GEORGE TOWN: Affected residents in Pykett Avenue here have cited noisy environment, traffic congestion and floods as among the main reasons for their objection to a proposed high-density posh apartment project in the area.
The residents want the local authority to scale down the density of the proposed apartment-complex project from the current 87 to 30-units per acre.
Led by civil society group, the Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) coordinator YC Lee, the residents have submitted their written objections during a public hearing with the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) today.
MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail chaired the hearing in Komtar.
The proposed project by Mah Sing Group Bhd’s subsidiary Klassik Tropika Sdn Bhd was to have a six-storey podium and two blocks of 24 and 18-storey apartments comprising 290 units.
Lee said the residents wanted the project density on Lot 951 to be scaled down to 100 units and below.
The project site was formerly a colonial era Khaw Sim Bee Mansion originally owned by Khaw Bian Seng Sdn Bhd.
Klassik Tropika allegedly demolished the mansion without prior MPPP approval in 2010 to pave the way for the said project.
The company had submitted its project plans to MPPP for approval in October 2010.
Following an outcry from public interests groups, the developer was later fined and ordered by MPPP to rebuild the mansion.
The developer, however, had allegedly failed to comply with the order until now, and Lee said residents had raised the matter with MPPP.
They said even if MPPP were to consider the project proposal, the plan should include rebuilding the mansion.
Lee pointed out that the proposed project site was sandwiched between three schools – SRJK (C) Union, SR Pykett and SM Westlands, and a main city link road, Jalan Burma.
“The area is flood-prone and we fear that the proposed high-density would worsen the situation.”
Some residents complained that they did not receive any notice from MPPP to attend the public hearing today.
Under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, MPPP was to issue notices to residents living within 20-perimeter of a proposed project.
