A PROPERTY management company in Minhang District has been told to rethink its plan to dig up green areas at a residential complex to make room for parking spaces following a slew of complaints from residents.

　　The Li’an No. 1 development in Xinzhuang Town, which features 1,300 apartments, was built in 1993 when fewer families had cars, said an employee of the property management company, who asked not be named.

　　“But nowadays, there are not enough spaces and there are often fights among people trying to find somewhere to park,” the person said, adding that the compound has 348 parking spaces and 450 car owners.

　　“As early as 5pm all of the spaces are occupied,” new mom Diana Li told Shanghai Daily yesterday.

　　“If I’m forced to park outside the complex, it’s really inconvenient,” she said.

　　In a bid to resolve the issue, the management company last month began a redevelopment program, which involved cutting down trees, pulling up lawns and laying concrete.

　　The plan, however, did not receive universal support.

　　“If they cut down the trees and replace them with parking spaces, it will make the compound more dusty and dirty, and in summer there will be fewer places to find some shade,” said a resident surnamed Chen.

　　“Some of the cherry blossom and osmanthus trees have been here for more than 10 years, and if they go it will make the air pollution worse,” he said.

　　Another resident, surnamed Zhang, said he was annoyed that none of the residents were even told of the plan.

　　In response to such concerns, officials from the Xinzhuang government ordered a halt to the program, pending a more acceptable solution.

　　Under local planning laws, property management firms are not permitted to reduce the amount of green space stipulated in a residential complex’s original design.

　　The anonymous property manager said that their initial plan was to reduce the “green coverage” of the site to 25 percent from 35 percent, though most of the land to be reclaimed was covered in weeds.

　　“We need to do something about the parking problem, as sometimes when people try to squeeze their cars in it blocks access for emergency services vehicles,” he said.

　　An official from the Xinzhuang housing office said he is working with residents, the neighborhood committee and the property management company to find a solution.