Re: Re: well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

Article in Limerick Independent………Nice to see that the Planning office seem to be on the ball……………..time will tell!!!

Boatclub developer to consider ‘changes’
Written by Rachael Finucane
Wednesday, 02 July 2008
The developer behind the proposed controversial building for the site of Limerick Boat Club said this week that he is “actively considering” a raft of suggested changes to the ultramodern design, including a reduction in the scale of the project.

Senior Executive Planner, Dick Tobin, told a city council meeting this week that his department has asked Fordmount Developments “for further information specifically with regard to obtaining a redesign and if possible, reducing the scale”.

“The scale is too large and there are also matters to do with protected structures that we were not aware of that are very relevant and must be looked at. We are asking them to examine these and many other elements of the plans,” he said, adding that there is a “very odd structure” underneath the proposed main building that must be explained and the level of the building may have to be raised “due to the danger of flooding”.

Developer, Michael Daly, said that “in general terms, we are very happy with and open to everything that the planners are suggesting” which are “without exception, very reasonable”.

“We’re going over what the planning department has set out in its request for more information. It has reservations about some items and we’re going to take that on board. We regard it as a very good letter and the planners have spent a lot of time on it,” he added.

“It’s obvious that the planners see the project as being of merit and we will certainly be going back to them with changes to the design,” he said.

City councillors have already voiced strong objections to the design of the proposed four level, 4,215 square foot structure on Wellesley Pier, deriding it as “appalling” and “a monstrosity”.

The new building design includes offices and a restaurant as well as civic space and a new home for Limerick Boat Club—which has been based at the site since 1870—and has emphasised that it can “secure its future with a new and improved rowing facility and the city will get an iconic building on the river”.

For the project to go ahead, elected members will have to vote to remove the current boat club base from the list of protected structures and re-zone the site for mixed use.