Participants look at a map showing zoning in Bangkok at the final public hearing on the new city plan draft at the Thailand-Japan Youth Centre on Friday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) needs to prioritise public interest over commercialism, say participants who attended the final public hearing on the drafting of a new city plan on Friday.

Around 1,000 people gathered for the 15th and final public hearing, which went according to plan and inspired awe as it showcased Bangkok as a modern city with an expanding mass transit system and a plethora of green space.

The new plan advocates zoning and property development around new railway stations. It also provides incentives and bonuses for construction, known as FAR (floor-to-area ratio), to promote land development and construction of high-rise buildings

Other initiatives include zoning for green areas or the promotion of open spaces around the city in order to nurture the environment.

Despite the optimistic outlook, some participants found some of the details worrying.

A hotelier who runs a three-star hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport wants the city to revoke a law restricting the height of nearby hotels to 15 metres. He suggested the maximum height restriction be adjusted to 23 metres.

“I think there’s no need to keep buildings that low due to advances in aviation technology,” he said, adding that the height restriction only benefits big businesses that have enough land to build multiple buildings.

One of the most criticised proposals was one to reduce parking spaces within buildings.

“That is good for real estate but will worsen traffic congestion as it will force drivers to park their cars in small sois,” said Woranan Wiworakit, who represents 13 communities in Bangkok.

Most attendees were hopeful that City Hall would draft the plan carefully and make sure that the public receives the benefits instead of wealthy businesses.

Experts from a consultancy hired by the BMA to draft the plan insisted the zoning proposals were drawn up carefully with the public interest in mind.

The draft is based on 12 new rail routes covering a distance of 509 kilometres, the state transport hub projects, the development of offices, retail stores and condominiums within the same plot of land to accommodate for an increase of the number of city residents.

“We even thought about crime, terrorism and climate change while drafting our plan,” said Chittisak Thammaphonphilat, a representative of the consulting firm.