2. Land-Use Zoning

Proposed Material Alterations to the Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028

Closed18 May, 2022, 12:01am - 16 Jun, 2022, 5:01pm

Amendment Ref.

LUZ 1

2. Land-Use Zoning

1.0 Introduction

This Draft Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 governs the overall land-use objectives for County Kerry and establishes a policy framework within which the more detailed town/settlement plans contained in Volume 2 of this Plan and the Municipal District Local Area Plans.

1.2 Strategic Aims

In accordance with the overall vision, goals and Core Strategy of the Development Plan, the following outlines the strategic aims within which the settlement plans and local area plans will be prepared:To ensure that adequate land is zoned to meet the needs of the population of the County, in compliance with the Core Strategy and populations targets;

To ensure that sufficient land is zoned and serviced to provide for sustainable development and settlement growth throughout the County, in order to achieve the specified population targets of the Plan;
To ensure that the land-use considerations in the settlement plans and local area plans are set within the policy framework of the County Development Plan;
To ensure that social and physical infrastructure is developed in line with the growth of settlements in the County;
To ensure that proposed developments are, where appropriate, directed to suitably zoned lands within designated settlement areas as provided for in the Plan.

1.3 Land-Use Zoning

Within the functional area of County Kerry, lands are zoned for particular purposes within the settlement plans contained in this Development Plan and in the local areas plans. In accordance with the overall strategy of this Plan, the County’s zoning strategy is based on three important principles:

Sufficient lands should be provided at appropriate locations throughout the County, in accordance with the population targets as set out in the Core Strategy, to facilitate the envisaged land-use requirements during the lifetime of this Plan;
Sustainable development and the use/redevelopment of brown field sites within established settlements should be encouraged;
Land-use zoning objectives should assist individuals in accessing the most appropriate location for new development.

Not all needs can be anticipated and therefore some flexibility is required, having regard to all other principles, policies and objectives.

1.3.1 Land Use Zoning /Myplan Classification

The three Town Plans and all the Local Area Plans use the Myplan.ie General Zone Types (GZTs) classification scheme. Myplan is an initiative of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on behalf of all of the planning authorities across the country and can be accessed on the following website: http://www.myplan.ie/. The aim of Myplan is to create a one stop shop for information about plans that will assist with coordination between local authorities and more generally with the delivery of public services. Myplan incorporates many different sets of spatial information including the land use zonings of all the development plans and local area plans of all planning authorities in Ireland. Myplan sets out eight general zone types from primary sector to community services/facilities. Each zone type has a number of subcategories, for example education, health and community facilities are all subcategories of the general zone of community services/facilities. Each subcategory is coded. For example, under the general zone type of (R) residential, R1 indicates new/proposed residential while R2 denotes existing residential, while R4 indicates strategic residential reserve. The following constitute the general zone type categories:

Primary Sector
Commerce/Industry/Enterprise/Economic Development
Community Services/Facilities
Networks and Basic Infrastructure/Utilities
Residential
Green/Recreation/Conservation
Mixed Use
Other

The general zone type categories are further divided into subcategories which are detailed in the table below. Not all Myplan subcategories are utilised within the current plans and are marked with a * in the CODE column in the table.

USE	CODE	ZONING	OBJECTIVE	DESCRIPTION
Primary Sector	P1	Agriculture	Zoned for agriculture and related activities	Provide for the agricultural use of lands and related activities. Generally residential development is not permitted on agricultural zoned land however consideration will be given, in the case of an application, for the construction of a dwelling house for the landowner or the son or daughter of the landowner or the favoured niece or nephew of the landowner to be used as their full-time permanent residence.
	P2*	Forestry	To facilitate forestry	Recognises an existing commercial forestry plantation.
	P3*	Aquaculture & Fishing	To facilitate aquaculture & fishing	Provide for aquaculture or fishing related activities but does not relate to fish processing.
	P4*	Quarrying / Mining	To facilitate an existing quarry or mine	Recognises an existing quarry or mine.
	P5*	Mixed/general primary sector uses	To facilitate a mix of primary sector uses	Provide for a mix of primary sector uses.
	P6*	Other Primary Sector Uses	To facilitate uses not covered by specific primary sector zonings	Provide for a primary sector use not covered by the other primary sector land use categories.
Commerce/ Industry/ Enterprise/ Economic Development	C1.1	Commercial, Retail	Provide for commercial and retail uses.	Provide for the development of commercial or retail development at suitable locations, and if applicable subject to the requirements of the relevant retail strategy and retail planning guidelines.
	C1.2	Retail Warehouse	Provide for retail warehousing development	Facilitate the sale of bulky goods/goods in bulk within high quality settings and highly accessible locations subject to the requirements of the relevant retail strategy and retail planning guidelines.
	C2.1	Industrial, Enterprise, Employment	Provide for office-based development with a high density of employment or industrial development	Provide for office-based development where a high density of employees are to be accommodated based on the sustainability of high quality public transport accessibility. Provide for industrial uses that would not have the same impacts as General Industry (C2.2).
	C2.2*	General Industry	Provide for specialised industrial development	Provide locations specifically for specialised industry associated with environmental emissions, including noise and odour (eg. waste processing, aggregate processing, etc) and with intensive or hazardous processing (e.g. Seveso premises) which may give rise to land use conflict if located within other zonings. Such uses, activities and processes would be likely to produce adverse impacts, for example by way of noise, dust or odour
	C3	Office, Business/ Technology Park and related	To facilitate the development of business parks or technology parks	Facilitate opportunities for compatible industry and general employment uses, in a quality physical environment. General Employment areas should be highly accessible, well designed, permeable and legible with a modest density of employees. Policy safeguards are to be provided to prevent inappropriate intensive office uses at locations poorly served by public transport and the proliferation of retail or commercial uses requiring public access that are best located in mixed-use town core areas.
	C4	Warehouse (excluding retail warehouse)	Provide for distribution, warehouse, storage and logistics facilities based on appropriate access to a major road network	Facilitate logistics and warehouse type activity including storage, distribution and associated re-packaging of goods and products which have specific transportation requirements as they can generate considerable traffic volumes and hence benefit from being located within a purpose built, well designated environment which is well connected to the strategic road network and allows for the efficient movement of goods. Characterised by a low density of employees with appropriate policy safeguards to prevent unsustainable intensive employment uses at these locations.
	C5	Tourism and related	To allow for the development of tourist related uses	Encourage the sustainable provision of an all year-round tourism and recreational facility at appropriate locations.
	C6	Mixed/General Commercial/Industrial/Enterprise uses	To allow for the development of a mix of these types of uses.	Provide for a mix of commercial, enterprise and industrial type uses at appropriate locations.
	C7	Other Commerce/ Industrial/ Enterprise uses	To allow for other types of commercial uses not catered for in C1-C6	Provide for a commercial/enterprise/industrial sector use not covered by the other categories.
Community Services/ Facilities	S1	Education	Provide for educational facilities	Providing for the wide range of educational facilities and related development. Where appropriate the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities will be accommodated.
	S2	Health and related	Provide for an protect health care infrastructure	Facilitating the sustainable development of necessary health facilities. Where appropriate the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities will be accommodated.
	S3	Community Facilities	Provide for and protect religious, community and social infrastructure.	Facilitating the sustainable development of necessary community, religious, social infrastructure for communities of local and neighbourhood importance such as places of worship, community centres and childcare facilities. Where appropriate the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities will be accommodated.
	S4	General Public Administration	Provide for and protect civic infrastructure	Facilitating the sustainable development of necessary civic infrastructure for communities.
	S5	Mixed/General Community Services/Facilities uses	Provide for a mix of community uses	Facilitating the sustainable development of necessary community, health, religious, social and civic infrastructure for communities ranging from those of regional importance such as health facilities, to those of local and neighbourhood importance such as places of worship, community centres and childcare facilities. Where appropriate the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities will be accommodated.
	S6	Other Community Services/Facilities uses	Provide for community uses not covered in S1-S5.	Facilitating the sustainable development of necessary community, health, religious, social and civic infrastructure for communities ranging from those of regional importance such as health facilities, to those of local and neighbourhood importance such as places of worship, community centres and childcare facilities. Where appropriate the provision of ancillary accommodation and facilities will be accommodated.
Networks and Basic Infrastructure/Utilities	N1.1*	Road	Provide for road infrastructure	Provides for the sustainable development of roads or related infrastructure.
	N1.2*	Rail	Provide for rail infrastructure	Provides for the development of rail related infrastructure.
	N1.3*	Airport	Provide for airport infrastructure	Provides for the development of airport related infrastructure.
	N1.4	Seaport/Harbour	Provide for harbour and marine related activities	Provides for harbour and marine related activities.
	N1.5	Mixed/General Transport uses	Provide for a mix of transport related uses	Provides for a mix of transport related uses.
	N1.6	Other Transport/ General uses	Provide for transport and utilities infrastructure not covered in N1.1-N1.5	Provides for development associated with the provision of public transport services (including ports).
	N2.1*	Water	Provide for water infrastructure	Provides for development associated with the provision of water infrastructure.
	N2.2	Wastewater	Provide for wastewater infrastructure	Provides for development associated with the provision of wastewater infrastructure.
	N2.3*	Mixed/ General Water/ Wastewater uses	Provide for a mix of a water and wastewater infrastructure	Provides for development associated with the provision of water and wastewater infrastructure.
	N2.4	Other Water/ Wastewater uses	Provide for water/ wastewater infrastructure not covered in categories N2.1-N2.4	Provides for development associated with the provision of water and wastewater infrastructure.
	N3.1*	Gas	Provides for gas related infrastructure	The natural gas network extends to Listowel and could in the future be extended to other settlements in the county.
	N3.2*	Electricity	Provides for electricity related infrastructure	Provides for development associated with the provision of public utilities such as electricity network infrastructure.
	N3.3*	Mixed/General Gas and Electricity uses	Provides for a mix of gas and electricity uses	Provides for development associated with the provision of and public utilities such as electricity network infrastructure and gas infrastructure.
	N3.4*	Other Gas and Electricity uses	Provides for other gas and electricity uses	Provides for development associated with the provision of and public utilities such as electricity network infrastructure and gas infrastructure.
	N4*	Telecommunications	Provides for telecommunications infrastructure	Provides for development associated with the provision of telecommunications infrastructure
	N5*	Solid Waste	Provides for solid waste facilities	Provides for development associated with the provision of solid waste facilities.
	N6*	Other Networks and Basic Infrastructure/ Utilities uses	Provides for other infrastructure and utilities uses	Provides for development associated with the provision of public transport services (including ports) and public utilities such as electricity network infrastructure, telecommunications, water, wastewater, etc.
Residential	R1	New/Proposed Residential	Provide for new residential development in tandem with the provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure	For new residential areas/town extensions to ensure the provision of high quality new residential environments. Provide an appropriate mix of house sizes, types and tenures in order to meet household needs and to promote balanced communities. May also include a range of other ancillary uses for residential, particularly those that have the potential to foster the development of new residential communities.
	R2	Existing Residential	Provide for residential development and protect and improve residential amenity	For existing predominately residential areas allowing for the protection of existing residential amenity balanced with new infill development. May also include a range of other ancillary uses for residential, particularly those that have the potential to foster the development of residential communities. These are uses that benefit from a close relationship to the immediate community, such as crèches, some schools and nursing homes. A limited range of other uses that support the overall residential function of the area may also be considered.
	R3	Residential, Mixed Residential and other uses	Provide for residential development and protect and improve residential amenity	For existing predominately residential areas allowing for the protection of existing residential amenity balanced with new infill development. Residential Areas are intended primarily for housing development but may also include a range of other ancillary uses for residential. These are uses that benefit from a close relationship to the immediate community, such as crèches, some schools and nursing homes. A limited range of other uses that support the overall residential function of the area may also be considered.
	R4	Strategic Residential Reserve	Provide for future new residential development in tandem with the provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure	To provide for future residential areas/town extensions to ensure the provision of high quality new residential environments. Provide an appropriate mix of house sizes, types and tenures in order to meet household needs and to promote balanced communities. May also include a range of other ancillary uses for residential, particularly those that have the potential to foster the development of new residential communities. Residential Areas are intended primarily for housing development but may also include a range of other ancillary uses for residential, particularly those that have the potential to foster the development of new residential communities. These are uses that benefit from a close relationship to the immediate community, such as crèches, some schools and nursing homes. A limited range of other uses that support the overall residential function of the area may also be considered.
Green/ Recreation/ Conservation	G1	Open Space, Park	Preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities	Provide recreational and amenity resources for the community including parks, amenity areas and natural areas. In some instances, these open spaces are located within or adjacent to environmental designations and sites of local biodiversity significance. Therefore, it is important to ensure the protection of the integrity of biodiversity and to recognise the importance of wildlife corridors and sites of nature conservation importance.
	G2	Walkway, Cycleway	Provide for walkways or cycleways	Provide recreational and amenity resources for the community such as walkways and cycleways.
	G3	Conservation, Amenity or Buffer Space, Landscape Protection	Protect and enhance high amenity areas	Protect highly sensitive and scenic locations from inappropriate development that would adversely affect the environmental quality of the locations. In some instances, these open spaces are located within or adjacent to environmental designations and sites of local biodiversity significance. Therefore, it is important to ensure the protection of the integrity of biodiversity and to recognise the importance of wildlife corridors and sites of nature conservation importance.
	G4	Active open space	Intended solely for the provision of recreational uses.	Provide recreational and amenity resources for the community including sporting and leisure facilities.
	G5	Mixed/General ‘green’/Recreation/Conservation, Other	Preserve and provide for a mix of open space and recreational amenities	Provide for a mix of recreational and amenity resources for the community including parks, sporting and leisure facilities, amenity areas and natural areas. In some instances, these open spaces are located within or adjacent to environmental designations and sites of local biodiversity significance. Therefore, it is important to ensure the protection of the integrity of biodiversity and to recognise the importance of wildlife corridors and sites of nature conservation importance.
Mixed Use	M1	Mixed Use, General Development, Opportunity Site	Provide for mixed use development	Provides for a mix of uses on these lands, including both commercial and residential uses. A number of these sites are designated as opportunity sites with specific forms of development for some of these sites.
	M2	Town/ Village Centre	Provide for the development and enhancement of town core uses including retail, residential, commercial, civic and other uses	Consolidate the existing fabric of the core/central areas of settlements by densification of appropriate- commercial and residential developments ensuring a mix of commercial, recreational, civic, cultural, leisure, residential uses and urban streets, while delivering a quality urban environment. The zoning emphasises compact growth objectives and priority for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists while minimising the impact of private car based traffic.
	M3	District, Neighbourhood Centre	Provide for the development and enhancement of district centres in urban areas including for retail, residential, commercial, civic and other uses	Provide for the development of district level centres in cities and larger urban areas as part of an integrated strategy for mixed-use compact growth where key locations are identified for new development consolidation and densification.
	M4	Built up area	Existing built areas of mixed use	Provides for a mix of land uses which may have existing buildings in place, brownfield lands and undeveloped greenfield lands within the development boundary.
	M5	Other mix of uses	Provide for mixed use development	Provides for a mix of commercial and residential uses on the site. Specific objectives in relation to the development of these lands may be included in the relevant plan.
Other	O1	Strategic Reserve, White Land	To facilitate development at some time in the future.	Provide for the future sustainable development of these lands. Their specific zoning will be determined at a future date based on the needs of a settlement.
Other	O2	General	Used to designate lands for general development.	Provide for development in accordance with a specific development objective in relation to these lands, e.g. car parking.

1.3.2 Development in Existing Residential/Built Up Areas (R2/M2/M4)

In this plan significant areas of lands within the town and village boundaries have already been developed in the Municipal District’s settlements. These are known as built up areas and constitute the majority portion of the lands zoned on the zoning maps and are typically zoned as (R2/M2/M4) - Development in Existing Residential/Town/Village Centre/Built Up Areas.

Built up/town and village centre areas include all lands within a development boundary, it includes a mix of land uses which may have existing buildings in place, brownfield lands and undeveloped greenfield lands within the development boundary. In the local area plan, such areas are shown as existing residential (R2) or town/village centre area (M2) or built up area (M4). This approach is consistent with the Myplan classification system and allows a more positive and flexible response to proposals for the re-use/re-development of underused, derelict land or buildings particularly in the older parts of the main towns.

Within predominantly built up areas, development proposals normally involve infill development, redevelopment or refurbishment or changes of use. It is important to recognise that this is part of the cycle of development or redevelopment in settlements that contributes to the character of towns. In many ways, this is more sustainable than continually encouraging growth to concentrate only towards undeveloped areas. Indeed, a mix of harmonious uses is often considered a desirable and attractive characteristic.

It is therefore the policy of the Planning Authority to protect and improve existing/developed/residential areas and to provide facilities and amenities incidental to those areas. There is a range of additional uses open to consideration within these areas where it can be demonstrated that there is a need for such facilities and that it will not affect the predominant use of the area.

Within existing built up areas there will inevitably be some areas of land that are either undeveloped or have some potential to be considered for development. The inclusion of this land within an existing built up area does not imply any presumption in favour of development or redevelopment, unless this would enhance the character and amenity of the area.

While many areas are zoned M4 Built Up and many uses are “open to consideration” the council shall have regard to the established uses within the area.

It is the policy of the Local Authority to facilitate development that supports in general the primary land use of the surrounding existing built up area. Development that does not support or threatens the vitality or integrity of the primary use of these existing built up areas shall not be permitted.

Within the development boundaries of the towns and villages, in areas that are not subject to specific zoning objectives, proposals for development will be considered in relation to the following:

The objectives of this and any other statutory plan;
The character of the surrounding area; and
Other planning and sustainable development considerations considered relevant to the proposal or its surroundings, including flood risk assessment and the potential for impact on sites of nature conservation importance.

1.3.3 Development and Land Uses in New Areas (Greenfield)

The aim of zoning objectives in relation to new areas is to provide a framework that will guide their development from the very beginning. In zoning new land for development, the intention is to foster the natural growth of the settlements by encouraging related developments to form sensible spatial groupings. By encouraging a sensible mix of uses and avoiding excessive homogeneous development, these areas should be livelier and more sustainable reflecting the character of many of the existing areas within the county.

1.3.4 Lands Zoned outside Settlement Boundaries

There are lands zoned for a range of uses outside settlement boundaries in Local Area Plans, mainly in the environs of the larger towns. The development of these lands will be subject to the provisions of the relevant (Municipal District/Electoral Area) Local Area Plan in addition to the objectives and development standards of this plan.

In addition, lands known as the Tarbert-Ballylongford Land Bank are zoned for industry. Proposals for marine related industry, general industrial development, and particularly those industries creating a synergism with existing uses and contributing to the development of a strategic energy hub at this location will also be encouraged.

1.3.5 Transitional Zonal Areas

While the zoning objectives and control standards indicate the different uses permitted in each zone, it is important to avoid abrupt transitions in scale and use in the boundary areas of adjoining land use zones. In dealing with development proposals in these areas it is necessary to avoid developments that would be detrimental to the amenities of the more environmentally sensitive zone. For instance, in zones abutting residential areas particular attention must be paid to the use, scale and density of development proposals in order to protect the amenities of the residential properties.

1.3.6 Non-Conforming Uses

Many uses exist in locations where they do not conform to designated use zoning objectives set out for that area and are normally long-term established uses that have developed over time. When extension to, or improvements of premises accommodating these uses are proposed, each shall be considered on its merits and permission may be granted where it can be shown that the proposal does not adversely affect amenities in the vicinity and is compatible with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

1.3.7 Uses not listed in the Indicative Zoning Matrix

Proposed land-uses which are not listed in the indicative land-use zoning matrix will be considered on a case-by-case basis having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and compliance with the relevant policies and objectives, standards and requirements as set out in this Plan, guidelines issued in accordance with Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and guidance issued by other government bodies/ sections.

Zoning Matrix

Zoning/Code

Res

CSF

CIEE

GRC

Oth

G1-G5

O1/O2

Shop (Class1) (incl. post offices)

Financial/Professional Services (Class 2)

Office (Class 3)

Light Industry with Showroom (Class 4)

Wholesale Warehouse (Class 5)

Club/Guest House/Hostel (Class 6) & Hotel

Religious Activities (Class 7)

Medical Services/Day Centre/Crèche (Class 8)

Residential/Medical Care & Training (Class 9)

Gallery/Museum/Community Hall (Class 10)

Cinema/Theatre/Recreational Hall (Class 11)

Bookmakers/Amusement Arcade

Café/Restaurant

Call Centre/Telesales/Data-centre/Web-hosting

Camping/glamping etc.

Carparking (Surface/Multi-storey)

Fast Food/Take-Away

Funeral Home

Garden Centre

Motor Sales Showroom

Night-Club

Petrol Filling Station

Public facilities & infrastructure

Residential Unit

Traveller Accommodation

Vehicle Repairs Garage

Superstore (>2500m²)

Warehouse/Storage Depots/Distribution Centres

Zoning/Code:	Res - Residential	CSF - Community Services/Facilities	NU - Networks/Infrastructure/Utilities	MU - Mixed Use	CIEE – Commerce/Industry/Enterprise/Economic
	GRC - Green/Recreation/Conservation	P - Primary	Oth - Other
N - Not Normally Permitted		O - Open to Consideration		P - Permitted in Principle