Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown county councillors last night overwhelmingly rejected controversial plans for some 98 apartments to be built under the affordable housing scheme in Killiney, south Dublin.
Some 17 councillors, drawn from all parties, rejected a report compiled on behalf of county manager Owen Keegan, which recommended that the plans be accepted. There were six abstentions and two votes in support of the report.
Based on a development of 140 units at "Kilmarnock", Military Road, Killiney, developer Ellen Construction had said that 98 two-bedroom apartments could be sold to applicants on the council's affordable housing list for €299,000 each. The remainder would be sold at full market value.
However, during a sometimes heated debate, councillors heard that if the number of units to be built on the 1.5 hectare site was to decrease, the cost of these affordable homes would also increase.
For the proposed development to go ahead, councillors would have to authorise the removal of an existing density restriction on the land, as outlined in the current county development plan.
Several councillors claimed in last night's debate that the proposed development would be "opening the door" for similar development in the area. Others said they were being subjected to "emotional blackmail" due to the fact that 3,463 people are currently on the council's application list for affordable housing.
Separately, council members backed plans for new parking bylaws for the Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown local authority area. These include increases in the cost of certain "pay and display" tariffs, but a decrease in others.