Lawmakers to amend local zoning law for Best Sunshine

Saipan lawmakers are working to amend a local law on zoning to give way to a live training facility that Best Sunshine International, Ltd. is planning to establish in Garapan.

The Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations of the Saipan Legislative Delegation approved Monday Saipan Local Bill 19-03, seeking to amend certain provisions of Saipan Local Law 18-05.

One amendment is to rezone the area where the T Galleria is located. The former DFS Galleria will be the location of Best Sunshine’s live training facility, which is essentially a casino.

Committee member Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) said the bill seeks to amend the zoning law to give way to the live training facility. The amendment seeks to rezone the DFS area to allow the establishment of casino facility.

Demapan said the T Gallaria is not listed as a gaming zone.

“The committee just approved it [amendment]. This will require the [Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation] to approve it, then for the governor to sign it,” Demapan said.

The amendment also seeks to exempt the exclusive gaming licensee from the prohibition of S.L.L. 18-05 because gaming found in casinos do not carry the same concerns as those of adult gambling machines found in poker parlors scattered around Saipan.

Poker parlors are not allowed in certain areas on Saipan.

Sen. Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan) said the casino regulators already approved the regulations for the casino and that the amendment on the zoning law is meant to make the facility compliant with zoning regulations.

He said lawmakers are “trying to be consistent,” as the exclusive casino license holder already paid close to $40 million to the government.

Best Sunshine has signed a lease with T Galleria, which started on April 15 and is good for two years.

Lease on Garapan property

Viola Alepuyo, one of the legal counsels of Best Sunshine, meanwhile, said the company is expecting to sign the land lease for the 250-room hotel that the company will be building in Garapan.

Alepuyo said they are only waiting for the Department of Public Lands for the signing.

As far as the timeline is concerned, Alepuyo said that Best Sunshine’s projects in Garapan are moving forward as planned. “There is still a lot work,” she said.

Best Sunshine’s land lease with the DPL is separate from the lease with T Galleria.

In March, DPL Secretary Pete A. Tenorio announced that Best Sunshine is close to signing a lease deal with the government on a 1.5-hectare property in Garapan.

Tenorio earlier said Best Sunshine will “get most of the 1.5-hectare property in Garapan,” adding that DPL “has concluded” the lease agreement and that lawyers are now finalizing the lease agreement, which will be published in the local papers in two weeks’ time.

As of Monday, the lease has yet to be signed.