Core Refusal Reason
The proposed development would result in an unnecessarily and excessively wide shared vehicular entrance, leading to the loss of valuable on-street parking and the potential damage to an existing street tree, thereby compromising pedestrian safety, residential amenity, and biodiversity.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The proposed widening of the shared entrance to 5.63m is excessive and exceeds the standard maximum of 4.2m permitted by the Roads Department, which is already deemed adequate for safe vehicular movement.
- The development would result in the loss of a de facto on-street parking space at the end of a congested cul-de-sac, placing undue pressure on existing facilities and negatively impacting neighboring properties.
- The widening of the pavement crossover would extend within 3m of a recently planted street tree, likely damaging its root system and conflicting with the Council's tree protection policies.
Cited Policies (CDP)
Section 12.7.6 (Car Parking Design and Layout: Widening of Driveways to Accommodate In-Curtilage Parking)Section 12.4.2 (Green Infrastructure and Development Management)Policy GI1 Objective 4Policy GI2 Objective 4Section 7.8 (Road and Street Design)Section 6.18 of South Dublin County Council’s ‘Living with Trees: Tree Management Policy, 2021-2026’
Decision Document Summary
This appeal relates to a proposal at No. 36 St. Enda’s Park, Rathfarnham, to widen a shared vehicular entrance from 4.17m to 5.63m, involving the relocation of a wall pier and the widening of the driveway and pavement crossover. The site is located at the end of a horseshoe-shaped cul-de-sac characterized by two-storey semi-detached and terraced housing. The applicants argued the widening was necessary for safe navigation given the site's location on a bend. However, the Planning Authority and t...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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