Letter #2

As a resident of the area that is closest to 10B and 4A, I wish to put forth my comment on the proposal submitted by the developer .

The submitted developer photo montages do not incorporate perspectives that show how the views are affected from the existing residences. They are photos shown from a far distance and not from the perspective of those closest to the development. The claim in 11.9 7.3 of the visual impact assessment states that the majority of the floors of Peninsula Village will continue to have sea views is dubious. If the units in 4A and 10B are constructed as proposed, the building height perspective definitely shows that the new buildings will block the views for a significant number units and floors at the lower levels. The new buildings are shown to be much taller than the existing staff quarters and the telephone exchange building. With the buildings on 4A at the proposed level, it would create a needlessly denser environment as well as introduce structures that will totally block the first 5 floors of Jovial Verdant and Haven. 5/17 floors represents almost a third! This is a significant number of affected units and residents that would live in "walled buildings"!

It is also worth noting that proposed low rises in area 10B are going to be built on top of platforms so that these new flats will not have their sea view obscured by the 2-storey houses on the shoreline. Clearly the developer knows and cares about the sea view and understands very well that it is an important selling point for the new development and that the properties proposed shall enjoy such benefits… however, the developer has chosen to design the proposed development in total disregard of what made the existing flats attractive to the current residents. It is very unfair and hypocritical of the developer to propose it this way.

The past 3 years of the pandemic was spent in sacrifice to protect the elderly. A significant number of the existing resident-owners of the low floors of Jovial Verdant and Haven are retirees and elderly. I personally know them and it would be a shame for Hong Kong’s collective sacrifice to save them from Covid would result in a deterioration of their quality of life post-pandemic.

Perhaps 4A would be better kept as a public open space or the proposed low-rises can be set into the slope at a lower level closer to the marina and to align with the Coastline flats. As for 10B a reduction or redesign of the building heights nearest to Jovial, Haven and Verdant to harmoniously blend new developments while respecting the current structures and continue to foster a healthy living environment which was and IS the vision for Discover Bay.