City Hall hears residents protests

The Star 15/12/2005

CITY HALL will make a decision on a proposed apartment project at Jalan Gallagher, Taman Duta, within three weeks.

The town planning committee, chaired by Mayor Datuk Ruslin Hasan, will approve or reject Bandar Raya Development Bhd's application to increase the density from 10 people per acre to 84 people per acre and build 13 blocks of five-storey apartments.

“As far as the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 is concerned, there are guidelines we should follow,” said City Hall Town Planning Department deputy director Ahmad Kamarul Baharin Arshad.

He also revealed that the Cabinet had directed City Hall to preserve Bukit Tunku and Taman Duta as a low-density neighbourhood.

He was speaking to 11 residents who protested the project during a hearing at City Hall headquarters.

“Under the regulations, we have to have this hearing, but whether approval will be given, I cannot say.

“The final decision will be made by the mayor,” he added.

The hearing was held following objections from about 50 residents in Taman Duta and Bukit Tunku.

Representatives from the developer were also present to brief residents and assured them that parts of Jalan Gallagher would be widened to provide easier access from Jalan Duta to Jalan Mahameru.

Ahmad Kamarul Baharin said an earlier application to increase density to 26 people per acre had been approved in 1996 but the project did not take off.

Resident Datin Teh Lip Pin said the KL Structure Plan 2020 did not encourage high-density development and feared approval would set a precedent.

Her husband Datuk Richard Curtis said Taman Duta, Kenny Hills and Bukit Tunku was a unique neighbourhood complete with green lung.

“If you want to become a world-class city, you cannot change the policy.

“Let's keep it that way and make everyone proud to say we have a unique, peaceful neighbourhood of our own,” he said.