Ara Damansara

Dear Ara Damansarians,

Here is the sample cover letter that we plan to send to MBPJ. This letter is copied from the last letter we sent on the other high rise project next to Stesyen Petronas. The signature pages will be attached to the letter.

In view of the very short notice on this signing, we are extending the signing to tomorrow night (Aug 24). The signing forms are available at the mentioned guard houses and at Kedai Kapitan for your convenience, there is no restriction on who can sign at which location.

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Datuk Bandar
Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya
Tingkat 2, Jalan Yong Shook Lin
46675 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan
BY FAX: 03 7958 1494
BY EMAIL: aduan@mbpj.gov.my

Dear Sir

PER: CADANGAN PEMBANGUNAN “ARA GREENS WELLNESS AND HEALTHCARE CITY WITH GATED AND GUARDED COMMUNITY” DI ATAS PT 1427 JALAN PJU 1A/20, MUKIM DAMANSARA, DAERAH PETALING, SELANGOR DAUL EHSAN

We, the undersigned residents of Ara Damansara, wish to bring to your attention our concerns and objections with regard to the above proposed project. We would summarise these as follows:-

1. Increase in traffic density/congestion due to high density nature of project
a. During rush hour there already is congestion at all traffic lights within Ara Damansara (some of which are frequently out of order, especially at the junction of PJU1A/20 and 1A/3). This project states 960 units serviced apartments which we expect will be fully residential apartments. With only one car park bay per apartment and the average number of cars per household to be 2 or 3; we can expect an increase of at least 1000 cars parked haphazardly and double-parked along the intersection of PJU1A/20 and PJU 1A/3 which is currently already facing this problem as a result of the businesses operating in Dataran Ara. This will be the situation every evening and weekends, congesting the entrances to the various enclaves and escalating the hazard risk to unacceptable levels.
b. Furthermore, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang and the exit to the NKVE are already experiencing severe congestion now that the Kg Subang road has been straightened prior to widening the pillars of the NKVE bridge over Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang. A high density project comprising both office and residential units will definitely increase congestion further within Ara Damansara and along Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang, further aggravated by the impending completion of the Oasis project at the entrance to Ara Damansara. The other tunnel access through Taman Mayang Mas and Subang Vista is already suffering unbearable traffic during peak hours via their narrow single lane access roads.

2. Safety
Such tall buildings should not be allowed in an area which is in the direct flight path of many low flying aircraft, especially helicopters and the proximity of the project to SAAS Airport and the nearby hangars poses a serious safety threat, both to occupants of the proposed project as well as the aircraft personnel/passengers.

3. Risk of Abandonment
a. The Platinum Damansara project, also in Ara Damansara, was abandoned about 3 years ago and is now a major eyesore and it is very similar in concept (commercial plus service apartments). If there were not enough buyers then (when the market was stronger) who is to say this project can get sufficient sales now to see it through completion? We do not need another eyesore here in Ara Damansara. Furthermore there are already many unoccupied commercial properties in the vicinity, both in Ara Damansara as well as nearby in Jalan Lembah Subang. These unoccupied lots attract vagrants turning the premises into haunts for their vices.
b. There is a similar project next door comprising of 3 blocks of high rise with a total of 320 units of service apartments. In this short stretch of Jalan PJU 1A/20, there will be a total of 1280 units of service apartments. We question the viability of the success of such service apartments resulting in a very high risk of abandonment.

4. Drainage and Risk of Floods
The project is bordered by 2 monsoon drains at its sides and Sg Kayu Ara at its back.
The whole of Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang is prone to flooding and this has increased significantly in the last 12 months. During heavy rainfall the level of Sungai Kayu Ara rises to alarming levels as the de-silting works on it have yet to be completed and it is often polluted with garbage further worsening the river flow. As such, there will be increased risk of flooding once this project is begun due to soil run-off adding more silt to the already shallow river.

We would further like to query if the proposed project is on land that was originally gazetted for residential or green lung purposes as this constitutes a misrepresentation by the original landowners/developer, Sime Pilmoor, as to the overall development and “tranquility” (their actual words) of Ara Damansara. This project, if it proceeds, will certainly reduce further what little tranquility is left, what with the increased traffic and noise (including aircraft landings, take-offs and engine testing from Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah and helicopters flying low overhead).

In view of the above concerned observations we strongly urge Datuk Bandar not to approve the above project and seek an audience with your goodself within 14 days of receipt of this letter.

Thank you in advance for your kind consideration and look forward to a sincere discussion with you.

Yours sincerely
Ara Damansara Residents ### signatures attached from

cc
YAB Tan Sri Dato` Seri Abdul Khalid Bin Ibrahim
Dato’ Menteri Besar Negeri Selangor
Pejabat Menteri Besar Selangor Tingkat 21,
Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah,
40503 Shah Alam
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