GEORGE TOWN: Disgruntled residents of an upscale, low-density residential area here want local authorities to scrap a proposed high density development by Berjaya Land Development.
The proposal is a revision of an earlier, less ambitious plan by the development company.
Community members representing four residents' associations held a press conference today to oppose the proposed development, as it will lead to a tremendous increase in population density and higher traffic volume in their serene Jesselton neighbourhood.
The associations' respective spokespersons expressed their dismay that under the revised proposal, the number of development units has snowballed from 280 to 1,170 and comprise bungalows, terraced houses, apartments and shoplots.
They said the development would cause traffic congestion and claimed that two unapproved access roads will be built to link the new development.
"The proposed revised plan will result in 2,266 car park bays being built and an estimated 5,000 residents moving in.
"There is a big difference between the original and revised plans, and the spike in density level will cause environmental degradation," they said in a joint a statement.
Present at the session were residents from the Jesselton, Jesselton Heights, Casa Grande and Taman Jesselton communities.
The group took the Penang Island City Council to task for catering to the whims and fancies of developers that revise their plans arbitrarily, which they demand to have rejected.
