A development plan for the Odeungsan tourism complex in Gwangju, pushed by Shinsegae Property, has been sent back for re-review by the Central Urban Planning Committee, prompting the project's backers to shore up their proposals on traffic management, development-profit recovery and residence facility plans.
The re-review decision came to light Thursday at a business briefing held by the safety and construction committee of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Council, targeting Gwangju Urban Corporation. The Central Urban Planning Committee had reviewed a proposed revision to the Odeungsan tourism complex development plan in March before ordering supplementary work and a fresh review.
The committee identified three areas requiring improvement: realistic traffic measures to handle the increased volume expected from the tourism complex, a more detailed plan for recovering development profits, and the recently contentious residence facility construction plan.
Gwangju Urban Corporation said it is briefing officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and members of the Central Urban Planning Committee on the relevant details. It plans to work with the integrated special city to prepare supplementary alternatives and secure re-review approval this year.
The Odeungsan tourism complex project covers 2.736 million square meters in Unsu-dong, Gwangsan-gu, and calls for building leisure, recreation and cultural facilities in the area. The project carries a total budget of 1.34 trillion won ($900 million), with Shinsegae Property planning to develop Grand Starfield Gwangju — a stay-and-play integrated tourism complex — on the site.
"The issues of traffic, development profits and the residence facility are not matters for the urban corporation alone — they affect the urban planning and tourism policy of the entire special city," Gwangju Urban Corporation said. "We will consult with the special city and present workable alternatives."
sij@heraldcorp.com
