DPL lottery awards homestead lots

The Department of Public Lands continues to award homestead lots based on lotteries being done month to month. Based on its latest listing it had a total of 40 vacant lots on Saipan that were ready for lottery draw.

On Oct. 31, DPL conducted a lottery and invited 20 homestead applicants to participate in the lottery; however, only seven applicants participated.

There was a second lottery draw on Nov. 30, with five participants.

The remaining 28 lots will be distributed via lottery draw this December, according to a DPL statement yesterday.

DPL attributes the delay in issuing the lots to the outdated contact information of applicants and applicants cannot be reached by the information listed in their applications.

The average processing time from DPL issuing notices of lottery draw to the time DPL receives the undeliverable notice is about 30 days. If the applicant does not respond, DPL contacts the next applicant on the list. Therefore, these unreachable applicants are switched from the active list to the inactive list, but remain eligible.

Additionally, DPL conducts land interest research to determine if applicants already have a title or interest in a parcel of land. Applicants or spouses of applicants with land interest are disqualified from the homestead program.

Due to non-compliance with permit terms, DPL continues to revoke homestead lots, allowing DPL to re-issue out those vacant lots via lottery.

DPL is currently reviewing applications submitted in 1992.

DPL encourages all pending homestead applicants to update their homestead applications, which will determine eligibility and priority.

At present, there are 2,577 pending village homestead applicants for Saipan.

DPL Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo said that DPL receives a large number of undeliverable mail to homestead applicants.

“These letters inviting applicants to update their files are returned to DPL. Since these applicants are unreachable, we cannot proceed with updating their applications and issuing a homestead lot, but they remain on the inactive listing.

“I encourage all homestead applicants to meet with our Homestead Division and update records including mailing address, phone numbers, marital status, birth certificates, etc.”

The next proposed homestead site is As Gonno, Saipan. DPL awarded the request-for-proposal for redesign of the proposed homestead subdivision to GHD Engineering.

Initially, the subdivision would have accommodated roughly 228 lots between 800 and 1,000 square meters per lot, but in an effort to reduce backlog in pending applicants, the lots will be reduced to 600 square meters because As Gonno is sewer system capable and homesteaders will not need a septic tank or leaching field.

This means the As Gonno subdivision is estimated to accommodate 360 families on Saipan.

“DPL wishes to issue more homestead lots but is constitutionally prohibited from using lease revenue for infrastructure improvements, a prerequisite to construct a dwelling,” said Teregeyo.

DPL is required to remit all funds minus operational expenses to the Marianas Public Land Trust; DPL cannot utilize these funds for infrastructure-related costs.

DPL does work actively to identify suitable land for homestead development, but infrastructure such as water and power remain a prerequisite for homesteaders to construct a dwelling.

DPL continues to lobby for homestead infrastructure appropriation. Letters have been sent to the Legislature requesting for financial assistance for homestead infrastructure for homestead subdivisions on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.

Until funds are appropriated, delays will continue in the development of more homestead sites.

Other proposed sites that require infrastructure include I’denne, Saipan; Marpo Heights, Tinian; and Finafa, Rota.

DPL also executed a contract with SSFM CNMI, LLC on Aug. 11, 2017, to conduct the CNMI Comprehensive Public Land Use Plan. The plan will also identify suitable sites for homestead, among other uses, that are consistent with Public Law 15-2.

For more information about DPL, visit www.dpl.gov.mp or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DPLCNMI. (PR)