Approval of hotel will undo far-sighted planning policy
I refer to the letter by Richard Wright ('Building height rules are unfair and will discourage investment', May 26) and offer another perspective on this issue.
In 2002 similar height restrictions and density controls were introduced on residential properties along the south side of Kennedy Road.
The justification given by the Town Planning Board was the limited road capacity, the preservation of the existing character of the area, and to ensure that the public views from Bowen Road and Wan Chai Gap northwards to the harbour are preserved.
Although the redevelopment potential has been cut asset values in this sector of Kennedy Road have increased more than the general market because buyers have appreciated that these controls benefit the quality of life.
I much prefer to live in this part of Kennedy Road than the already crammed and over-developed residential areas in Mid-Levels west of Garden Road.
Mr Wright's sense of 'fairness' will allow him to understand residents' anger and consternation when we recently discovered that a 315-metre-tall hotel tower with 2,197 rooms and a massive commercial podium may be erected in this Wan Chai sector of residential Kennedy Road.
This project could go ahead even though planning permission has lapsed.
It is being resurrected with administrative support from the upper reaches of government, which appear to be so out of touch that they cannot see that this massive commercial development may overload the road capacity, radically change the character of the area and block the preserved public views.
A similar scheme was rejected by the Town Planning Board in April 2004 for these very reasons, yet the Planning Department 'rubber stamped' a minor amendments application in June 2004 without reference to the board.
If this development gets built, may I suggest that it is named the 'Lazarus Hotel'.
Roger Emmerton, Wan Chai
