COUNCILLORS made it very clear to Mayor John Moran that he would not have their support for his SMART modular housing plans in Janesboro’s Boro Park.
Speaking at December’s meeting of the Metropolitan District of Limerick City and County Council, Fine Gael councillor Sarah Kiely called for the proposed modular housing development for Boro Park to be reversed.
The Janesboro resident previously deemed the Mayor’s proposals to “ram unsuitable dog boxes into amenities and green spaces” across the city as “fluffy”.
“Since its announcement, this proposal has generated significant concern and controversy within the local community,” she told Council management this week.
“Residents are rightly questioning why a well-established public park has been identified for development, particularly given the investment made by Limerick City and County Council to transform what was once a neglected site into a high-quality community amenity.
“I have reviewed the figures and €172,000 has been spent on developing this park, not including the considerable voluntary contributions made by residents, such as the planting of memorial trees for loved ones. These contributions reflect the deep emotional connection the community has to this space,” Cllr Kiely insisted.
The City East representative told the meeting that the Boro Park site is not zoned residential, as has been suggested by some.
“Boro Park is heavily used by Queen of Peace School, Enable Ireland, Avista, and the wider community. It provides a safe and accessible space for walking, cycling, socialising, and rehabilitation, particularly for older residents and those using mobility aids,” she added.
Cllr Kiely pointed out that six of the seven councillors in Limerick City East have confirmed their opposition to the proposal, including herself, Catherine Slattery (FF), Joe Pond (FF), Peter Doyle (FG), Ursula Gavan (IND), and Elena Secas (IND).
However, she noted that residents asked Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan to clarify his position on the record.
Cllr Kiely said she contacted the Mayor to request a meeting with relevant stakeholders as the community is ready to engage constructively.
“As the councillor closest to Boro Park, I stand firmly with the residents in ensuring this valued community space remains protected for future generations,” she said.
Cllr Hartigan told Council members he had no wish for residents to lose any amenities but pointed out that we have “the greatest housing crisis in the history of this country”.
“All options need to be considered. Any development would have to retain all amenities for local residents. I’ve had no contact with the residents association. I did have emails from Cllr Kiely. I didn’t reply because I’ve no desire to support Cllr Kiely’s ongoing conflict and fighting with the Mayor,” he said.
Cllr Kiely took the view that Cllr Hartigan either had a problem with his inbox, and this was the reason he did not reply to residents, or he was being “facetious” regarding the issue.
“Nail your colours to the mast, it won’t be forgotten,” she fired back.
Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney reminded the Council executive that a planning application on SMART Housing in Boro Park will require a vote from Council members.
“I think the message is very clear here today, and I would be extremely conscious of wasting tax payers’ money in advancing a scheme. The message is clear from elected representatives that we are not in a position to support it,” he concluded.
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme