Zoning to issue notices vs public nuisances, signage violations

Starting Nov. 7, the Zoning Office will be issuing violation notices to those who do not comply with the requirements of the Public Nuisance and Signs under the zoning law.

Acting Zoning administrator Therese T. Ogumoro made the announcement “due to the unfavorable result of recent inspections carried out throughout several villages and thoroughfares and main tourist areas.”

Public nuisance is defined under the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008 as “an unreasonable interference with a right common to the general public.” It “does not change its character by reason of its location on private or public property, occupied or unoccupied property.”

Examples of public nuisance are vegetation obstructing the safe passage or sight of motorists or pedestrians at an intersection or any street or sidewalk; abandoned vehicles or appliances in public view; a building or structure in such dilapidated condition that it presents a fire hazard or a menace to the health of the public; and laundry hung outside on a balcony, terrace, porch, deck or veranda within the view of the public, particularly in the tourism related districts zoned as Garapan Core, Garapan East, Beach Road, and Tourist Resort.

Ogumoro said that violation notices will also be issued for building, ground, and banner signs that are not permitted under the zoning law.

“Most of the signs, especially banners, have been improperly placed or damaged and owners are responsible to remove them or bring them into compliance with the law,” she explained.

Violators of this zoning requirement will face criminal and civil penalties, including fines up to $1,000 per day.

In an interview yesterday, Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune that the full implementation of this zoning requirement “has to do with the image of our island, not just for our visitors but also for the residents.”

When asked why the zoning requirement was not implemented in the past, Ogumoro replied, “Perhaps it may not have been seen as a priority by the previous administrator.”

The acting administrator added that their effort to fully implement the requirement is “not just about following the law.”

“It’s all about the businesses, communities, and neighbors working together to promote our island and people as clean, healthy, attractive, and safe,” she said.

Ogumoro said the Zoning Office and board extend their appreciation “to those businesses, developers and residents who have done so much to improve the island aesthetically, with clean surroundings and their use of attractive landscaping to screen storage or service areas from public view.”

For more information, visit the Zoning Office website at www.zoning.gov.mp or call 234-9661.