A large number of objections have been lodged against the development of two-storey dormer houses in an area which was rezoned from amenity to residential at Ross Road, Killarney, adjoining the Killarney National Park.
Until recently the five acres at Reen, formed part of the last remaining 20-acre parcel of the McShain family lands at Ross Road - the rest forming thousands of acres of lake, woodland, castle and grand house.
It was sold to the State for far less than its market value and now forms much of the Killarney National Park.
Lands and housing at Ross Road are now among the most expensive property in Munster. Although the town's sewage treatment plant is located there, the area is also adjacent to the town, the national park, the lower lake and Ross Castle.
The proposal by the partnership who recently purchased the land from the McShain family has attracted objections from An Taisce, the Killarney Nature Conservation group, the jarveys, councillors as well as residents.
The McShain family successfully lobbied to rezone their last remaining five acres.
A majority of councillors passed the motion in January 2004, but it led to bitter division in the town.
Even the Department of the Environment had expressed concern about the rezoning.
Dr Catherine McMullin of An Taisce said the proposal was "objectionable on a number of accounts". The development would be in a sensitive area, adjoining the national park and a major tourist road to Ross Castle. The zoning should have remained an amenity area of special control, she argued.
"An Taisce opposed the rezoning because it would lead to a further extension of housing . . and would impinge on the buffer zone needed to protect the park," she said.
Dr McMullin also asks about the provision of a pedestrian entrance and if this will be available for the general public.
"The existing access road to the sewage treatment plant and the national park should also remain as a right-of-way for pedestrians," Dr McMullin said.
The proposal to build 14 houses came within the requirement of Part 5 of the Planning and Development Act as regards the provision of social and affordable housing, she said.
The developer proposes to provide land in another part of town or to make a financial contribution - given the scarcity of land for housing in Killarney, land would be more appropriate, Dr McMullin added.
Anja Murray, natural environment officer of An Taisce has raised concerns about wetlands, and Rose Barnes of the Killarney Nature Conservation group has called for an Environmental Impact Study.
Objectors have also raised issues about the design of the houses which, they argue, are 2½- storey and out of character with nearby bungalows.