MBBB Objection Hearing - The Cove Press Release – Copthorne Redevelopment, 29th November 2016

THE COVE CONDOMINIUM
COVE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Perbadanan Pengurusan Cove (PTG/PB/STRATA/SPP/63)
Pejabat Pengurusan
521C-1-1, Jalan Tanjong Bungah, The Cove
11200 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-8990799 Fax: 04-8990799
Email: thecove.management@gmail.com

Click to view PDF file with full contact info

UPDATE at 13:40 29th November 2016 after MBPP Objection Hearing 

This morning at 9:00 am Michal Deeb & Jin Tan together with their lawyers representing the 144 units ate the Cove Condominium attended the objection hearing called by the MBPP. Three owners from the adjacent Seahome were also present to register their objection.

The meeting was chaired by Datuk Patahiyah Ismail .

Facts Established:

• The proposed building will be 65 stories high or 253.8 meters tall
• It sits on 2.5 Acres of land
• It will include a total of 637 habitable units made up of 217 residential units & 420 hotel rooms
• It is a mixed development proposed on a plot which is currently zoned for tourism.

The Cove presented its objection on the basisthat the proposed building is of an unprecedented scale, height, size and type for the entire of Penang and if allowed to go ahead will represent a new precedent which will have dramatic and in our view serious negative impact on the low density residential local area and Penang as a whole. For this reason, it is imperative that the application for the proposed development is scrutinised with the outmost care by the council to ensure that priority is given to the long‐term impact and the wellbeing of the community rather than the profits of the developer.

More importantly it is our contention that the objection hearing was called prematurely based on the following grounds:

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT STUDIES PRESCRIBED BY CURRENT GUIDELINES

The guidelines require that certain studies are conducted and reports based on the same are submitted by the developer as part of their application. Those reports such as traffic impact assessment, social impact assessment, wind loading/ tunnelling etc.. are essential to allow the council and planners to properly evaluate the viability ad merit of the application. Guidelines also prescribe that such repots should be provided to the adjacent residents to allow them to submit an informed objection.

During the hearing, it was established that:

1. The developer is said to have conducted some of those studies.
2. The wind loading/ tunnelling and social impact assignments have not as of yet been conducted.
3. The reports relating to the studies already conducted were not provided to the Council or to the residents.

Based on the above and in the absence of the said reports it is our contention that the council is missing information essential to assessing the viability and merit of the application and that in having not been given an opportunity to see or review the reports the residents do not have adequate basis to submit an informed objection.

The Cove Press Release – Copthorne Redevelopment 29th November 2016

THE COVE CONDOMINIUM
COVE MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Perbadanan Pengurusan Cove (PTG/PB/STRATA/SPP/63)
Pejabat Pengurusan
521C-1-1, Jalan Tanjong Bungah, The Cove
11200 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-8990799 Fax: 04-8990799
Email: thecove.management@gmail.com

Click for PDF copy with more contact details 

Tanjung Bungah is a low density residential area known for its natural beauty and serene coastline. The Cove Condominium is a low density residential development of 144 units built on around 5.5 acres. This equates to a density of 26 units per acre. The area surrounding the Cove is primarily a low density residential area made up predominantly of single / double storey residential homes. Some medium height buildings exist but they form the exception and minority.

The Copthorne Hotel situated in the heart of Tanjung Bungah is a 20‐storey building with a number of residential bungalows nestled directly adjacent on one side and the Cove on the other.

A mere 5.8m separates the walls of the Copthorne from the carpark walls of the Cove and 25 meters from its bedroom windows. On the other side, a few meters are the only separation between the Copthorne and the residential bungalows.

                            A TRAVESTY IN THE MAKING

The proposed redevelopment of the Copthorne will include a 60‐storey mixed development which includes 217 apartments and 420 hotel rooms on a 2.5‐acre site zoned for tourism.

Setting aside technicalities, if planning permission is granted this would without a doubtset a terrifying precedent for the future of Tanjug Bungah and the entire island.

The site is zoned for Tourism and the planning application describes a 60‐storey building however the actual height is commensurate with 63.5 stories. A building of this size, height and make up being a mixed development of residential units and hotel would be a first of its kind ever built on a site zoned for Tourism. Does this fit in the midst of a low density residential area?