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A step closer to $15M housing project
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Posted on Jun 29 2011
By a vote of 18-0, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation passed yesterday morning a local bill amending the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008 to, among other things, allow a setback requirement of only 10 feet instead of 30 feet from the property line at all sides.
House Local Bill 17-50, which now heads to the governor, is just one of many pieces of legislation seeking to amend the zoning law.
House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), author of HLB 17-50, said once his local bill becomes law, it will pave the way for a $15-million housing project in Chalan Galaide to proceed.
“I believe that the governor will sign this into law because it will bring in needed revenue to the Commonwealth,” Cabrera said.
Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan) attempted to put a rider on Cabrera’s bill but some members, and later on even delegation chair Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan), requested Torres to just introduce a separate bill for his proposed amendments.
Torres withdrew his proposal. He said his proposed changes were requested by professional surveyors who believe that some of the zoning law’s provisions are “unnecessary” and “burdensome.”
The speaker said the 25-unit housing investment is similar to the Tottotville Housing. He said without amending the zoning law, the investor for the $15-million housing project will pull out their plan.
The foreign investor leased a 4.5-hectare private property in Chalan Galaide for the project, the speaker said.
The delegation deferred action on another local bill, Rep. Ralph Demapan’s (Cov-Saipan) HLB 17-49, which also seeks to amend the zoning law.
