HOW WAS THIS APPROVED?: Rising resentment over highrise complex in Pulau Tikus within residential area
GEORGE TOWN : OFFICIALS and the local DAP assemblyman attending a dialogue with residents over a 27-storey commercial complex being built in Pulau Tikus endured a particularly tough time yesterday.
When questions on height restrictions, the promised public car park and ultimately the wisdom of approving a commercial structure in a residential area were not answered satisfactorily, the residents demanded another session with the "top guns".
"We need another meeting with the top guns who can answer our questions," one woman told DAP Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai, acting state development planning director Roslan Ramly and Penang Island Municipal Council senior traffic engineer A. Rajendran at the dialogue.
As for the meeting with the "top guns", Koay said he would convey the questions raised with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is the state Planning Committee chairman, as well as the state government, to see how the matter could be resolved.
Roslan began his briefing on the project by informing that the 27-storey commercial complex would have 290 car park lots, with 90 to be made available just for the public.
It was not long before those present began to ask questions, such as whether the project complied with the height restrictions and where would the public park their vehicles when the current open air car park closes for construction.
One resident claimed that there was a height control of six storeys in the residential area, while another member of public said such a tall building would have a deep impact on the surroundings, questioning how an approval could have been given for a commercial block in a residential area.
Roslan further informed those present that notices to voice objections had been issued on June 7 last year for a hearing which took place on July 12 last year, adding that the right to object is for the residents living within 20m of the proposed project.
He said the developer was compelled to provide a car park for the public at the complex basement, which prompted one of those present to say that it was not a public car park as the developer had not handed it over to the government.
Koay then told them that at this juncture, the basement car park, which is reserved for the public, still belonged to the developer.
The issue of height control continued to be a hot topic, with a resident insisting that there was a height control while Koay said there was no height restriction, since the plot of land was zoned as commercial.
Another resident felt it was "fishy" that out of the whole vicinity, only the plot of land was zoned as commercial.
Later, one of the residents claimed she never received the letter informing her of the project.
"Why give our views when you do not listen? Penang already has so many commercial areas.
"It is not right for a commercial block to be built right smack in a residential area," she said.
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