Any redevelopment of Dún Laoghaire Golf Club should await the preparation of a local area plan, according to resident groups who have appealed Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's grant of permission for a large residential scheme on the site.
Cosgrave Developments' plans for an initial 856 homes on the southern half of the golf club lands were approved by the council last month.
A planning application for the remaining lands is expected before the end of the year. It is anticipated that the entire development of the 78-acre golf course will see the construction of 1,700 homes.
Sixteen groups and local residents have appealed the first grant of permission to An Bord Pleanála.
"It is inconceivable that such an enormous development could be allowed to go ahead when a local area plan is in the process of being drawn up," according to Ruairí Ó hEithir on behalf of the Ardmore Park and Carriglea Downs Residents' Association.
In a letter to the planning board, Ó hEithir stated that a decision on this development cannot be taken in isolation of the proposed development of the remainder of the golf club lands.
Proposals for buildings as high as seven storeys are "completely inconsistent with the character of the area", he said.
The scheme will result in an additional population of around 2,600, according to Combined Residents to Save Open Space (CRSOS). Local area plans are envisaged for areas with a population of over 2,000, CRSOS pointed out.
Peter Readman of Highthorn Wood said the scheme "does not represent sustainable development and is not in the interest of the existing community".
The high residential density of the development has been justified by the developer on the grounds of high quality public transport links.
Dart and bus services are already strained at peak times and the developer has failed to obtain a commitment from Dublin Bus to increase or improve its services, according to Readman.
The developer's projections of high use of public transport and cycling and walking is "far too optimistic", he added.
