Agenda, decisions and minutes

Minutes of Meeting 20^th February

Agreed

Matters arising:

Childcare

Following the meeting Aileen sent copy of the Irish Times article on why

Childcare places are in short supply to all Members.

Greening Strategy

Aileen circulated presentation after the meeting.

Planning and Development Bill 2023

            The Planning Officer is available to brief Elected Members and SPC

            Members when new Council is formed. The Office of the Planning Regulator is

            Currently preparing a suite of training to be rolled out for Elected Members in the

            Autumn following the Local Elections.

Living over the Shop

Opportunities and Challenges of Vacant Above the Shop Units for Residential Use in Ireland.

(Report and presentation circulated prior to meeting)

Presented by Dr Kathleen Stokes, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography at DCU and Michelle Connolly, Research and Policy Manager at Dublin Simon Community.

Main Point of report/study:

·         Objectives- Identify best practice, barriers, useful policy, capabilities and resources.

·         Methodology-Multi –disciplinary workshops, 5 case studies of successful conversions and reviewing public policy.

·         Findings-Identifying and unlocking, bringing into use scaling and coordinating.

·         Recommendations- Improve and broaden information, look beyond individual units

create partnerships to target and scale VATSUs for social, affordable and/or cost-rental housing.

             Discussion followed Dr Stokes and Michelle answered questions raised by the Members.

             Suggestions from the discussion that followed.

·         VATSU Officer for the City

·         Annual award for VATSU for example New European Bauhaus.

             Aileen sent on links to further studies/reports recommended by Dr Stokes after the meeting

             to the Members.

Conservation Grants

(Report and presentation circulated prior to meeting)

 Oiseen Kelly, Senior Executive Architectural Conservation Officer gave  presentation.

            Main Points:

         :

·         A total of 20 applications were received by Dublin City Council

·         Seven projects were successful - three Stream 1 projects, two Stream 2 projects and two Shopfront projects. One project had been carried over from 2023

·         €373,374,99 in grant aid provided

·         835.25 employment days created for skilled conservation practitioners and professionals.

·         €196,219.47 of private funds into the conservation construction economy.

·         €569,697.46 total expenditure on repairs to historic buildings.

·         The two Stream 2 projects have carried over into 2024.

           Oiseen showed examples of some finished Grant funded works.

·         Price’s Medical Hall, 26 Montpelier Hill, 17 Fade Street, St Kevin’s Church, and DeCourcey Square.

Discussion followed and Oiseen answered questions raised by the Members.

Dr Sinnott wanted confirmation that all documentation on web site is accessible.

Derelict Sites Act Working Group

Contact made with Department of Housing on 15^th April to enquire about findings and recommendations of the Group.

           Aileen will circulate report as soon as it is received

Motion in the name of Cllr. Alison Gilliland

Dublin City Council recognises the representative importance of visual depictions, illustrations and computer generated imagery of new buildings and the regeneration or conversions of older buildings as presented in planning applications. Such representations support the public’s understanding of the overall design of the proposed building/renovation/conversion as well as allowing for the aesthetic appreciation of the application. Therefore to allow for greater public engagement with the built environment of our City and to keep the public better informed of ongoing development in our City, Dublin City Council will require, either as enforceable policy or as a bye-Law, that all commercial (non-domestic) sites and commercial building developments  

·         display full colour computer graphic imagery of the proposed building/regeneration/conversion of significant size (no smaller than 3m x3m) on all visible sides of the building/site

·         include a Current Update poster (no smaller than A3 size) to keep the public informed of the status of the planning application process and the construction process 

·          that information displayed on the Current Update poster be regularly updated as the planning application process proceeds ie from submission to building commencement AND during the construction process until full building/conversion/regeneration completion.

Motions

Motion in the name of Cllr. Alison Gilliland

Dublin City Council recognises the representative importance of visual depictions, illustrations and computer generated imagery of new buildings and the regeneration or conversions of older buildings as presented in planning applications. Such representations support the public’s understanding of the overall design of the proposed building/renovation/conversion as well as allowing for the aesthetic appreciation of the application. Therefore to allow for greater public engagement with the built environment of our City and to keep the public better informed of ongoing development in our City, Dublin City Council will require, either as enforceable policy or as a bye-Law, that all commercial (non-domestic) sites and commercial building developments  

·         display full colour computer graphic imagery of the proposed building/regeneration/conversion of significant size (no smaller than 3m x3m) on all visible sides of the building/site

·         include a Current Update poster (no smaller than A3 size) to keep the public informed of the status of the planning application process and the construction process 

·     that information displayed on the Current Update poster be regularly updated as the planning application process proceeds ie from submission to building commencement AND during the construction process until full building/conversion/regeneration completion.

Response (Deirdre Scully, Dublin City Planning Officer)

Dublin City Council have commenced the provision of information/ visual depictions and illustrations for developments located on City Council lands and is working with AHB’S and the LDA in providing similar details on site. However, a condition requiring such depictions/ illustrations may not be imposed on planning applications as this is not a policy within the City Development Plan 2022-2028 and would therefore not be in accordance with the provisions of Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). All details relating to a proposed development, which is the subject of planning permission, may however be viewed online or at the offices of Dublin City Council.

Going forward, the Planning Department will engage with developers during the pre-planning process to encourage the use of graphics and imagery on site hoardings during the construction process, in the event of a grant of permission on site.

           Motion Agreed

Tuesday 24^th September @ 2pm

A.O.B.

Bike Bunker

Cllr Donna Cooney looking for an update on exemption on planning permission for bike bunker in front garden. 

Electric Vehicle Charging

           Cllr Donna Cooney enquired about EV charging.

           Tony Flynn gave a brief update:

            DCC has adopted an EV charging strategy being rolled out at the minute.

            Phase one out to tender re: Destination chargers.

            Debate on domestic charging in properties with no front drive.

            About 20 sites to be rolled out next.

                No planning permission needed for EV charger at back of own house.

Date of next meeting:

Tuesday 24th September @ 2pm