Citom wants high-rise bldg developers to consider traffic

With the construction boom in Cebu City, do developers know the impact of their projects on traffic?

With developers only required to submit plans to the Office of the Builidng Official, maybe not.

With this, Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operation Management (Citom) yesterday recommended that OBO and the City Planning and Development Office submit to Citom a list of commercial establishments in the city with ongoing projects or those issued permits to build.

Jakosalem said both offices should submit the list “now” for better coordination.

He made this statement after a closed-door meeting with officials of Taft Property Ventures and Development Corp. ,developer of the 55-story Horizons 101 condominium in Gen. Maxilom Avenue.

“At least they were able to clarify that they have considered traffic seriously in desgining Horizons 101,” said the Citom chief.

“We need to be guided as to what other commercial establishments are going to be constructed so we can address traffic concerns,” said Jakosalem.

“The Citom board is apprehensive about their mixed-use development plan,” he said of Taft Property.

“What if they put up a department store?”

However, Cerwin Eviota, Taft spokesman, assured “there will be no malls constructed there, only commercial establishments like banks and convenience stores.”

Eviota said a separate area is allotted for residential use and commercial spaces.

Aside from the twin towers project of Horizons 101, one 55-storey condominium and another 46-floor tower, Jaksoalem said Citom is in the dark about other constructions on the rise, which they notice only when promotion banners are put up.

“The development in Banawa that concerns us is One Pavillion, which has not submitted its traffic plan but has already planned new developments,” said Jakosalem.

“Good thing we see these streamers so we can try to get a look at their traffic plans.”

Horizons 101 project design consultant Architect Jeremy Acosta and Project Manager Engr. Oscar Umali made a technical presentation in the meeting with Citom yesterday.

Taft officials earlier told Cebu Daily News they conducted many studies “not required” by government agencies including a traffic study in 2010.

Eviota said the Taft Property technical team yesterday discussed comparative traffic volume projections in scenarios with and without the presence of Horizons 101.

“Even without Horizons 101, there is still a problem of traffic congestion in the area,” Eviota said.

In a separate interview with CDN, Umali said th planned 55-storey condominium, touted to be the tallest in the city, would add around 200 vehicles to the Gen. Maxilom Avenue traffic during peak hours.

The building will have 11 floors alloted for parking and the developer will provide a nine-meter setback from the road instead of the required six for public and private vehicles..

“We are relieved to know they are putting three more lanes inside their property,” said Jakosalem.

“Their 9-meter setback is in anticipation of road widening in case the road is widened by three meters,” said Jaksoalem.

He said the Taft traffic count showed that peak hour traffic is 10 a.m. and from 4:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon, depending on the days of the week.

Taft Property also presented a design for a footbridge across the road to minimize pedestrian crossing which was aproved by Citom.

It was earlier reported that OBO has recorded 31 high risebuilding projects in various stages of construction or in the pipeline.

High rise buildings are those with more than four floors.

Jakosalem said while he does not oppose high rise buildings as part of the city’s growth and increased demand for office and residential spaces, there is a need to consider seriously traffic issues.

“I personally see that these projects do not really think of traffic. They just build the structures, make money and that’s it,” Jakosalem said.

Jakosalem said Citom will determine what are potential traffic generators so that they could invite developers to discuss their traffic plan. Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua and Tweeny M. Malinao