Re: New Houses at Beresford
Posted: 31 Oct 2017, 15:30
Apologies for the delay in getting these minutes to you following last week's meeting. Further below is a summary of the main points discussed.
In short, the Horas cannot provide a separate construction road because of the unwillingness of the landowner to make a realistic deal. There is also a real danger from that landowner that if we were to get a temporary road, he make seek housing at the back of Waterlefe and use Beresford as the point of entry/exit.
Anything else you can think of that will help mitigate issues, please let us know. The other thing I was thinking about was that aside from putting all major deliveries on one day and notifying the community when these large-scale delivery days would occur, we could also insist on a peak-time ban on truck movements through the estate i.e. between 7.30 and 9, for instance. Any more suggestions, please send them on and I will present them to Hora.
I would encourage everyone to think about other measures we could introduce and let's meet next week for a final call on this. From my perspective, I'm inclined to vote for removing the appeal and take any measures we can that will alleviate the build etc. My own personal opinion is that the more I talk to all sides, including the local reps and town planners etc., there is a serious risk posed from An Bord Pleanala that they could reject the planning on the basis that there are not enough houses being proposed.
This is what we need to decide on and I would suggest that we meet next Tuesday or Wednesday evening our the proposed lists of asks and take a final vote. If anyone has any questions in the meantime, just mail the residence committee
MINUTES
Aidan Hora spoke
Apologized for not organizing a meeting sooner with current residents
He spoke about what he saw as 5 key issues
Apologized for not organizing a meeting sooner with current residents
He spoke about what he saw were 5 key issues
1) Relationship between Hora and Oakstone –
· He stated that this will be a Hora build and Hora was the builder
· The build is to begin Feb 18 and last approx. 5 years
· They will look to reduce the social housing from 30% to 10%
2) Construction and Pedestrian access
· Pedestrian access will to Beverton will be put in, in the coming weeks (part of the existing approved application for Beresford)
· Explained that the entrance to Beresford was designed to slow traffic down – to help with traffic issue. A section of the bend will be removed- this development work will start w/c 31st October
· To amend entrance further ( i.e. removal of pillars) would have to go through Fingal County Council. Community is to see how the small revisions work.
· In terms of second access to new site from the old Turvey golf club, -The Horas have approached the landowner Derek Keys (however what Keys wants in return to allow the Hora’s access the land is too high, to rent the land is extremely costly and landowner would need to come down 90% on asking price –
· The landowner also wants access points into Beresford and Sewage and electrical points as well, meaning that a private builder in years to come could build additional ( non-hora units)
Hora are also looking at the potential to turn the current site office into additional visitor parking spots but this is dependent on FCC agreement as it could eat into the % green space that Hora has to provide.
3) Density/Apartments in new developments
Current requirements for density levels are 35 per sq hectare, the new development is coming in just shy of 30. Therefore there is a real risk that An Bord Pleanala could insist on putting more houses onto the land, meaning a potential extra 60-80 plus homes.
Stated the apartments were put in the plans to meet density requirements
Repeatedly stated that Hora don’t want to build apartments and promised a commitment to change the apartments to houses, once planning permission is granted.... subject to FCC approval
Stressed that it is far easier to change plans once approved than to have gone to Fingal directly with the desired densities without apartments.
Solution to appease Fingal around densities will be to explain that houses will be three beds+ and can accommodate more people than apartments. Also, that three storey houses (similar to many developments that are going on these days with converted attics) could be another workaround.
4) Finishing works (Playground, speed rams etc)
This will be in the coming week due to change of planning requirements etc and has just been signed off
The large house and cottage will also be completed in the coming months.
5) Compensation
· For Beresford Road windows would be cleaned every month and the facades of the house cleared every 6 months for the duration of the build.
· There would the installation of a Go car – which hora would absorbed the cost for and more cars would be added if the scheme proved to be successful. Subject to community approval. Residents already communicated their disinterest in the plans.
· The Horas are also open to suggestion from residents of how to mitigate construction traffic affect
· Once planning permission has been granted they will look to change apartments to house
· No construction traffic on Saturday is already in situ.
Brendan Kinane also spoke giving details of the background of the lands. He stated that he had been building in Donabate since the late 80’s. In the early 2000 he approached the Horas to take over the construction element of his business, during this exchange it was brought up how the Horas are family builders and that is why he approached them, they build at a slow rate and do not build poor quality homes.
He stated that if the planning permission is rejected that he may be forced to sell the Lands and this could end up in the hands of another developet
It was flagged by both the Horas and Brendan Kinnane that an Bord Pleannala could rule in favour of higher density development.
It was queried could the Horas speed up constructions on the new development however the Horas were against this as it could lead to inferior quality of housing.
Closing
Hora’s and Brendan were thanked for coming to the meeting to explain their position
Meeting to take place in the next two weeks to discuss Hora’s offer
In short, the Horas cannot provide a separate construction road because of the unwillingness of the landowner to make a realistic deal. There is also a real danger from that landowner that if we were to get a temporary road, he make seek housing at the back of Waterlefe and use Beresford as the point of entry/exit.
Anything else you can think of that will help mitigate issues, please let us know. The other thing I was thinking about was that aside from putting all major deliveries on one day and notifying the community when these large-scale delivery days would occur, we could also insist on a peak-time ban on truck movements through the estate i.e. between 7.30 and 9, for instance. Any more suggestions, please send them on and I will present them to Hora.
I would encourage everyone to think about other measures we could introduce and let's meet next week for a final call on this. From my perspective, I'm inclined to vote for removing the appeal and take any measures we can that will alleviate the build etc. My own personal opinion is that the more I talk to all sides, including the local reps and town planners etc., there is a serious risk posed from An Bord Pleanala that they could reject the planning on the basis that there are not enough houses being proposed.
This is what we need to decide on and I would suggest that we meet next Tuesday or Wednesday evening our the proposed lists of asks and take a final vote. If anyone has any questions in the meantime, just mail the residence committee
MINUTES
Aidan Hora spoke
Apologized for not organizing a meeting sooner with current residents
He spoke about what he saw as 5 key issues
Apologized for not organizing a meeting sooner with current residents
He spoke about what he saw were 5 key issues
1) Relationship between Hora and Oakstone –
· He stated that this will be a Hora build and Hora was the builder
· The build is to begin Feb 18 and last approx. 5 years
· They will look to reduce the social housing from 30% to 10%
2) Construction and Pedestrian access
· Pedestrian access will to Beverton will be put in, in the coming weeks (part of the existing approved application for Beresford)
· Explained that the entrance to Beresford was designed to slow traffic down – to help with traffic issue. A section of the bend will be removed- this development work will start w/c 31st October
· To amend entrance further ( i.e. removal of pillars) would have to go through Fingal County Council. Community is to see how the small revisions work.
· In terms of second access to new site from the old Turvey golf club, -The Horas have approached the landowner Derek Keys (however what Keys wants in return to allow the Hora’s access the land is too high, to rent the land is extremely costly and landowner would need to come down 90% on asking price –
· The landowner also wants access points into Beresford and Sewage and electrical points as well, meaning that a private builder in years to come could build additional ( non-hora units)
Hora are also looking at the potential to turn the current site office into additional visitor parking spots but this is dependent on FCC agreement as it could eat into the % green space that Hora has to provide.
3) Density/Apartments in new developments
Current requirements for density levels are 35 per sq hectare, the new development is coming in just shy of 30. Therefore there is a real risk that An Bord Pleanala could insist on putting more houses onto the land, meaning a potential extra 60-80 plus homes.
Stated the apartments were put in the plans to meet density requirements
Repeatedly stated that Hora don’t want to build apartments and promised a commitment to change the apartments to houses, once planning permission is granted.... subject to FCC approval
Stressed that it is far easier to change plans once approved than to have gone to Fingal directly with the desired densities without apartments.
Solution to appease Fingal around densities will be to explain that houses will be three beds+ and can accommodate more people than apartments. Also, that three storey houses (similar to many developments that are going on these days with converted attics) could be another workaround.
4) Finishing works (Playground, speed rams etc)
This will be in the coming week due to change of planning requirements etc and has just been signed off
The large house and cottage will also be completed in the coming months.
5) Compensation
· For Beresford Road windows would be cleaned every month and the facades of the house cleared every 6 months for the duration of the build.
· There would the installation of a Go car – which hora would absorbed the cost for and more cars would be added if the scheme proved to be successful. Subject to community approval. Residents already communicated their disinterest in the plans.
· The Horas are also open to suggestion from residents of how to mitigate construction traffic affect
· Once planning permission has been granted they will look to change apartments to house
· No construction traffic on Saturday is already in situ.
Brendan Kinane also spoke giving details of the background of the lands. He stated that he had been building in Donabate since the late 80’s. In the early 2000 he approached the Horas to take over the construction element of his business, during this exchange it was brought up how the Horas are family builders and that is why he approached them, they build at a slow rate and do not build poor quality homes.
He stated that if the planning permission is rejected that he may be forced to sell the Lands and this could end up in the hands of another developet
It was flagged by both the Horas and Brendan Kinnane that an Bord Pleannala could rule in favour of higher density development.
It was queried could the Horas speed up constructions on the new development however the Horas were against this as it could lead to inferior quality of housing.
Closing
Hora’s and Brendan were thanked for coming to the meeting to explain their position
Meeting to take place in the next two weeks to discuss Hora’s offer