Proposed Variation 5 KCEDP text

Proposed Variation No. 5

of the

Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan 2014-2020

Background

Objective 3N of the Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan (Variation No.1) stated “To provide for park and walk facilities for car and bus/coach parking at a site or sites in close proximity to the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan[1] area to service both the Masterplan area and the city centre generally taking into account the mobility management plan for the city”.   Further to this objective, a detailed Parking Options Report was prepared by the Council in December 2017 to examine this issue. 

One of the recommendations of this Report is temporary car parking in the Masterplan area.

The purpose of the proposed variation is to provide the necessary overarching policy framework to allow for temporary car parking in the Masterplan area notwithstanding the text of the Masterplan in section  4.1.6 .

An Urban Design Criteria and Development Code was adopted by the Council in January 2018 in line with objective 3K. The Code also addresses parking within the site and supports the use of the area for temporary or meanwhile uses while development proposals are being formulated.

In the short term this objective is required to ensure that any potential conflicts between the Masterplan document (Section 4.1.6) and the recommendations of the Urban Design Criteria and the Parking Options Report are clearly resolved and dealt with in a manner that gives certainty in the City and Environs Development Plan.

The Variation also proposes amending references from “Abbey Creative Quarter” to “Abbey Quarter”.

Proposed Variation

The full text of the proposed variation is outlined below and should be read in conjunction with the Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan 2014‐2020.    The proposed changes to the text are shown as follows:

Deletions in strikethrough

Insertions in red italics

Chapter 3: Core Strategy and Zoning  

Section 3.4.3 of Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan

It is an objective of the Council

3H To provide for a linear park along the western bank of the River Nore connecting to the existing

River Nore linear park north of Green’s Bridge and the existing River Nore linear park south of

the Masterplan area (Canal Walk) (as indicated on Fig 3.4) subject to compliance with the

Habitats and Birds Directives and the provisions of the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan.

3I To provide for an urban park in the vicinity of St. Francis Abbey (National Monument)

incorporating the City Walls, Evan’s Turret and St. Francis’ Well taking into account the

recommendations of the archaeological strategy developed in the preparation of the Abbey

Creative Quarter Masterplan (as indicated on Fig 3.4) and subject to compliance with the

Habitats and Birds Directives and the provisions of the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan.

3J To prepare a Heritage Conservation Plan for St. Francis Abbey, Evans’ Turret and St. Francis’ Well

in the context of the existing City Wall conservation plan in conjunction with the Heritage

Council, the Office of Public Works, the National Monuments Service, the Department of Arts,

Heritage and the Gaeltacht and other relevant stakeholders.

3K To prepare urban design criteria and recommendations and archaeological recommendations

for the implementation of the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan.

3L To finalise and adopt the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan and to incorporate it into the

Kilkenny City & Environs Development Plan 2014-2020 as a separate future Variation.

3M To develop a low carbon energy strategy for the Masterplan area and advance the provision of

near zero energy buildings on site.

3N To provide for park and walk facilities for car and bus/coach parking at a site or sites in close

proximity to the Abbey Creative Quarter Masterplan area to service both the Masterplan area

and the city centre generally taking into account the mobility management plan for the city.

3O To provide for housing within the Masterplan in the area  north of the Central Access Scheme as

identified on fig 3.4

3P To provide for an urban street of pedestrian and cyclist priority between the Central Access

Scheme and Bateman Quay crossing the River Breagagh at the existing bridge crossing. To

provide for traffic management measures on the street such as to inhibit the flow of through

traffic and heavy goods vehicles.

3Q To provide for temporary car parking (meanwhile uses) as outlined in the Urban Design Code (completed on foot of Objective 3k) and the Parking Options Report (completed on foot of objective 3N) within the Masterplan area.