DPL seeks public comment on COP’s proposed 15-year land lease extension

The Department of Public Lands intends to recommend to the Legislature to grant Coral Ocean Point’s proposed 15-year extension of its land lease, but DPL secretary Oscar M. Babauta said yesterday they will wait for the end of the public comment period on Aug. 10 before making a decision to endorse such extension.

The final decision to grant Coral Ocean Point’s proposed lease extension lies not with DPL but with the Legislature.

However, DPL’s recommendation is needed before such an extension is even brought to the Legislature for consideration.

“We are currently reviewing Coral Ocean Point’s submission. Part of the review is the public comment period which ends on Aug. 10,” Babauta told Saipan Tribune.

Suwaso Corp., which owns and operates Coral Ocean Point in Unai Dangkulu near the Saipan international airport, is proposing a 15-year extension to its 25-year lease, which is expiring in August 2011.

Even before DPL’s public comment period expires, the Senate had already adopted on Thursday a resolution asking DPL to work with Coral Ocean Point “on a reasonable public land lease extension.”

DPL has put out a public notice in the newspaper on Suwaso Corp.’s proposed lease extension involving Lot No. 011 L 01 in an area measuring 735,023 square meters for Coral Ocean Point.

Copies of the location of the parcel and the proposed lease extension agreements are available at the DPL office for inspection.

The lessee, Suwaso Corp., is a CNMI corporation whose board of directors consists of Yusuke Fumoto, Vincent DLG. Torres, and Philip Mendiola-Long. Fumoto is also the president and treasurer of the corporation, while Torres is the vice president, and Mendiola-Long is the secretary.

DPL will be accepting public comments on the proposed lease extension up to Aug. 10.

Suwaso Corp., purchased by new owners this month, has prepared a “Coral Ocean Point Golf Revitalization Plan” which includes a $15 million investment to build 200 additional hotel rooms and to renovate and upgrade existing golf resort facilities and golf courses plus a $7 million investment for operational funding for a total of $22 million in investments for Phase I.

Phase II of the revitalization plan will cost $20 million.

This includes $4 million for alternative energy to convert the hotel and golf course to the use of solar and wind power, $10 million to build a convention center and outdoor city street, and $6 million to renovate and transform the hotel spa and pool into a 6-star spa management.

Coral Ocean Point currently employs 57 people. But the revitalization plan includes creating 180 new jobs.

It also commits to funding indigenous art programs, education programs and social programs.