Jagdeep Singh Deo, the state executive councillor in charge of housing, said the project’s footprint was not set higher than the maximum limit of 76m above sea level for development to take place.
“Since it was approved by the local authorities, I am certain it has passed the guidelines set,” he told FMT.
Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Oh Tong Keong had questioned the project, saying authorities should review the approval given for the three-tower condominium project covering 3.9ha along Jalan Sungai Ara 1.
He said nearby residents were anxious about its impact to the environment and traffic in the neighbourhood which only had a single narrow road leading out.
Oh said objections were sent to the local authorities as the condominium would be at the edge of a hill nearby.
Two of the planned towers are 43 storeys high, while another is 47 storeys high. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.
A spokesman for developer Hunza Properties Bhd declined to comment when contacted.
Jagdeep meanwhile said Gerakan should question Putrajaya’s policy to allow projects to take place on hill land higher than 300m above sea level.
“The Penang government has called for the federal government to be environmentally friendly by lowering this cap,” he said.
He said the state would not approve anything set higher than 76m as stipulated by the Penang Structure Plan, which also prohibits development on gradient exceeding 25 degrees.
Jagdeep also said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) state government led by Gerakan had approved 28 high-rise housing schemes on land higher than 76m above sea level from 1985 to 2008.