Departments

Town Development Plan.

Introduction

The Town Development Plan is the new statutory Development Plan for the Town of Longford for 2004 to 2010 and supersedes the 1997 Longford Town Development Plan. The Planning and Development Act, 2000, states that each Planning Authority is obliged to prepare a Development Plan for its functional area every six years.

This Plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Sections 9 -12 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, which lays out the timeframes under which the review must be carried out and the mandatory and optional content of the Plan.

The aim of the Plan is to set out a framework for the sustainable physical development of the Town, while ensuring the conservation and protection of the built and natural environment. It also aims to carefully consider the needs of all groups and individuals within the Town and to promote equal opportunities.

The Development Plan sets out policy statements for development issues, which promote future development in Longford Town, with the environmental sustainability of developments and the welfare of its population in mind. This Plan also lists specific objectives, which Longford Town Council in conjunction with Longford County Council intends to implement within the period of the Plan.

The Plan also includes a set of development control standards, which are intended to guide the quality, nature, and type of developments.

Enclosed at the rear of the Plan are the Zoning Strategy, proposed walking/cycling routes and recreational areas, conservation objectives map, list of protected structures and views of special amenity.

Public Consultation

The review of the 1997 Town plan commenced in December 2001 and involved extensive notification of prescribed bodies, local community and voluntary groups, associations and societies, statutory undertakers and service providers. The general public were consulted through a campaign of newspaper advertisements, and a public meeting. The Public meeting was held in the Longford Arms Hotel in January 2002. Submissions were invited on the development of the Town from all interested persons, bodies and organisations and a questionnaire was distributed in order to aid the process.

In accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a manager's report was then prepared on the consultation response, including the issues raised and recommendations on the policy sections to be included in the plan. This was presented to the elected members in May 2002. A directive was then issued to the Manager to prepare a Draft Plan.

The Draft development Plan was adopted by Longford Town Council with amendments on October 14th, 2002 and subsequently advertised and put on public display. Notification of the making of the draft plan was placed in both the Longford Leader and the Longford News, on the 1st of November 2002, inviting submissions and observations.

These submissions then formed the basis of the manager's second report, which summarised the submissions on the second phase and recommended proposed amendments to the draft. This was submitted to the Council in April 2003. These amendments were then put on display in September 2003 and again, submissions were invited from the public.

These submissions formed the basis of the manager's third report, which also contained recommendations on how they could be incorporated into the final plan. The final plan was agreed and adopted by the members with amendments on the 08/12/03 and thus came into effect on the 05/01/04.

Preperation of Longford Town Development Plan 2004

21/12/01 -Review Process began - notices sent to prescribed bodies and advertised in papers.
21/12/01 - Letter sent to Councillors in relation to review of the Development Plan.
22/01/02 - Letters and questionnaires sent to Community Groups, voluntary, sporting, social, support, health associations etc.
23/01/02 - Public meeting advertised in papers.
30/01/02 - Public meeting reminder advertised in papers.
30/01/02 -Public meeting held in the Longford Arms Hotel.
27/05/02 - Phase 1 Manager's report on submissions presented to Council.
27/05/02 - 14/10/02 - Preparation of Draft Plan and submission to and adoption by Council.
1/11/02 - Draft plan put on public display and submissions invited.
14/01/03 - Public consultation period ends, preparation of Manager's report on submissions begun.
04/03 - Circulation of Phase II Manager's Report on Submissions to Council.
28/04/03 - Submission of Phase II Manager's Report to the members of the Authority.
01/09/03 - End of consideration of Manager's Report by the Council members - Amendments finalised and placed on public display.
30/09/03 - Public consultation period ended, preparation of Managers report on submissions began.
21/11/03 - Circulation of Phase III Manager's Report to the members of the Authority.
01/12/03 - Submission of Phase III Manager's Report to the members of the Authority, presentation on all proposed zoning changes form the 1997 Town Development Plan.
08/12/03 - Agreement and adoption of the Longford Town Development Plan 2004.
05/01/04 - Longford Town Development Plan 2004 came into effect.