Wednesday October 15, 2008
Residents against hillside project in Bandar Sri Damansara
Story and photos by YIP YOKE TENG
YET another hillside development may take shape in Petaling Jaya despite the fact that the Selangor government has imposed a ban on projects on Class 3 and Class 4 slopes.
Bandar Sri Damansara residents found out that a high-rise residential project said to involve 15 blocks, some as high as 52 storeys, had been proposed for the Persiaran Meranti Hill in the housing estate. Parts of the hill fall under Class 3 and 4, which are slopes over 25°.
They learnt that there would be more than 5,300 units on an area measuring 8.4ha (which takes up half of the hill’s area) and this will result in a high population density of 128 persons per acre.
Making it clear: Members of the pro-tem committee (from left) Axel Tung, Michael David, Chin Teck Wah and Tan with a banner stating their stand on the proposed hillside development. A signboard was put up at the site in early August to inform residents of the development proposal. Promotional buntings and brochures state that the residential blocks would be surrounded by recreational attractions such as trekking trails and camp sites.
The proposed project has drawn a flak from residents who cannot imagine the hill supporting such density.
“The condos are 52-storeys high, inclusive of 42 storeys of residential units and 10 storeys of car parks. Based on our observation, this is by far the tallest residential high-rise in Petaling Jaya,” said Andrew Tan, chairman of a pro-tem committee objecting against the development, .
For support: Persiaran Meranti is supported by this retaining wall. “Just imagine, KLCC is only 88-storeys high and we are going to have an over 50-storey condominium on a hillside,” he said at a press conference in the Sri Damansara Clubhouse yesterday.
“The project is estimated to bring 26,500 more residents into Bandar Sri Damansara that already has 9,800 units with 49,000 residents. It has been learnt that they are planning to sell the condo at RM300 per sq ft,” he added.
Also present were Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Chan Chee Kong, representatives of Subang MP R. Sivarasa and Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, as well as residents.
“We are not against development but we want safe and sound ones,” said Tan.
The residents also highlighted the impact on traffic and the environment, should the project be approved, because the area that currently houses the Paradesa Rustica and Paradesa Tropica condominiums is already plagued by traffic congestion during peak hours.
They said the only access road into the area, Persiaran Meranti, would not be able to cater to the high traffic volume because the road itself is supported by a retaining wall.
Another development is taking place on a large sprawl of land down the road where land clearing is being carried out.
It was also learnt that several landslides had occurred on the said hillside while the drainage had shown signs of incapacity as it often overflowed during downpours.
The pro-tem committee held a meeting with MBPJ and the developer about one month ago. A signature campaign that has so far collected close to 1,000 signatures was launched at the same time.
They also found out from the council that the said site was private land earmarked for recreational purposes.
“During the meeting, the developer claimed it had received approval from five authorities, namely Department of Minerals and Geoscience, Public Works Department, Department of Environment, Fire and Rescue Department and the State Secretary’s office, but we are still waiting for them to show us the supporting documents,” Tan said.
Chan confirmed that the council had received application from the developer but that they had not approved the project.
“The council has instructed the developer to submit all relevant reports. After that, a hearing involving the developer and the residents will be called,” he said.
“We abide strictly by the state’s policy and will not approve the project if it takes place on Class 3 and Class 4 slopes,” he added.
In response to why the project should even be assessed since some of the slopes were over 25°, he said the developer had claimed that the proposed developments would not be carried out on those stretches.
When contacted, a spokesman for the developer said the project was only a proposal and the company was very open to residents’ views and therefore had been holding regular dialogues with them on the matter.
He emphasised that the said land had been zoned for development, and that it is not a green area.
“Efforts have been made to ensure that the proposed project will not be carried out at the expense of the residents,” he said.
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