Penang Watch

'Higher density areas will not result in more congestion'
by Opalyn Mok

GEORGE TOWN (Jan 27, 2010):
It is a misconception that higher density areas will ultimately mean
there will be too many people concentrated in these areas, said the
Real Estate and Housing Developers Association.

Its Penang chairman Datuk Jerry Chan said having more high density areas does not mean they will end up with very high density.

"This
is a misconception. While we agree that the density of certain areas
needs to be adjusted, what we really want is a higher plot ratio and
bigger built-up areas," he said today.

In a reference to
concerns raised by some NGOs that increased density in certain areas on
the island could result in more congestion, pollution and lower
standard of living, Chan said it is only with bigger built-up areas
that there will be more affordable development projects to benefit
Penang folk.

"This is because with a bigger built-up area, we
are able to build more affordable homes in varying sizes to meet the
demands of buyers, but if we have small built-up areas, in the end
there will only be more high-end condominiums and luxurious landed
properties that most people can't afford as the price per square feet
will be higher compared with projects on bigger built-up areas," he
said.

Chan said after so many years of rapid development, it is
time the Penang Island Local Plan was reviewed and the demographics
changed to suit the changing needs of modern times.

Local
government state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said yesterday that
the draft Penang plan will include several new development areas with
higher density.

Penang Watch coordinator Ong Boon Keong,
however, said the state government has to justify the decision to
increase the density of certain areas.

"We already have limited
open spaces so if they want to increase the density, they should have
justifiable reasons for it," he said.

He said the reasons for
the increase in density are probably for commercial purposes and not to
increase ridership of the public transportation system as claimed by
Chow.

"Having higher density areas along public transportation corridors will not increase the ridership.

They need to improve the public transportation in order to do that," he said. -- theSun