The view from Ukay Club Villas in Taman Kelab Ukay takes in the green slopes (right) where the development project is planned.
PLANNING permission given to a developer for a big project on precarious hillslopes at Taman Kelab Ukay, in Ampang, Selangor lapsed on Oct 13 last year.
In addressing the project that involved Class Three and Class Four slopes as well as a 37-storey high-rise block, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) president Dr Ani Ahmad said planning permission was given on Oct 14, 2020 after the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Technical Committee (JTPKSAS) approved the project on Sept 24, 2019.
She said the proposed site, owned by developer Lembah Langat Development Sdn Bhd under the parent company Petaling Tin Bhd, was zoned as residential land use under the MPAJ Local Plan (Amendment 2) 2020.
“The planning permission permits were issued for one year from Oct 14, 2020, and extended for one year from Oct 14, 2021, to Oct 13, 2022,” she told reporters after chairing the MPAJ full board meeting.
Dr Ani said under Section 24(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, the planning permission had lapsed as no development had taken place at the site even though the Notice of Commencement of Earthworks (Form B) was submitted by the developer to MPAJ on Oct 7, 2022.
The proposed project in Taman Kelab Ukay next to Ukay Club Villas covers four phases – 54 three-storey townhouses, one three-storey apartment building with 84 units and double-storey parking space, one 29-storey apartment building with 336 units and eight-storey parking space, and one 37-storey apartment block with 274 units.
To a question on whether dialogue sessions had taken place between the developer and affected residents prior to giving planning permission approval, Dr Ani answered in the negative.
“However, the developer was instructed to put up a notice of the proposed development on the site for 14 days starting Dec 12 until Dec 23, 2019,” she said.
“During that period, we did not receive any objections from residents.”
Dr Ani said any development in high-risk areas like steep slopes must comply with rules issued by PlanMalaysia in 2010.
“The proposal must be submitted by the developer to the technical committee which will assess suitability of the development based on geotechnical studies, terrain mapping, land work plan and slope stabilisation.
“Once approved, the developer needs to prepare a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report approved by the state-level SIA Report Assessment panel managed by PlanMalaysia Selangor,” she said.
Once the SIA approval was obtained, Dr Ani said developers were required to submit earthworks, landscaping, roads and drainage plans as well as planning permission to MPAJ through the One-Stop Centre (OSC).
“After the OSC meeting approves the planning permission application, the developer must comply with all the conditions that had been set at the JTPKSAS level and OSC committee before starting work.”
In a reply to StarMetro, a spokesperson from Lembah Langat Development said the project was not due to start soon as the company had yet to submit the building plan.
