HLB 17-26, S3 will create negative impacts to your neighborhood

The Zoning Office wishes to inform the public about the following changes in HLB 17-26 S3 introduced by Rep. Stanley Torres, which was passed by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation by a vote of 10 to 4 and is currently awaiting the governor’s decision.

The bill seeks to do the following:

* Rezone areas 350 feet from the centerline along both sides of the highways and primary/secondary roads to mixed commercial zone including Chalan Pale Arnold Road (Middle Road) from Oleai Traffic Signal to Wing Beach in Marpi, Isa Drive, Chalan Msgr. Guerrero Road, As Perdido Road, Tun Kiyoshi Road, Tun Herman Pan Road, Beach Road, Chalan Tun Thomas P. Sablan Road, Koblerville Road, As Gonno Road, Quartermaster Road, Sugar King Road, Navy Hill Road, Kagman Road, Flame Tree Road, Naftan Road, Dandan Road, Chalan Msgr. Martinez Road (As Lito), Talofofo Road, and Santa Lourdes Road. This includes rezoning neighborhoods that are currently residential to mixed commercial in parts of San Roque Village, Tanapag Village, Kagman Village, Dandan Village, China Town, Garapan Village, Beach Road, Oleai Village, As Lito, Capitol Hill, Talafofo Area, Santa Lourdes Area, and Koblerville.

* The bill also rezones the following additional areas: Obyan area to mixed commercial, east of the airport to industrial, six specified lots in a residential zone of Koblerville to mixed commercial, all of the residential area in China Town to village commercial, Sadog Tasi from rural to village commercial, the Gualo Rai Loop from residential to village commercial, and several individually named lots to industrial zoning.

* The bill reinstates zoning the entire village of Tanapag as village commercial under SLL 17-2.

The Zoning Office previously held public hearings on 23 of the 29 rezones included in this bill and recommended five of these rezones based on public comments and zoning principles. The Office and Zoning board rejected 18 of the rezones, also based on public comments and zoning principles. The floor amendments in this bill include six rezones never previously presented to the public or the Zoning Office, on which no public hearings have been held.

Highly intense commercial uses are allowed in a mixed commercial zone, including pawn shops, transfer stations, warehousing/ general wholesaling, manufacturing and processing, gas stations, bars, dry cleaning plants, auto shops and paint booths, helicopter pads, communication towers, and wastewater treatment plants.

The Zoning board had proposed maintaining the villages as village residential zones to preserve the neighborhood characteristics of such areas, while recognizing the need for light commercial uses, such as bookstores, catering/bakeries, small-scale restaurants, most home businesses, and mom-and-pop stores.

If any resident needs more information regarding the proposed rezones, please contact the Zoning Office at 234-9661. The Zoning board and Office urge you to send your comments to the governor and your elected representatives. (Therese T. Ogumoro)

Therese T. Ogumoro is the acting administrator of the Commonwealth Zoning Board.