Sandyford rezoning may be contested

Residents of Sandyford, Co Dublin, last night said they were considering a judicial review of the rezoning of 3 1/2 hectares of woodland at Blackglen Road.

Members of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council had earlier voted 16 to three in favour of the proposal, which council officials said would be suitable for up to 80 residential units. The decision to rezone was taken in spite of an objection from Duchas, the heritage service, which had asked for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out on the site.

The rezoning was also criticised by the Lambs Brook Residents' Association and the Sandyford Environmental Planning and Residents' Group as well as in individual submissions. A council report commissioned from M. Tubridy and Associates concluded that some land was of important ecological value and some change was possible in the zoning of other parts of the land. But it noted that "such change should consider the proximity of the area of ecological value and its potential for environmental education".

In rezoning the site for residential purposes the land becomes liable to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown's increased housing densities and last night's meeting was told that 80 units would be possible on the site.

However, immediately after the vote, a Progressive Democrat councillor, Mr Victor Boyhan, said he was "terribly disappointed" by the decision. Mr Boyhan said there were unresolved issues relating to rights-of-way across the site, the definition of the site boundaries in notices published by the council, and the amount and timing of information supplied to councillors.

"We are certainly considering a judicial review of the way this was carried out," he added.