DSSCU reduces hotel plot in ZAPE, CPU members unhappy

Several members of the Urban Planning Committee (CPU) have voiced their opposition to the conditions set by the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) for a project to build a new hotel on a vacant land plot in the ZAPE district.

On the line is not only a significant reduction in the area of the plot where construction is allowed, but also the fact that DSSCU is forcing the owners to build arcades on all four sides of the building, which will drastically reduce the usable area of the ground floor.

When the PCU was addressed during Wednesday’s CPU meeting, several members immediately noted the significant difference between the current PCU plan and another issued in April 2016 for the same land plot.

Several members voiced disagreement with the idea of limiting the project’s development “too much” to the extent that the idea of building the hotel might be abandoned.

As in previous cases addressed at the same meeting, member Álvaro Rodrigues noted that the general idea that should preside over the decision of the conditions ought to be the rational use of land resources, which, in this case, he said, does not appear to be happening.

He remarked that this decision is obviously damaging to the interests of the owner, who was “logically expecting to build something along the lines of the other hotel units located on both sides of this plot, one with 18 floors and the other with 19 floors,” he said, noting that apparently, in this case, the developer will only be able to build some 6 or 7 floors above the podium level, in addition to the condition of building arcades all around the building.

Several other members, including Christine Choi and Teng Kai On, also voiced opposition to the idea of the arcades on the four sides of the building, which seems unjustified, since there is a wide pedestrian street (already in use) between this land plot and the Fortuna Hotel, while the street around the west side of the land is to be discontinued and remain only as an access to the parking lots of both this hotel and the existing Beverly Plaza Hotel, as well as an access to the high-voltage power station.

In response, the staff from DSSCU noted that the idea of the arcades was to follow the other buildings in the ZAPE area with such a design.

The PCU plan was conditionally approved by DSSCU Director Lai Weng Leong, but with the note that the services should re-study the arcades all around the building.

Members also noted the ongoing attempt to revive the ZAPE district, particularly taking into account the closing, until the end of this year, of all the satellite casinos located in the area.

They noted that it would be of benefit to the area if the government allowed the construction of something that could help attract more visitors and foot traffic, instead of leaving the land plot abandoned.