Controversial condo project in commercial zone, says DBKL

Members of the Taman P Ramlee Residents’ Association holding a banner objecting to the condominium project. (TPRA pic)

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has defended a proposed development project which a residents’ association has opposed over the plot ratio and fears that it would worsen traffic congestion.

DBKL said the two 48-storey blocks proposed for the development of apartment suites and shops in Setapak came with certain conditions but were allowed as they were in a commercial zone.

In a statement, it said that while commercial zones allowed for a plot ratio of 1:7.2 for development, DBKL had reduced it to 1:6.5 after taking into account the residents’ views.

The plot ratio compares the land size to the total floor area allowed in a particular block of condominium units.

DBKL said this had resulted in the project being reduced from 53 storeys to 48 storeys.

It also dismissed concerns about traffic congestion, stating that the proposed entry and exit points would be through Jalan Genting.

“There will be no access to the apartment suites via Jalan Angsana as this will disrupt the traffic flow in Taman P Ramlee,” it said.

The developers will also be required to enhance the current infrastructure in the area as proposed in a traffic impact assessment report, including constructing an additional lane, a bus stop and widening Jalan Ayer Panas.

Last month, the Taman P Ramlee Residents’ Association (TPRA) had sought Putrajaya’s intervention after it was informed by Wangsa Maju MP Zahid Hassan that the development of the two 48-storey blocks, with 816 residential units, had been given the green light.

TPRA committee member Dr Tan Guat Ming said it had previously questioned DBKL’s basis for allegedly departing from the gazetted plot ratio of 1:4 under the Kuala Lumpur City Plan.

She said DBKL’s decision to increase the ratio to 1:6.5 for “rejuvenation” purposes was unfounded as the area was one that was “thriving” and not a plot of underdeveloped land.

She also said the association had not been provided with a traffic impact assessment report and none of the other concerns it had raised had been addressed.

Tan said if the project could not be cancelled, TPRA would settle for the ratio to be scaled back to 1:4. - FMT