Cork developer lodges planning application after complaints about unauthorised carpark
Progressive Construction Ltd, of which developer John Cleary is a director, has sought full planning permission to retain an existing car park, with capacity for up to 350 vehicles, which is on city council-owned land near the City Gate complex in Mahon.
Mr Cleary’s company, John Cleary Developments, has been credited with developing the sprawling City Gate complex during the teeth of the recession — a vast campus which is home to thousands of tech and software jobs.
Mr Cleary is also the developer behind the city’s largest single office block — One Albert Quay which is nearing completion — and the regeneration of the derelict landmark Capitol Cinema site in the city centre, which is currently the subject of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
However, the unauthorised car park in Mahon has sparked controversy.
The publicly owned site was, during the construction of phases of City Gate, licensed by the city council for use as a storage compound and for construction traffic.
It was zoned for residential use until councillors adopted a new city development plan during the summer which changed the zoning to business and technology use.
However, when City Gate construction finished, a car park was developed on the site.
It is understood senior city officials examined the issue almost a year ago; that a legal opinion was sought and options were outlined; but no action was taken.
It is understood that, following further complaints, it was signalled to Mr Cleary that the matter had to be addressed.
Yesterday, a planning application was published seeking full planning permission to retain an existing hard surface area used for car parking, and seeking a three-year temporary permission for a surface car park at St Michael’s Drive, Mahon.
A spokesman for Mr Cleary said the car park is being used to facilitate EMC, which is a major employer in Cork: “A planning application has been lodged to regularise it.”
Given the zoning on the site, the application will have to come before councillors for a decision on whether to rezone it for car parking or not. A two-thirds majority, or 23 votes, will be required.
Cllr Laura McGonigle (FG) described it as a “highly irregular situation which needs urgent attention”.
She said: “We value the jobs but they shouldn’t come at the cost of residents and the traffic they have created.”
Cllr Terry Shannon (FF) said Mr Cleary has helped bring a lot of jobs to Cork. “But we have to have standard treatment for all. Everyone has to be dealt with fairly,” he said.
