Residents told 'submit local knowledge' to development proposal

A proposed development of a complex for the care of older persons in Kilcullen was last night described as 'too large', 'too dense', and as having the potential to 'bring to an extraordinary level' the already difficult problems the town has with traffic, writes Brian Byrne.

At a meeting in the Town Hall of representatives from estates around the site of the proposed development, in a 1.84Ha field beside the Kaymed factory, the Residents of Moanbane committee also outlined concerns about parking, zoning, and contraventions of Kilcullen's Local Area Plan in the proposals.

The application by Curragh Property DAC involves the construction of two buildings providing independent living accommodation, as well as a Nursing Care Facility and a 3-storey Primary Care Centre. The closing date for submissions to Kildare County Council is next Tuesday, 24 August.

At last night's meeting it was clear that residents have very strong feelings about the proposal, for which they say there was no local consultation with any residents group. They are also concerned that, if allowed, the development would set a 'dangerous precedent' for the largely residential area. Other worries expressed was that the developer-led project would simply be sold on to a so-called 'vulture company' by the promoters if they got planning permission.

The meeting heard that the field was retained by the project promoters when they sold their Kaymed factory as part of the Kayfoam Woolfson group to a large American company, Leggett & Platt. It is part of the original property bought by Kilcullen Development Association back in the 1960s to provide space for factories and affordable housing. Currently the field is zoned for industry and warehousing, so a rezoning would be necessary to allow residential or nursing home development.

The meeting was told that the proposed density of the project, which would accommodate 316 people in living and nursing care facilities, is 'three times what Kildare County Council currently allows'. "It would be more like Dublin's docklands than a rural village," committee member Sorcha McCoy said, adding that the site is only a third of the size of Moanbane Park, where there are 60 homes.

The evening's presentation went through a range of issues in some detail, including the effect the height of the buildings would have on neighbouring residences which are primarily bungalows. "We don't want something foisted on us that would be a complete horror," one resident said, noting how the development would block sunlight and be a 'complete invasion of privacy' in a rural area. "It doesn't make any sense."

With an estimated three years to completion, the matter of disruption, noise, and heavy machinery and trucks traffic during construction was also raised, as well as where cars owned by up to 150 workers would be parked. It has also been calculated that the completed development would bring an extra 1,500 traffic movements a day in the area, which already has very heavy traffic that makes it dangerous for other road users, especially cyclists and children.

An analysis of the parking plans for the development indicates there simply aren't adequate spaces for cars owned by residents, staff, and visitors to the complex. "There's also no on-road parking, so their cars would be in our estates," a resident noted.

JJ Warren said he could see at least 15 different contraventions of the Local Area Plan in the proposal, which he described as 'the craziest development I have ever seen' and added that the site coverage is 'off the Richter scale'. "Even Manhattan would probably turn it down," he said. Other commentary on the residential component of the complex described it as 'human warehousing'.

Local TD and Minister of State Martin Heydon said it was very important that all the concerns which the residents have should be incorporated into the submissions they make, adding that the vast majority of the issues he had heard are valid. "Remember that this is a developer's application, not a policy matter from Kildare County Council. The process is all about influencing, and it is really important that your local knowledge is provided in the submissions. You have also got to remain focused on the planning issues."

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer reminded those present that there are currently serious covid-related restrictions about trying to hand in submissions directly to the Council offices, and that they should instead be posted or emailed to the relevant section. If posted, a phone number should be given by which payment can be made to the Council.

A WhatsApp group and Facebook page is to be set up by the committee, which comprises Gerry Clarke, Larry Campbell, Donal Flanagan, Siobhan Dunphy and Sorcha McCoy. Anyone wishing to contact the group can call Siobhan on 087 9062406 or Sorcha on 086 8546214.

READ: Application for Older Care Centre on Naas Road 

READ: More details on Older Persons Care project  

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