MMOONNAARRDD SSTTRRAATTEEGGIICC DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT ZZOONNEE 22001155 Environmental Report Environmental Report L L I I C C N N U U O O C C Y Y T T N N U U O O C C K K R August 2015 R O O C C Monard Environmental Report Monard Environmental Report Table of Contents 4 Planning Scheme 7.4 Alternatives / Options and their implications 1 Introduction 4.1 Strategic Development Zone Area 7.5 Environmental Assessment of Options 4.2 Background to Planning Scheme 7.6 Preferred Option – Reason for 1.1 SEA Process 4.3 Description of Planning Scheme Selection 1.2 SEA Directive and Legislation 4.4 Contents of Planning Scheme 7.7 Conclusion 1.3 Strategic Development Zones – Environmental Legislation 5 Characteristics of Baseline 8 Evaluation of Significant Environment Environmental Effects of 2 Methodology Planning Scheme 5.1 Introduction to Baseline 2.1 SEA Steps 5.2 Biodiversity 8.1 Methodology 2.2 Screening 5.3 Population and Human Health 8.2 Significance 2.3 Scoping 5.4 Water 8.3 Summary of Likely Significant effects 2.4 Environmental Baseline Data 5.5 Landscape 8.3.1 Landuse and Population 2.5 Environmental Protection Objectives 5.6 Material Assets and Transportation 8.3.2 Landscape and Visual Impact 2.6 Consideration of Alternatives 5.7 Soil, Geology, Hydrogeology 8.3.3 Transportation 2.7 Environmental Assessment of 5.8 Air, Noise, Climate , Sustainability 8.3.4 Natural Heritage and Open Space Planning Scheme 5.9 Archaeology, Architecture and Cultural 8.3.5 Infrastructural Services 2.8 Environmental Report and Public Heritage 8.3.6 Sustainable Development Proposals Consultation 8.3.7 Cultural Heritage 2.9 Environmental Statement 6 Environmental Protection 8.4 Conclusion 2.10 Difficulties Encountered in Compiling Objectives & Targets Required Information 9 Mitigation Measures 2.11 Legislative Conformance 6.1 Introduction to Environmental Protection Objectives 9.1 Population and Human Health 3 Relationship of Other Plans & 6.2 Targets and Indicators 9.2 Landscape and Visual Impact Programmes 9.3 Transportation 7 Assessment of Alternatives 9.4 Biodiversity and Water Resources 3.1 Hierarchy of Plans 9.5 Soil and Geology 3.2 Relationship with Existing Plans and 7.1 Consideration of Alternative Strategies 9.6 Archaeological, Architectural and Strategies 7.2 Limitations to Alternative Options Cultural Heritage 3.3 Habitats Directive Screening 7.3 Methodology Monard Environmental Report 10 Monitoring Programme Table 5.9.2 Townland Translation Figure 5.5.7 Viewpoint H Table 5.9.3 Table of Cultural Heritage Figure 5.6.1 Existing Road Network 10.1 Monitoring Proposal Features within Monard Figure 5.6.2 Cycle and Pedestrian Routes Table 6.1 Environmental Protection Figure 5.7.1 EPA Subsoil Map Non Technical Summary Objectives and Targets Figure 5.7.2 Aquifer Vulnerability Map Table 7.1 Alternative Assessment of Figure 5.8.1 Exposure to Wind and Noise 11 Appendices options Figure 5.9.1 Potential Archaeological Table 8.1 Category of Effect Monuments A Summary Matrix of Environmental Table 8.2 Summary of Visual Impact Figure 5.9.2 Architectural Heritage within Assessment of Planning Scheme Table 8.3 Summary of Landscape Monard SDZ B Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Impact Figure 5.9.3 Cultural Heritage Features Table 9.1 Quantity of Screen Woodland within Monard SDZ Planting within each village Figure A1 Proposed System of Surface List of Tables area Water Conveyance Routes Table 10.1 Summary of Proposed Figure A2 Proposed Swales, Detention Table 2.1 Summary of Methodology for Monitoring Programme Ponds and Filter Strips Environmental Report Figure A3 Monard Flood Risk Map –Lee Table 2.2 Checklist of information to be List of Figures CFRAMS contained in the Figure A4 Monard Flood Risk Map- Environmental Report Figure 4.1 Site Context DPFRA Table 4.1 Planning History of Monard Figure 4.2 Site Area Table 5.1 Inter relationship between Figure 5.4.1 Proposed Route of pumped Environmental Receptors main from Monard to Table 5.2.1 Monard Habitat Map Carrigrennan. Table 5.2.2 Monard Site Relative to the Figure 5.4.2 Proposed Route of water main Harbour including designated from Churchfield Reservoir to Natural Heritage Areas. Monard Table 5.2.3 Monard Site Boundary and Figure 5.5.1 Topographical and built form pNatural Heritage Areas within 5 km of site. Table 5.4.1 Summary of Water Quality Figure 5.5.2 Landscape Character Types Table 5.5.1 Landscape Character Types Figure 5.5.3 Existing Vegetation Pattern Table 5.5.2 Viewpoints Figure 5.5.4 Zone of Potential Visibility Map Table 5.6.1 No of units per Phase Figure 5.5.5 Location of Viewpoints Table 5.9.1 Recorded Monuments Figure 5.5.6 Viewpoint G Monard Environmental Report 1.0 Introduction 2001/42/EC) and with the provisions of the protection of the environment and to Planning and Development (Strategic contribute to the integration of environmental Monard was designated a Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 considerations into the preparation and Development Zone in May 2010 for the (SI No. 436 of 2004) as amended. This report adoption of plans and programmes with a view creation of a new rail based settlement should be read in conjunction with the to promoting sustainable development, by between Cork City and Blarney. Following Planning Scheme. ensuring that, in accordance with this designation, a Planning Scheme was prepared directive, an environmental assessment is and adopted by Cork County Council. Following 1.1 Strategic Environmental carried out if certain plans and programmes the adoption two appeals were subsequently Assessment Process which are likely to have significant effects on lodged and permission was refused by An Bord the environment”. Pleanala in September 2013. It was decided In essence, SEA is a formal systematic following careful consideration of other options evaluation of the likely significant The SEA Directive was transposed into Irish to address the reasons for refusal in a revised environmental effects of implementing the Law under the European Communities Planning Scheme. The 2010 government Planning Scheme. It should commence at the (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans designation of lands in Monard as a Strategic earliest opportunity and should facilitate the and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 435 Development Zone remains in place. identification of alternative strategies as well of 2004) and the Planning and Development as possible impacts from decisions to be made; (Strategic Environmental Assessment) This is the Environmental report to accompany it should also determine the use of appropriate Regulations 2004 (S.I. 436 of 2004) it became the Planning Scheme. An addendum to the measurable targets, indicators and mitigation operational on 21 July 2004. environment was prepared following the measures. amendments to the Draft scheme, this is a 1.3 Strategic Development Zones – separate document. The environmental report 1.2 SEA Directive and Legislation Environmental Legislation is the main output of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process which aims The European Community issued the Strategic The concept of Strategic Development Zones to integrate environmental and sustainability Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive was introduced in the Planning and considerations into strategic decision making. 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects Development Act 2000. Part IX of the Planning (Therivel, 2004) of certain plans and programmes on the and Development Act makes provision for the environment. It introduced the requirement government to designate a site or sites which The purpose of this report is to provide a clear that SEA be carried out on plans and are deemed in the opinion of the Government understanding of the likely environmental programmes, for a wide range of sectors to be of economic or social importance to the consequences of decisions regarding the including land use plans. State. Cork County Council has prepared a adoption of the Planning Scheme. This SEA Planning Scheme as the designated process has been undertaken to comply with Article 1 of the SEA Directive has a stated development agency under section 168 of the the SEA directive (European Directive objective “to provide for a high level of Planning and Development Act 2000. 1 Monard Environmental Report Articles 11 of the Planning and Development planning authority/elected members are (Strategic Environmental Assessment) required to take account of this report during Regulations 2004 introduced the Articles 179A their consideration of the Planning Scheme. to 179J which are concerned with planning The Environmental Report assessed changes schemes and the environmental report. (This proposed to the Draft Planning Scheme on foot was introduced by way of amendment of Part of submissions made during the period of 14 of 2001 Regulations, Planning Schemes) public consultation in the form of the addendum to the environmental report. An Article 179A requires that a Planning Scheme SEA Statement has been prepared prepared under section 168 of the Planning summarising, inter alia, how environmental and Development Act 2000 - 2010 “shall be considerations have been integrated into the accompanied by or include an environmental Planning Scheme. report”. Article 179C of the (SI No. 436 of 2004) sets out the content for the environmental report to accompany a Planning Scheme. An environmental report shall include; (a) current knowledge and methods of assessment (b) the contents and level of detail in the planning scheme (c) the stage of planning scheme in the decision making process (d) the extent to which certain matters are more appropriately assessed at different levels in the decision making process in order to avoid duplication of environmental assessment. The findings of the SEA process are expressed in this Environmental Report which accompanies the Planning Scheme. The 2 Monard Environmental Report 2.0 Methodology 2.1 SEA Steps 2.2 Screening The methodology used in this Environmental • Screening – Not required in this It is a requirement under Article 179A of the Report is based on the SEA directive.