Mayor Desmond McKenzie

The Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) yesterday issued a cease work order on the housing development known as Monte Carlo Isle, at 11 Seaview Avenue, Seymour Lands, St Andrew - the area known as "The Golden Triangle".

The order was issued following a tour of the development by the city's mayor, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, and a KSAC building officers.

McKenzie said the order was issued because the developers, North American Holdings, had varied from the approved building plan which was to develop 30 one-bedroom apartments and were instead constructing two-bedroom apartments with separate living and dining facilities.

"The order requires the developers to immediately cease construction of the units," McKenzie said. In the meantime, he has instructed the corporation's lawyers to take legal action against the developers for the alleged breach.

"This is a pattern that has developed recently with developers seeking approval for one type of unit then proceeding, after approval, to construct another type of unit. We are not prepared to put up with this any longer," said McKenzie.

The KSAC, he said, needs to protect the public and its own reputation as the city's local authority.
The action of the council, however, followed a meeting Monday night at which residents and property owners of Seymour Lands expressed frustration and disgust at government for what they claimed was the administration's inability to enforce zoning laws in the area.

The public meeting was called to discuss proposed changes in the laws to allow for an orderly development of the community, but residents were adamant that there should be no changes unless existing zoning laws were enforced.

At the meeting, hosted by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), proposals for a new Development Order were presented that would, among other things, allow for a mix of residential and professional activities in the community.

The proposed Development Order also seeks to change the density of the area, from 30 habitable rooms per acre to 50 habitable rooms per acre on some roads. It also proposes a ratio of 70 per cent residential to 30 per cent professional office use.

But property owners, among them several powerful figures of the public and private sectors and academia, said they would not approve a change to allow for greater density and more professional activities, when the authorities were unable to prevent breaches currently taking place.

"(There should be) no new Development Order until we fix what we already have," said a woman who said she has lived in the community for the last 37 years.

"We have a credibility problem," one male resident said of NEPA and the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, the entities empowered to stop illegal building in the area.

Seymour Lands is bordered by Lady Musgrave Road, Hope Road, Trafalgar Road and Old Hope Road and includes Vale Royal, the official residence of the prime minister. The area strategically borders New Kingston, as well as King's House, Jamaica House and Devon House.

The community originally consisted mainly of single-family houses, but a few multi-storey dwellings and commercial offices have been popping up, which the peeved residents claimed were breaking current covenants and laws.
Businessman Sameer Younis was among those who said that the current 30 habitable rooms per acre should remain.

However, NEPA representatives said the current Development Order was outdated, as it was 40 years old.

Architect Douglas Stiebel, a board member of NEPA, said he shared the disappointment of the residents regarding the enforcement of the laws, but said such cases could be tied up in court for years.

Meanwhile, lawyer and tax specialist Ethlyn Norton-Coke, a long-time resident of the Golden Triangle, questioned whether the authorities were carrying out their jobs properly.

The meeting concluded with some residents agreeing to serve on a committee that would seek to ensure that the zoning laws were enforced. NEPA also agreed to produce a brochure with the proposed changes for public viewing.

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