Experts back policy on city land use
Experts back policy on city land use
JAKARTA (JP): City spatial observers voiced support on
Thursday for the city administration's policy of allowing
buildings whose construction breached existing spatial plans to
continue to be utilized rather than be demolished.
Contacted separately by The Jakarta Post, city spatial experts
M. Dhanisworo and Danang Priatmodjo said it would not be
judicious for the administration to order the demolition of
buildings found in violation of spatial plans.
The two were commenting on the City Council's endorsement on
Wednesday of a new bylaw on the city's spatial plan, which will
be effective until 2010.
"The previous spatial plan was too rigid due to the absence of
any possibility for multiple land use. When the pressure for
development was high during the economic boom, the regulations
could not accommodate it," Dhanisworo said.
The professor at Bandung Institute of Technology's School of
Architecture said 10 years ago changes in development occurred so
quickly, both the public and the administration "compromised" and
allowed violations of existing spatial regulations.
Dhanisworo hailed the administration's decision to merely
impose penalties on errant building owners.
"If the administration took stricter action, I am afraid that
half of the buildings in the city would be demolished because
most of them breached the regulations," he said.
Danang agreed with Dhanisworo, saying demolishing buildings
for the sake of the city's spatial plan would not benefit the
city.
"Just let the buildings exist, but their owners should be
obliged to pay compensation for their violations," he said.
Under the newly enacted bylaw on the city's spatial plan, the
administration pledged to abide by new the regulation which calls
for more green areas.
Green areas in the city declined in recent years as more
building were constructed in the capital in the rush of economic
development.
The head of City Council Commission D for development affairs,
Ali Wongso Sinaga, said the new bylaw would prevent people from
buying their way out of preserving the environment.
He underlined the importance of modifying those buildings
found in violation of the city's spatial plan so they conformed
with their land-use allocation.
Ali said, for example, buildings surrounding the Senayan
complex in South Jakarta should be modified in accordance with
their land-use allocation, namely for sports and recreation.
"That's why buildings like Plaza Senayan shopping complex and
Hotel Mulia Senayan should provide sports or recreation
facilities," he said.
Danang, who is a lecturer at Tarumanegara University in West
Jakarta, said the administration should use the momentum of the
currently sluggish property sector to evaluate its policies
regarding this sector.
"Now is the right time for the administration to prepare
accountable regulations which are flexible enough toward urban
development."
He said the administration should also be aware that
development always moved faster than regulations. (ind)