City to issue new guidelines on Kemang
JAKARTA (JP): The municipality is to issue urban design guidelines allowing parts of the residential Kemang district in South Jakarta for commercial uses such as restaurants and cafes.
"The city's plan to change Kemang's status is necessary because of the capital's rapid development," the head of the city planning agency, Ahmaddin Achmad, said yesterday.
The move apparently follows Governor Sutiyoso's surprising remarks last week that he planned to allow the many restaurants, cafes and pubs currently dotting Jl. Kemang to remain open.
"As long as the situation and the condition of Kemang is conducive to redefining it as a commercial site, and there are no objections from the people, yes, Kemang's status may change," Sutiyoso said after visiting the South Jakarta mayoralty.
Sutiyoso then ordered his officials to evaluate the situation in Kemang.
During a press conference yesterday, Achmaddin refused to elaborate on the details of the proposed guidelines, saying that the agency "is still waiting for official instructions from the governor".
When asked about the municipality's inconsistency in its previous decision -- which limits Kemang to a residential area -- Ahmaddin said changes to the city's planning and land use are legally possible after four years of implementation.
"We can compromise on this matter. Every five years we evaluate the city plan with the help of urban experts and discuss it with the National Development Planning Board.
"If the area of Kemang can no longer be defined as a residential site, then the city will adjust its land use to something more suitable and then prepare a new projection plan for the next five years," he said.
Due to Jakarta's rapid growth and its dense inhabitation, the municipality, of course, could not maintain a static plan for the city, Ahmaddin said.
"For instance, Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta was declared a a residential area in 1954 but later there were commercial developments due to the rapid growth of the population in the area.
"People need better facilities, better homes," he said. "That's why the city's plan is always flexible."
The same situation has surfaced in Kemang, he said.
"Therefore, the city is considering making an evaluation to change (Kemang's) land use based on the people's needs."
Ahmaddin conceded that revising the city plan was not easy.
"We have to evaluate all aspects. It takes at least two years and costs some Rp 2 billion (US$879,120) to complete it. I tell you, it's not an easy job."
The controversy surrounding Kemang resulted in the issuance of an instruction, dated March 18, that all building permits in the area -- which is dominated by cafes, restaurants, furniture shops, beauty parlors, clinics and duty-free shops -- were to be checked.
According to city regulations, only 15 percent of buildings in the area are allowed to be nonresidential.
But municipality data reveals that 90 percent of Kemang's buildings have been converted into commercial sites. Many businesses operate with housing permits instead of commercial ones.
The March instruction, signed by former governor Surjadi Soedirdja, said no new permits would be issued until everything was put in order.
Since then 18 establishments, including cafes, restaurants and furniture shops have been closed down. (07)
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