Chapter 9 - Land use zoning

The planning policy for land use is to:

Ensure that the land use zoning and the objectives of the proposed LAP guides development appropriately in terms of scale and location in the town, to sustain a competitive living, business and recreation destination whilst capitalising on public investment, and the existing built, natural and cultural heritage of the town.

 

9.1 Purpose of Land Use Zoning

This plan promotes land use management through zoning and objectives and is informed by evidence-based analysis of the profile of the town.  The objective is to sustain Kilmallock as a compact town and key settlement in South Limerick and the wider Ballyhoura region.  The continued, sustainable management of land zoned in the town is a central element of the strategy of this plan which envisages continue population growth to 2025 and beyond.   The land use zoning map guides development to appropriate locations and should be read in conjunction with both the zoning matrix in Section 9.2 of this LAP, and the Limerick County Development Plan2010 – 2016(as extended), Chapter 10: Development Management Guidelines.  The land use zones avoid competing and incompatible land uses effecting quality of life as planning applications are assessed against the objectives of the LAP.   The land use zone allow developers to plan proposals with some degree of certainty, subject to other conditions and requirements as set out in the Plan.  The land-use zoning matrix is a general guide to assess the acceptability or otherwise of development proposals, although the listed uses are not exhaustive.  The various zones have been determined by the following principles:

• Ensuring that land use designations will accommodate the potential population and growth needs of Kilmallock within and beyond the lifetime of the Plan;
• Encouraging the development of Kilmallock as a compact and coherent settlement;
• Ensuring an acceptable balance of land uses in proximity to one another;
• Supporting the principles of proper planning and sustainable development of the town and its hinterland; and
• Identifying the characteristics of various primary land use categories in order to provide a broad planning framework, which guides development to appropriate locations.

 

The purpose of land use zoning is to:

• indicate the land use objectives for the lands within the LAP boundary, seeking to progress the vision and goal for Kilmallock town as established in section 2.1,
• promote the orderly development of the town by eliminating potential conflicts between incompatible uses, 
• protect the natural, archaeological and built heritage of the town, and
• provide an evidence-based assessment, and a strategy having proceeded through a public consultation process, supporting future investment in the town.   

Objectives which are obligatory include zoning objectives to guide optimal land use, infrastructure, conservation/protection of natural and built environments/preservation, improvements to amenities and recreational opportunities, and facilitation of community services including schools, crèches, other education and childcare facilities, and healthcare services.  

Land use zoning must have regard to the strategic policies and objectives of the CDP, and higher level spatial plans such as the NPF, and the principles of sustainable development, consolidation of towns, integration of land use and transportation planning to achieve a better quality of life.

The matrix indicates uses permitted in each zone, uses not permitted, and uses open for consideration. 

The following table sets out the total zoned land for the various zoning categories in this plan compared with the totals designated in the 2009 LAP.

 

Table 9.1 Total Zoned Lands

Zoning	Area designated 2019 LAP (ha)	Area designated 2009 LAP (ha)
Agriculture	40.3	40.39
Education and Community Facilities	10	8.68
Existing Residential	31.06	44.31
Enterprise & Employment	34.27	38.66 (i)
Open space and recreation	23.1	39.41 (ii)
Open space and sports Grounds	12.6	19.2 (iii)
Residential Development Area Phase 1	15.93	24.85
Residential Development Area Phase 2	10.84	0 (iv)
Serviced sites Phase 1	7.1	5.4
Serviced sites Phase 2	6.06	0 (iv)
Special Control Area	18.38	17.29
Utility	3.41	2.26
Town Centre	9.3	8.06 (v)

(i) - Industrial in 2009 Kilmallock LAP

(ii) - Natural Open Space in 2009 LAP

(iii) - Park, Leisure and Sport Areas in 2009 LAP

(iv) - No phasing of new residential or serviced sites zoned lands in 2009 LAP

(v) - Town Centre/Mixed Use in the 2009 LAP

 

Non-conforming Uses

Throughout the County, there are uses, which do not conform to the zoning objective of the area.  These include uses, which were in existence on 1^st October 1964, or which have valid planning permissions.  Reasonable extensions to and improvement of premises accommodating these uses will generally be permitted within the existing curtilage of the development and subject to normal planning criteria.

 

9.2 Land Use Zoning Categories

The various categories of zoning incorporated on the Land Use Zoning Map and the Zoning Matrix are defined below.

 

Existing Residential 

The purpose of this zoning is to ensure that new development is compatible with adjoining uses and to protect the amenity of existing residential areas.

 

Residential Development Area

This zoning provides for new residential development and other services associated with residential development.  While housing is the primary use in this zone, recreation, education, crèche/playschool, sheltered housing and small corner shops are also envisaged, subject to the preservation of neighbouring residential amenity.  Permission may also be granted for home based economic activity within this zone in limited circumstances, subject to the preservation of residential amenity, traffic considerations.

 

Special Control Area

This zoning recognises the importance of recorded monuments including the town defences, and the Dominican Priory.  The designated area will be protected from development in order to maintain the archaeological heritage of the site in in the interest of protecting views of these national monuments.

 

Open Space and Recreation

The purpose of this zoning is to protect, improve and maintain public open space and recreational areas.

 

Sports Grounds

This zoning refers to open space used by sports clubs.

 

Education and Community Facilities

The purpose of this zoning is to facilitate the necessary development of these facilities without compromising built, natural and archaeological heritage within the town boundary.

 

Enterprise & Employment

It is envisaged that these lands will accommodate high quality and sensitively designed enterprise and employment development and complementary uses as indicated in the zoning matrix.  The form and scale of development on these sites shall be appropriate to their location having regard to surrounding uses and scale.

 

Agriculture

The purpose of this zoning is to provide for the development of agriculture by ensuring the retention of agricultural uses, protect them from urban sprawl and ribbon development and to provide for a clear demarcation to the adjoining built up areas.  Uses which are directly associated with agriculture or which would not interfere with this use are open for consideration.  Dwellings will only be considered for the long-term habitation of farmers and their sons and daughters on this zoning.

 

Utilities 

The purpose of this zoning is to provide for essential public services, existing and planned, such as waste-water treatment plants.

 

Town Centre

The purpose of this zoning is to protect and enhance the character of Kilmallock’s town centre to provide for, and improve retailing, residential, commercial, office, tourism related development, cultural and other appropriate uses.  The Council seeks to:

• Enhance and support the development of the town centre as the principal location for retail, residential development and commercial uses;
• Improve the quality of the public realm in any proposals for the redevelopment of the town centre, including hard and soft landscaping; and
• Promote improved pedestrian accessibility, permeability and safety within any proposed redevelopment of the town centre.

 

9.3 Land use matrix

The approach of the Council to land use is determined by the zoning objective for the area in which they fall.  This is depicted in the following land use matrix which should be cross-referenced with the Land Use Zoning Map (Appendix One)

The following use classes apply in the Land Use Zoning Matrix:

 

/ = Generally Permitted

A use which is generally permitted is one which the Council accepts in the relevant zone. However, it is still subject to the normal planning process including policies and objectives outlined in the Plan.

 

O = Open for Consideration

An Open for Consideration use is one which the Council may permit where it is satisfied that the suggested form of development will be compatible with the policies and objectives for the zone, will not conflict with the permitted uses and conforms with the proper planning and sustainable development in the area.

 

X = Generally Not Permitted

A use Generally Not Permitted is one which would be incompatible with the policies and objectives for the zone, would conflict with the permitted uses and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

 

Table 9.2 Kilmallock Land Use Zoning Matrix

Development	Residential	Enterprise & Employment	Public Open Space	Sports Grounds	Education/ Community Facilities	Agriculture	Special Control Area	Town Centre
Dwelling /Residential/apartments	/	X	X	X	X	X**	X	O
Hotel/Hostel/Guesthouses	O	X	X	X	X	X	X	/
Local Shops	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	/
Retail Warehousing	X	O	X	X	X	X	X	X
Supermarket >900 sq.m /Regional Shop	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	O
Take Away	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	O
Pub	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	O
Restaurant/Café	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	/
Cinema/Theatre /Dance Hall	X	O	X	O	X	X	X	O
Community Hall	O	O	O	O	/	X	X	O
Nursing Home / Nursing home integrated with retirement homes	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	O
Health Centre/Clinic	O	O	X	X	O	X	X	O
Church	/	/	X	X	/	X	X	O
School	/	X	X	X	/	X	X	O
Open space/Recreational/Leisure	O	O	/	/	/	X	X	O
Office	/	/	X	X	X	X	X	O
Car Repair/Sales	X	O	X	X	X	X	X	O
Petrol Station	X	O	X	X	X	X	X	X
Industry – Light - workshop	X	/	X	X	X	X	X	O
Wholesale/Warehouse	X	/	X	X	X	X	X	X
Logistics	X	0	X	X	X	X	X	X
Agricultural Machinery	X	0	X	X	X	X	X	X
Development	Residential	Enterprise & Employment	Public Open Space	Sports Grounds	Education/ Community Facilities	Agriculture	Special Control Area	Town Centre
Garden Centre	X	0	X	X	X	X	X	0
Amusement Arcade	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	0
Advertising Panel	X	O	X	X	X	X	X	X
Hair Dressing Salon/beautician	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	O
Bank	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	O
Group Housing, Halting Sites & Transient sites for Travellers	O	O	X	X	X	X	X	X
Childcare Facilities	/	/	X	X	O	X	X	O
Bring Centre/Bank (e.g. Bottle Banks)	/	/	/	O	/	/	X	/
Burial Ground	O	O	O	O	/	/	X	X
Allotments	O	O	O	O	O	O	X	X
Key / Generally permitted O Open for consideration X Generally not permitted ** Except for farmer, son or daughter of landowner and applicant demonstrates rural housing need in accordance with the rural housing policy as set out in the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 (as extended)