Councillors who were critical of their city council colleagues for supporting rezonings in the draft development plan should check their own voting records before they make comments about others, according to the Mayor of Galway Michael J Crowe.
Last week many members of the Galway City Council came in for sharp criticism from other councillors and from Green Senator Niall Ó Brolcháin for rezoning sections of land around the city commercial/industrial in the forthcoming Galway City Development Plan 2011-2016, against the advice of the planners in City Hall.
“Some councillors have recently made statements to the press about other councillors having a sheep mentality. These comments are to say the least, disappointing,” the Mayor told the Galway Advertiser. “Councillors will and do have their own opinions and differences. However it is sad to see the argument reduced to personal insults. That will not solve anything.”
Mayor Crowe said that submissions were made by various applicants to have a total of 240 acres rezoned from industrial to commercial/industrial.
“Of these submissions councillors decided to rezone only 20 acres which represent less than 10 per cent of what was sought,” he said. “Almost all of these lands have properties built on and in many cases are being operated on a commercial/industrial trading basis in any event. None are greenfield sites.”
He also pointed out that figures recently released from the Department of the Environment show that Galway city “was one of the best local authorities for adopting sensible zoning policies”.
“These are the facts,” he said, “and certain public representatives trying to create a myth to further their own political agenda are, to say the least, disingenuous.”
Mayor Crowe said it was not unusual for councillors to disagree with the planners.
“Most councillors have their own independent mind and experience when it comes to planning and can make an informed judgment based on all of the information given to them,” he said.
