Clare County Council has performed a U-turn on a number of planned rezonings across south- east Clare, totalling 170 acres, after the intervention of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The rezonings, which have now been withdrawn, would have provided a bonanza for landowners in south-east Clare.
At the council's May meeting, councillors voted by 22 to one to adopt the draft rezonings. Three councillors absented themselves as family members might have profited from the rezonings.
The council put the draft rezonings on display, inviting submissions from the public.
A submission from the Department of the Environment said that the council "should facilitate conformity with the Clare County Development Plan, the Midwest Regional Planning Guidelines and consider the impact of the number of zonings for development purposes on the settlement hierarchy".
It added: "This should be undertaken to prevent haphazard development patterns and to make best use of infrastructural resources."
As a result of the department's intervention, County Manager Alec Fleming has said that eight separate parcels of land to be rezoned - six of them relating to residential rezonings - should not now be rezoned.
A council report said it agreed with the department's views.
Council planners had originally opposed seven of the proposed rezonings, but they were forced through by councillors from south-east Clare. Mr Fleming is now proposing that eight rezonings not proceed.
The amended plan is to go before Clare County Council at its September meeting.
