Mixed views on Williamstown plans

Clare County Council has expressed mixed views on the development of a proposed major tourism and commercial facility at Drumman East, Williamstown Harbour in Whitegate.
While the council welcomes aspects of this development, it considers the planned holiday home units should be omitted from the scheme as the redevelopment of the existing structures on site in line with the County Development Plan would be open to consideration.
Kevin and Sue Durkin, c/o HRA Chartered Town Planning and Environment Consultants in Limerick, have applied for planning permission to regenerate and redevelop existing buildings and land for tourism and recreational purposes.
This includes the demolition of existing toilet block, office and ancillary buildings; development of four residential lodges for short term letting; reuse and development of existing workshop building including a change of use from workshop to café and retail unit at ground floor level with the provision for two apartments at first floor level.
The planning application makes provision for proposed decking area and outdoor seating to café with lower level floating jetty, pumping station, wastewater treatment facility, sand polishing filter and infiltration area, and all associated site development works including car parking and bicycle stands, bin stores; solar panels on roof of structures, signage and a rainwater harvesting tank.
The proposed development is located within the curtilage of Williamstown Harbour – a protected structure. A Natura Impact Statement has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and accompanies the planning application.
In a letter to the applicant, the planning authority considered the information submitted with this application was insufficient to enable it to make a complete planning assessment of the proposal.
The authority welcomes aspects of the proposed development in particular the redevelopment of the existing building to facilitate the café, shop and apartments.
However, the authority requested further information/revised plans to make a complete planning assessment of the proposal.
It expressed concern about the proposed short term leting units. In this regard under the County Development Plan, it is an objective to direct demand for holiday homes to zoned lands within certain settlements.
“The subject proposal involves the provision of four holiday homes within a rural settlement with limited services and infrastructure, whereby it is considered that such proposals would be more appropriately located in nearby settlements or by the re-use and refurbishment of existing structures on site.
“There is a concern about the overall design of the units relative to the vernacular architecture in this area and also the scale/siting of the units between the public road and the lake.”
Having regard to the nature of the development proposal, which includes for the demolition and reuse of existing structures and the potential for the presence of protected bat species, the applicants have been requested to carry out a bat survey on the site and provide a report on the findings of same.
It also requested proposals to deal with the limited parking provision on the site for future visitors of the café/terrace area.
The authority claimed the parallel parking spaces to the west of the site area located close to a bend on the public road, which has the potential to impede visibility for oncoming traffic travelling from south to north, which needs to be addressed.
It requested more information on the intended opening hours of the proposed café and shop and clarity about each of the services.
The Department of Local Government has requested the carrying out of an Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessment report on the potential impacts on underwater cultural heritage such as wreck, archaeological built, vernacular, marine and industrial heritage.
The applicants have six months to provide the additional information and revised plans from September 12.
Meanwhile, in a submission to the planning authority, Ross McNamara outlined his family has enjoyed, operated, and maintained boats at their harbour at Williamstown since its construction more than 40 years ago.
He stated his family have maintained exceptionally good relationships with neighbouring commercial operators, farming families and adjacent residential owners throughout this period, without exception.
While the family have no objection to the development in principle, he asked the authority to address a “small number of modest concerns”, having discussed the broad details of the plans with the applicant in the past.
He pledged to continue an open dialogue with the applicants to ensure a resolution to these concerns acceptable to all parties, and ensure the successful delivery of the proposed development.
“Currently, our harbour is not overlooked from the subject property and never has been,” he said.
The proposed development includes for a very large balcony of 16.0 square metres at first floor leave associated with proposed northern apartment.
“Not only does this directly overlook our harbour to the north, it directly intrudes on the safest and most protected moorings. This balcony will impact on our ability to enjoy our existing harbour in the same way we have for 40 years.”
He claimed the provision of floating modular pontoon would facilitate the launch of canoes, paddleboards and kayaks directly into their harbour.
“Notwithstanding the redline boundary, our harbour was not designed for the use of canoes, paddleboards and kayaks by others and raises serious concerns is relation to safety and liability.
“We would respectfully submit that floating modular pontoon discharging into our harbour, be omitted in its entirety. We would request that the applicants provide full details of the proposed site boundaries between our harbour and the subject property, including but not limited to materials, height, robustness and appearance. We would also request details of trees to be retained, and those to be removed.
“The proposed outdoor seating area and music performance space is separated from our harbour by a grassed area only.
“We would request that the applicant provide details of screen planting and landscaping between the two properties, illustrating how visual impact, overlooking, and sound transfer is to be limited between the properties.”