Support shown for Alter City Group’s major siting permit

TINIAN—No opposition was raised and overwhelming support was shown during the public hearing held by the Division of Coastal Resources Management of the CNMI for Alter City Group’s proposed $1.2-billion project on the island of Tinian.

Tinian Mayor Joey San Nicolas, standing fifth from left, is joined by Alter City Group chief executive officer Edvon Sze, managing director Ken Lin, executive vice president of construction Ian Leong and their design team, as well as Division of Coastal Resources Management staff after Thursday’s public hearing at the Tinian Elementary School. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)

The hearing was headed by CRM director Fran Castro for the major siting permit of the Macau-based company last Thursday afternoon at the Tinian Elementary School.

Other board members from regulatory agencies such as Gary Camacho of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Power Division were also present.

Among the attendees was Tinian Mayor Joey San Nicolas, who also supported the group’s project.

“I’m here in support of the Alter City Group. We believe that the proposal is good for Tinian,” San Nicolas said. “On behalf of the people of Tinian, I humbly request your approval of their proposal.”

Tinian residents also did not oppose the project but raised questions such as additional medical facility for the impending increase in the island’s population, hiring of local employees, and preservation of historical and cultural sites.

ACG responded to these questions by stating their plans for a clinic, partnering with the Northern Marianas College for training local employees, and the incorporation in their master plan of a cultural trail as well as a museum.

Others sought help from the board to expedite the permitting process, believing that development on Tinian is “long overdue.”

The deadline for the approval of the siting permit is Aug. 8.

Alter City chief executive officer Edvon Sze, managing director Ken Lin, executive vice president of construction Ian Leong and their design team were among those present.

“This is a good way to let the public know how our project is going to have an impact and whether it’s good or not for them,” Sze said.

“CRM, to us, is just one of the major steps that we’re going to achieve and there are a lot ahead of us,” he added.

ACG’s project will cover 150 hectares and will be named Plumeria Resort and Casino.

To be included in this sprawling facility in Tinian’s Puntan Diablo cove are a hotel, villas, corporate villas, service apartments, an 18-hole golf course, casino, water park, cafe, restaurant, shops, and many more.

The project, which will create over 5,000 rooms on Tinian, will be done in three phases and is expected to be completed in 12 years.

ACG showed their architectural plans for their hotel and casino resort project that was inspired by various natural and cultural elements such as the plumeria flower itself, as well as the sea turtle, the taga, and the taga house.

“Alter City Group’s project is really the vision to ‘alter’ the island in the vision of Tinian in a positive way,” ACG counsel Robert Torres said.

“What we have strictly ordered to our designers when we ordered them to design is not to touch the coastline as much as we can,” Lin said.

Last June, the group filed its application for a casino license. In May, they made a partial payment of $1.2 million to the government for their major siting permit.