Transparency needed over land rezoning

Land was being rezoned and de-zoned without knowledge of the owners, a meeting of Galway County Council was told.

Councillor Jim Cuddy (Ind) said it was unfair that landowners were not informed directly that the zoning on their holdings had changed as part of the new County Development Plan.

He said that landowners should be told of any zoning, rezoning or de-zoning of land.

“I am aware that in relation to the upcoming County Development Plan, that at least two property owners were totally unaware of any proposal to change the zoning of their property and by the time they became aware it was too late for them to make a submission,” Cllr Cuddy said.

He proposed a motion calling on Minister for Planning and Local Government, Darragh O’Brien, to amend the planning regulations so that when development plans are being drawn up, the owners of land or property affected by zoning changes are informed so that they can make submissions.

Cllr Joe Byrne (FG) said the motion was well-intentioned and he understood why he tabled it but cautioned it might not be possible to determine the owner of land and property being rezoned.

He said there could be legal ramifications if the Council did not inform the correct landowner.

Cllr Tom Curran (RSF) said it was “awful bad” that land could be rezoned without owners’ knowledge.

“I can’t understand it. We’re 850 years fighting landlords in this country and now people have their land (rezoned without their knowledge). That to me is not democratic,” he said.

Cllr Michael Connolly (FF) said that the Property Registration Authority had logs of who owns what land and that could used to inform people directly of rezonings.

Director of Services for Housing, Liam Hanrahan explained that the only legal requirement placed on the local authority was to take out an advert in the local newspaper circulating in the area governed by the development plan to inform people of the process.

It is then up to the landowners to study the draft plan for any changes relevant to their property.

He said the Council also conducts campaigns on radio, and social media, to highlight that a development plan was being prepared which may impact on people’s land. It was then up to individuals to make submissions.

Cllr Cuddy’s motion was passed unanimously and will be sent to the Minister.