City to issue new guidelines on Kemang
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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