BY JAROD LIM

The 0.37ha vacant land in Jalan Awan Selimpat has been proposed as a site for an 18-storey condominium project.

TAMAN Yarl residents are up in arms over a proposed 18-storey condominium project in Jalan Awan Selimpat, as they fear the area will be too densely populated.

The proposed condominium will increase the population density from 60 to 236 residents per acre (0.4ha) if approved.

Taman Yarl Residents Association president Datuk Rabinder Singh said the proposed high-rise project was not suitable to be built at the vacant land.

“We are also concerned about security and privacy when there are so many people entering and leaving once the apartments are occupied,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had previously rejected a 21-storey condominium project from the same developer at the same site in 2014.

StarMetro had reported in June 2014 that the residents were against the project, also citing population density and traffic as reasons for their objection.

More than 100 residents gathered at the site to voice their objection against the latest proposed project on Tuesday. Some were seen holding up placards stating their objections.

A notice board on the said project was erected at the site early December last year. The condominium will consist of 61 units, with facilities for the residents.

Rabinder said DBKL had directly rejected a proposed 39-storey apartment building in Jalan Awan Jawa which consists of 72 units and hoped the local authority would do the same for the 18-storey project in Taman Yarl.

“Why do we need to go through the process of objecting to similar projects?

“Reducing three storeys for the building will not change the population density by much.

“We have sent a letter of objection to DBKL on Dec 7 last year, within the objection period for the proposed project. The closing date for objection was Dec 22, 2015,” he added.

Rabinder said their objection was based on the density stated in the Kuala Lumpur Draft Plan 2020 which indicated that the area allowed only 40 residents per acre (0.4ha).

“This is a low-density residential area; otherwise the narrow neighbourhood roads will be clogged up with cars double-parking on the roadside if this condominium project is approved.

“We do not mind houses being built on the 0.37ha vacant land but a condominium is too much,” he said, adding that residents had held talks with the developer.

The residents are now waiting for the public hearing to be held at DBKL.