The Central Planning Authority has approved a controversial traffic flow reversal at the Mizpah development in West Bay despite objections from neighbouring residents over safety concerns.
The authority granted permission on 9 July for applicant Kel Thompson to modify the parking lot driveway configuration at Block 9A Parcel 16 on Adonis Drive.
According to the meeting minutes, published on 30 July, this will reverse the direction of traffic flow and realign parking spaces accordingly.
Thompson’s representative Sammy Jackson told the authority the change was necessary due to legal access constraints.
He explained that existing rights of way created bottlenecks requiring one-directional traffic flow through a narrow section.
“The only solution is to reverse the traffic flow to ensure that the 15-foot-wide portion of the right of way is one direction only for his client’s development,” Jackson said during the hearing.
However, objector Elaine Groenewald, who lives in the adjacent Phase 1 development, argued the applicant lacked consent from existing strata owners and raised concerns about outdated plans that do not reflect ground conditions.
“Secondly, the plan is not up to date as there have been numerous changes made on the ground that are not reflected on the plans submitted,” Groenewald told the authority.
Another objector, Winsome Prendergast, said the traffic flow in the area causes a great safety concern to her and urged authority members to visit the site to assess conditions firsthand.
The authority noted that construction on the traffic modification had already begun before planning permission was obtained, with enforcement and stop notices previously served on the development.
Jackson acknowledged ongoing legal disputes but maintained the application addressed only traffic flow reversal, stating: “It is highly inappropriate to object to an application that is proposing a traffic flow reversal.”
The National Roads Authority indicated no objections to the proposed changes, supporting the authority’s decision to approve the modification while keeping all other original planning conditions in place.
