Community supports Blue Water Homes’ permit application

 Only two community members expressed opposition to the conditional use permit application of Blue Water Homes at the public hearing conducted by the Zoning Office at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center on Thursday.

Zoning board chair Diego Blanco and Blue Water Homes LLC’s Michael S. Sablan separately confirmed the two dissenting opinions during the topping off ceremony of Sandy Beach Homes last Friday.

“One opposed the application totally and the other opposed the size of the proposal and wanted it toned down,” Blanco told Saipan Tribune.

Blanco said the purpose of the hearing was to gather inputs from the public regarding the application.

“The law allows this type of development in the area on a conditional basis,” noted Blanco. “The zoning board will set conditions if it issues a permit to ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed.”

Sablan said, “Except for the two, everyone else is in support of the project,” adding that 15 individuals backed the Blue Water Homes application and spoke at the hearing in support of the project.

Blanco added that they will put together all comments on the application and wait for the applicant to submit some more documents before they hold another public hearing to decide on the application.

Blue Water Homes is the second affordable housing project that applied for and got approved under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The board of the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., which administers the LIHTC program in the CNMI, approved Blue Water Homes LLC’s application during its meeting last month.

Blue Water Homes LLC, according to Sablan, is made up of Triple J Saipan, Western Pacific Economic Development Group, himself, the Jones family, and a non-profit group. These entities also comprise Sandy Beach Homes LLC.

Sablan said they presented the project concept and preliminary design at the public hearing which lasted for two and a half hours.

“We’re very pleased with the comments that we received. Very, very pleased. I think many of the residents not only in the area but on Saipan see the progress we’re making with Sandy Beach Homes and the objectives of this program, which is basically to provide lower income families the opportunity to also live a good life,” he said.

The Blue Water Homes project involves the construction of 80 units that are two-, three-, and four-bedroom units with a price tag of $30 million. Just like Sandy Beach Homes, it will “emphasize a lot on green technology” with its solar water heater and Energy Star appliances.

Sablan said Blue Water Homes will also be “within walking distance” to schools, stores, and other establishments since it will be put up south of Chalan Kanoa Beach Club.

“The project site involves four separate lots and we have secured the leases on three of the four. Hopefully, we’ll close the deal on the last place,” he disclosed.

Sablan noted that they would still need to secure additional permits from the Coastal Resources Management, Division of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Public Works.