People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor for the Maxfield Division in the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Dennis Gordon, has recused himself from the Building and Town Planning Committee amid an investigation into building breaches reportedly committed by a company with which he is affiliated.

The breaches are in relation to the development of office and warehouse space at Lyndhurst Road, Kingston 5.

Gordon, in a statement said “ln light of the commencement of an investigation by the KSAMC into the approval process for a development on Lyndhurst Road involving my company, I have decided to recuse myself and withdraw from the Building and Town Planning Committee and to relinquish the chairmanship of the Finance Committee, with immediate effect”.

“This decision is made in recognition of and support for the efforts of the current administration of the KSAMC to strengthen governance procedures. The decision is made even though my company has taken the required steps to regularise the status of the development, as I remain fully committed to upholding and supporting the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance in the administration of the KSAMC,” Gordon added.

On December 24, the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, disclosed that a breach was detected at the commercial building on Lyndhurst Road and informed that it was under investigation by the KSAMC.

Swaby informed that a stop order was placed on the building in November 2023 after it was discovered that the construction was three storeys instead of a two-storey structure as was permitted.

The mayor said the disclosure was being made to the public as he recognises “the gravity of the matter, particularly as it involves a sitting councillor of the KSAMC”.

Swaby also shared the following:

On April 21, 2023: JACDEN submitted an application seeking permission for the partial demolition, renovation, and construction of a two-story building intended for office and warehouse use.

April 25, 2023: The application was assigned to the Building Officer responsible for the zone where the building is located.

May 5, 2023: The application was referred to the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and the Town & Country Planning Authority (TCPA).

June 20, 2023: The Building Officer completed an initial assessment of the application.

August 3, 2023: The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) responded to the application, requesting amendments.

September 29, 2023: The Director of Planning visited the site and discovered that the structure under construction was a three-story building, exceeding the two stories specified in the application.

October 9, 2023: The Town & Country Planning Authority (TCPA) responded to the application, also requesting amendments.

October 17, 2023: The breach of the approved plans was officially documented in the file.

November 10, 2023: A “cease work” notice was served on the owner/occupier.

“Several key requirements were subsequently imposed on the applicant to regularise the development (as built measure). These included submitting updated drawings that accurately reflect the actual construction, paying as-built fees equivalent to one per cent of the bill quantities prepared by a registered quantity surveyor (the maximum fee allowed by law for breaches), and providing a professional engineer’s report to confirm structural integrity. On April 30, 2024, the applicant had complied with all these requirements,” Swaby said.

He informed that an application for the variation has been submitted to the KSAMC, which was referred to the Planning Department on December 17, 2024.

Following this, Swaby said, the application will be presented to the Building and Planning Committee for consideration.

-30-