Council rezoning vote blocks Lidl development
Councillors disregarded planners’ recommendations and an endorsement of the project by city manager, Joe Gavin, and voted 16-14 against rezoning light industrial-zoned land in Churchfield Industrial Estate, for retail use.
Twenty-three votes were needed to secure the rezoning.
The German retail company, which has been trying to secure planning on the site for almost three years, was also criticised for mounting an intensive lobby campaign across the northside over the weekend.
The company blitzed locals with leaflets highlighting the positive effects one of their stores would have on the area.
People were asked to contact their local councillor - some received up to 100 phone calls over the weekend.
Cllr Damian Wallace, who voted against the rezoning, said it was a step too far.
“I resented the campaign, getting phone calls to influence my vote,” he said.
He said the northside needed a discount store but that this was the wrong location.
Last night’s vote followed a lengthy debate on the proposal by Lidl to build a food store, off-licence and neighbourhood centre, comprising numerous smaller shop units, on the site of the former Drummy’s shoe distribution centre.
Mr Gavin said it represented a massive investment in the area that could act as a catalyst for future investment.
He said officials did not bring a material contravention of the development plan before councillors lightly and he recommended they consider all aspects of the project before voting.
Cllrs Dave McCarthy and Jonathan O’Brien said they feared the impact the store would have on three local supermarkets employing more than 100 people.
Cllr Annette Spillane (SF) said she feared teenagers would have easy access to cheap alcopops.
However, Cllr Mick Barry said people who were travelling from the northside to shop in discount stores on the southside were saving up to €90 a week on their shopping bills.
“If there was a public vote on this issue, I think 90% of people would vote in favour of the rezoning,” he said.
He was backed by Labour’s Mick O’Connell who said consumers would benefit from increased competition.
Cllr Catherine Clancy said rezoning the site would undermine the city’s 12-month-old development plan and send out the wrong message to developers.
Cllr Sean Martin said, however, that the area needed a massive lift.
Lidl officials were in the council chamber for the debate. They were unavailable for comment last night.
