Chamber urges governor not to sign zoning bill into law

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has asked Gov. Benigno R. Fitial not to sign a local bill that makes massive changes to the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008 so that the “progress and improvements” made as a result of such law won’t go to waste.

Douglas Brennan, Chamber president, said the business organization “strongly opposes” House Local Bill 17-26, Substitute 1, which passed the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation by a vote of 10-4.

He said the bill is “counterproductive” to the purpose of the original zoning legislation.

“Through the enactment of the original zoning law, establishing of a zoning enforcement office and the improvements that have come as a result of slow and gradual changes as to how our businesses and communities are organized, we are making progress. That progress and those improvements will essentially be eliminated with the signing of HLB 17-26,” Brennan said in a Feb. 4 letter to Fitial.

Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said the Fitial administration is still reviewing the local bill, introduced by Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan).

Brennan, moreover, said the Chamber believes that “business development throughout the CNMI needs to be well thought out and meticulously planned in order to enhance the natural beauty and unique culture of our islands.”

“The SCC asks you not to sign this.legislation. Please give the current law time to have the effect intended by its original authors,” Brennan added.

The Chamber is the largest business organization in the CNMI with some 150 members.

Recycling bill

Brennan also wrote to House Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan), raising concerns about House Bill 17-208, which seeks to establish a recycling deposit fee and payment program.

He said while the Chamber agrees with the bill’s intent to address pollution and environmental concerns, solid waste disposal, and the islands’ natural beauty, it believes the method outlined in HB 17-208 “does not adequately address those concerns.”

Brennan, general manager of Microl Corp., also said the bill’s recycling plan already exists “and there are those already collecting for profit doing exactly that.”

“Further, HB 17-208 would increase the costs of those existing efforts, most specifically with the reverse vending machine requirements,” he added.

Troop store expansion

The Chamber, in a separate statement, raised concerns about the impact on private businesses of the planned expansion of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, troop store.

Brennan said the Chamber has been involved in several meetings and corresponded with those in charge, letting them know that the Chamber is aware that the current system “is being abused by individuals who have not served in the military and are not entitled to these benefits.”

“In years past, products sold through the troop store have ended up on the shelves of local stores. That is not right. The SCC maintains it is not incumbent upon those negatively impacted by abuses to the system to push for change, but by those operating the system, to make doubly sure there is no abuse of what qualified military personnel and their immediate families are entitled to enjoy. They earned it, we did not,” Brennan said.

The U.S. Department of Defense is expected to release in the next few months U.S. Congress-approved funds for the construction of a substantially bigger troop store than the existing facility on Saipan at a cost of $2.44 million. The existing troop store is only 1,120 square feet and was built in 1987.

Brennan said local importers, retailers, and wholesalers should not have to compete against AAFES and the Defense Commissary Agency.

“Access should be controlled and monitored constantly,” he said.

He said the Chamber looks to today’s technology for the solution.

“Some at the Chamber have suggested ration cards as a way to limit purchases at the commissaries and avoid abuse. All entitled individuals must present proper identification prior to entry and purchase. A computerized system can easily monitor individuals’ purchases,” he added.