The prohibition of development on Shetzu Island was originally part ofa plan to prevent flooding in the entire greater Taipei area.
In 1970, when the Ministry of Economics was planning the Greater Taipei Flood Prevention Plan, they decided that dikes would be built for the areas of Sanchung, Luchow, Talungtung and Shihlin bordering the Tamsui and Keelung River.
Because of delays to the finalizing of the continuing flood prevention plan, Shetzu Island, a sandbar formed by the alluvium deposited by the Tamsui and Keelung Rivers, became designated as a "flood district" because of its low-lying terrain, low population (only 2,000-3,000) and low economic value. Development was prohibited, and the island became an area of green fields used only for agriculture.
At that time, Shetzu Island lacked road names, having only the smallerdesignations of lins, lis, lanes, and alleys. Called "the three lis beyond the dikes," it wasn't until 1978 that the address plates by the doorswere changed to Yen Ping North Road, Section 7 to Section 9, making YenPing North Road the road with highest numbered sections in Taipei city.In June of 1990 the three original lis became redrawn into two: Fuan Liand Fuchow Li.
The government hasn't permitted building in Shetzu since it gave the order halting development in 1970. "We often tell ourselves that we are living in 'a flood plane parking lot.' For years many people living in Taipei didn't even know there was such a place . . . ." says Yang Ming-chao, who was head of Fuan Li for nine years.
For years area residents and the city council clamored to opened up the district to development. After water resource agencies performed careful inspections, the Executive Yuan finally approved the building of lowlevel dikes for protection.
It has already been decided to raise the dikes on the island from fourto six meters, and the level of protection is classified as "20-year flood frequency." As a result, from now on buildings in residential areasthat are under six meters above sea level will be required to be built on stilts out of consideration for human safety. But in terms of the flood prevention plan for the whole Taipei area, Shetzu is still is being given low-level protection. Therefore, it should have low-density development.
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