Zoning upbeat on proposed changes to Saipan zoning law

Following their presentation at the Legislature last week, the Zoning Office and its board remain optimistic that the proposed amendments and map changes to the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008 will be approved.

Acting Zoning administrator Therese T. Ogumoro noted, however, that some lawmakers have raised concerns over some of the proposed amendments, prompting them to schedule another public hearing on Friday.

“I’m very hopeful that the committee will be able to review the proposed text amendments and the map after the public hearing and present their findings to the local delegation,” Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune yesterday. “I hope they would be able to act on its passage to create the 2011 Saipan Zoning Law.”

Ogumoro, board chair Diego Blanco, and legal counsel Kate Fuller met with members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Committee on Judiciary & Governmental Operations on Oct. 12 to present the proposed amendments.

Last week’s presentation was the second one conducted by Zoning officials at the Legislature. The first was on Aug. 23.

During the presentation, Ogumoro said that Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) recommended that the loop on the San Roque Drive be rezoned to a village-commercial district due to the presence of small stores and apartment buildings in the area.

Rep. George N. Camacho, on the other hand, recommended that the village-commercial zone in Kagman be extended from the Mobil gas station all the way to Kagman High School.

Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) recommended that the village-commercial zone on the strip along main Dandan Road be extended up to the intersection where it meets with Tun Herman Pan Road.

Ogumoro said the Zoning Office is working with the Legislature to see that these recommendations be incorporated in the final text amendments.

She said that during their first presentation at the Legislature, there had been concerns about the proposal to rezone to industrial zoning district the area along Tun Kiyoshi Road in Koblerville and areas around the airport. The area is currently zoned as mixed village commercial and village residential.

Ogumoro disclosed that over 30 water wells currently used for farming activities were also discovered by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the Division of Environmental Quality in the area.

Because of the concerns and the discovery, Ogumoro said they included in their proposed text amendments certain uses that will be prohibited in the industrial zoning district in the affected area. These uses include gas and fuel wholesale; gas station; light repair; and sanitary landfill.

For the same area, the Zoning Office also proposed that they will permit as “conditional” the following uses: general vehicle repair, manufacturing and processing, warehousing/general wholesaling, mining, asphalt and concrete plants; and transfer station.

Ogumoro disclosed that they did not get any comments regarding the proposals and the village meetings and public hearings they conducted “were poorly attended.” “We waited for several months,” she added.

Still, Rep. Deleon Guerrero and Rep. Antonio P. Sablan urged postponing any action until a meeting is conducted. JGO Committee chair Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) has scheduled the public hearing on Friday, Oct. 21, from 6pm to 8pm at the Dandan Elementary School cafeteria.

“If it weren’t for these additional concerns, a decision would’ve been made already. But the committee has to hear from the public, especially the landowners, on the proposed industrial zone. They wanted to ensure that the industrial zone uses do not affect the current uses,” she explained.

Ogumoro added that public comments in Friday’s hearing will also be included in the final text amendments of zoning law.