High-density project gets residents down
2010/07/02
By Dawn Chan
[email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park want City Hall to reject a proposed high-density condominium on grounds that it will add to the congestion in the area.
The residents learnt of the development through a sign erected at Lot 1221, Jalan Kuchai Lama about two weeks ago.
The sign stated that the proposed development will involve the change of land status from residential to commercial.
The project comprises two blocks of 22-storey service apartments with a total of 306 units and 17 units of shops.
Wong Mun Chong, owner of a unit at Kuchai Avenue Service Apartments adjacent to the proposed development, said they were not in favour of the project because more motorists will be using Jalan 1/116B for exit and entry, and traffic is already heavy there during peak hours.
“There is no additional access road to go in and out and our views will also be blocked as the proposed buildings would be as tall as ours.
“We are also afraid that the project will affect our units as we are located very close by,” said the 30-year-old IT consultant.He said City Hall should only approve the proposed development if the density is lowered. The building should ideally be three- or four-storeys high, he added.
The residents said while land was privately owned, City Hall could control its plot ratio.
Wong said 150 names had been collected on a signature drive and they were in the midst of obtaining more before handing the petition to City Hall.
Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was present at the protest, said City Hall should not have considered the proposed development in the first place.
“There are no way out of this place other than Jalan 1/116B. There is heavy traffic here during rush hour as motorists from United Garden, Happy Garden, OUG Garden and Sri Petaling use this road to head towards the city.
“The road can barely cope with the existing heavy traffic, what more with the new development here?” she said.
Kok said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan had accepted her invitation to visit the area to try to resolve the issue.
“He should bring along his officers and be brought to understand the traffic woes faced by residents.
“Also, I am worried about the approvals City Hall has been giving to new developments here.
“They are not controlling the plot ratio in this highly-congested area and that is creating more traffic chaos,” she said.
I would like to know why the national primary school in Taman Desa, on the way to Desa Water Park, has been closed down? Whereas Chinese schools are finding difficulties in setting up new schools, this national primary is now closed down and non-operational for nearly 2 years. The plants there have grown wild and the construction is breaking up. Why is this school abandoned? If they think that it is not suitable to be a national primary school, perhaps they can offer it to the Chinese schools for setting up a new primary Chinese school! Why put such a piece of prime property to waste?