public Information day and evening was held in Fenit Parish Hall on 23rd May 2018 from 11.00 a.m to 9.00 p.m. 164 people from the local community and surrounding area signed the attendance record on the day but it is estimated that close to 200 people attended the event. The majority of people in attendance were positive toward the scheme and welcomed the proposed greenway project. The majority of queries from adjacent landowners related to accommodation works, access points, crossings, fencing and screening to be provided where residential properties abut the proposed corridor. Statutory Consultation In accordance with S.179 of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2017 a Public Notice regarding the proposed works was advertised in the Kerry’s Eye newspaper from Thursday 14th June 2018 until Friday 13th July 2018 16 No. Site Notices were erected on lands adjacent to the proposed route on Thursday 14th June 2018 and inspected regularly hereafter. The site notices at the