Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby says he will meet with Mona Heights residents to discuss their concerns about what they describe as chaotic building construction in the neighbourhood.

His response follows a request made by Mona Heights Citizens’ Association President Winsome Johns-Gayle for building approvals in the area to be halted until a meeting is held with residents to discuss the way forward.

“I believe that the Mona [residents] are a part of the Citizens Rights to the City, and there is an upcoming meeting, so I will see if the issue is raised there. If not, I will meet in particular with the Mona residents afterwards,” Swaby told the Jamaica Observer.

Swaby did not give a date for the meeting or say whether the residents’ request for a halt in the granting of building approvals would be met before the talks. However, the planned sit-down is being seen by the residents as a step forward as they have said they have grown tired of reporting building violations to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

Tensions between the KSAMC and Mona residents surfaced last month when residents noticed construction on what appeared to be a third floor on a single-family residence. According to Johns-Gayle, the community’s building covenant states that three-storey residential buildings are prohibited.

The residents reported the matter to the KSAMC which, on April 29, placed a stop order on the construction pending an investigation.

Mayor Swaby said that the single-family residence in question was approved for an extension on December 13, 2023. However, after work began breaches were detected.

“The proposed extension spoke of two additional floors. Therefore, the proposed single-family development would have a total of three floors. There was a complaint that triggered a random inspection. Construction was in progress; however, the approved drawings were not on-site,” he said.

“The applicant was asked to produce the approved drawings and make contact with the office. They were also advised to cease all works until both the approved drawing from the applicant and that from the KSAMC are compared to what exists on the ground,” he added.

The mayor said that the investigation carried out by the KSMAC revealed that the applicant breached the approved permit by constructing walls on the third floor in what appeared to be an attempt to create additional spaces. He said the walls were inconsistent with the plans approved by the KSMAC.

“[The] applicant has decided to vary from what was approved. The notice requires all works to cease. The recommendation is to have the building conform to what was approved without compromising the structural integrity of the building,” said Swaby.

“There are other options the applicant can propose within the law. Notwithstanding, we stand by the above recommendation,” he added.

Documents obtained by the Sunday Observer state that the proposed extension, approved by the KSAMC includes a two-car garage, a pump room, a storeroom, and a generator or electrical room on the ground floor. Extensions on the first floor included a covered sun deck, a family room, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

A proposed second floor consists of a powder room, sun deck, gaming lounge, bar, storage, and an IT area.