LCQ2: Traffic impact of proposed residential development project at Cha Kwo Ling

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, in the Legislative Council today (February 11):

Question:

In order to take forward the private residential development project at the former Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine site, the Government is carrying out the planning procedure for amending the relevant Outline Zoning Plan. Under the Government's plan, the site will be used for constructing 15 private residential blocks of 16 to 22 storeys each, providing a total of 2 200 small and medium sized units for 6 000 residents. On the other hand, some residents of Laguna City, a private housing estate near the site, have relayed to me that the population of the housing estate is now about 24 000, and the current vehicular throughput of Cha Kwo Ling Road and Sin Fat Road, the main access roads used by the residents, is already very high, and serious traffic congestion occurs during peak hours. These residents are worried that the population in the area is bound to increase drastically after the completion of the development project, hence aggravating the traffic congestion there. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the latest details concerning the aforesaid development project, including measures to enhance the road networks in the surrounding areas and the number of parking spaces in the development area;

(2) of the respective volumes of traffic throughput to be generated during the construction stage of the development project and after the intake of residents according to the assessment conducted by the consultant; if such information is not available, of the reasons for that; and

(3) as the authorities indicated to the Kwun Tong District Council early last month that according to the traffic impact assessment conducted by the consultant, the levels of traffic throughput generated by the development project would be acceptable following the construction of a link road to Sin Fat Road and the implementation of traffic relief measures at the road junctions in nearby areas, of the relevant justifications and detailed statistics?

Reply:

President,

The development of ex-Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine site is estimated to provide about 2 200 housing units with about 6 000 planned population and is one of the Government's multi-pronged measures to increase housing land supply. According to the Planning Review on Development of Ex-Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine Site and technical assessments under the subsequent feasibility study, the proposed development will not cause unacceptable adverse impacts on the traffic, environmental and infrastructural aspects. We have consulted the Kwun Tong District Council on the proposed development of the ex-Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine site as well as the proposed amendments to the approved Cha Kwo Ling, Yau Tong, Lei Yue Mun Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K15/21.

Regarding each part of the question, our reply in consultation with the relevant policy bureaux and departments is as follows:

(1) The Administration mainly recommends using the existing quarry platform of the ex-Kaolin Mine site for medium-density residential development. Apart from that, a site near Sin Fat Road zoned "Government, Institution or Community" will be reserved for primary school. The remaining parts of the site will be mainly rezoned as "Open Space" and "Green Belt" in order to preserve the existing natural landscape. The proposed development will also provide an access road to connect Sin Fat Road with the proposed residential development.

Regarding measures to alleviate the traffic impact, the Administration has proposed a number of junction improvement measures to be implemented at the existing road junctions in the vicinity of the proposed development (i.e. road junctions of Cha Kwo Ling Road/Sin Fat Road, Cha Kwo Ling Road/Wai Fat Road/Shing Yip Street, Cha Kwo Ling Road/Wai Yip Street and Wai Yip Street/Wai Fat Road). After consulting the Kwun Tong District Council and local residents, the Administration has further improved the relevant measures based on the comments received. For instance, the loading/unloading bay near the northbound slow lane of Sin Fat Road at the junction of Cha Kwo Ling Road/Sin Fat Road is proposed to be moved away from the said junction in order to maintain smooth traffic. The northbound slow lane of Sin Fat Road in the junction area is also proposed to be designated as a 24-hour no stopping zone. Regarding the junction of Cha Kwo Ling Road/Wai Fat Road/Shing Yip Street, it is proposed to enhance the alignment of the approach road from Wai Fat Road westbound turning left to Cha Kwo Ling Road.

As to parking spaces, according to the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, about 150 parking spaces are estimated to be provided in the proposed development site, whereas the actual number will be adjusted in accordance with the numbers and sizes of the flats of the future development.

(2) According to the traffic impact assessment conducted by the consultants commissioned by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (Traffic Impact Assessment), it is expected that there will be around 60 vehicle trips per day at most entering/leaving the proposed development site during the construction of infrastructure works. After the intake of the residents, the total traffic throughput entering/leaving the proposed development is expected to be around 300 vehicle trips per hour during peak hours.

(3) According to the Traffic Impact Assessment, with the implementation of the proposed improvement measures at the existing road junctions in the vicinity of the proposed development (i.e. road junctions of Cha Kwo Ling Road/Sin Fat Road, Cha Kwo Ling Road/Wai Fat Road/Shing Yip Street, Cha Kwo Ling Road/Wai Yip Street and Wai Yip Street/Wai Fat Road), the reserve capacity of the relevant road junctions during peak hours in 2026 (i.e. five years after the completion of the proposed development) will be around 10 per cent to 23 per cent, showing that the existing roads in the vicinity should be sufficient to meet the traffic demand arising from the proposed development and the population growth in the area. In addition, the concerned departments will implement temporary traffic measures as appropriate to minimise the traffic impact caused by the construction of infrastructure works.

Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:04

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