Zoning: No decision yet on new housing development project

The Zoning Office and board officials insist that they have not decided yet on the conditional use permit application of Blue Water Homes LLC for its affordable housing project, dismissing rumors that the project is already a done deal despite strong opposition from landowners and their heirs where the project will be built.

Board chair Diego Blanco and acting zoning administrator Therese Ogumoro separately confirmed this, saying the board is still awaiting the recommendation of the zoning staff.

“No decision has been made by the Zoning board to date. Our office has not yet made any recommendations as well,” Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune.

Blanco said via email that board members will convene to hear the zoning staff’s recommendation, which will serve as the basis for the board’s decision to approve or deny the application.

“The board will take all concerns into consideration during their review process,” he added.

Blue Water Homes is the second affordable housing project that applied for and was approved under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The $30-million project involves the construction of 80 two-, three-, and four-bedroom units in a 98-foot building in Chalan Piao. Just like Sandy Beach Homes, it will feature solar water heaters and Energy Star-rated appliances.

Facebook group

A group of 16 landowners and heirs, who belong to the Tamat-Cabrera clan, is opposed to the project, saying it does not take into account the social impacts of such a massive development.

In letters addressed to the Zoning Office, landowner John White, who owns Lot 458-NEW-7, said their group supports “controlled development” so as not to jeopardize the beauty of Tamat Beach.

Christopher Attao Concepcion, heir to Lot 458-NEW-4, said the “Save Tamat Beach” Facebook group he and Mona Celia R. Mercado created is gaining more support.

“Save Tamat Beach (beach area between Hopwood Jr. High and Chalan Kanoa Beach Club) is created to help our family and friends who both own property and those who enjoy the family beach to be aware that a development company wants to build Blue Water Homes there,” the group’s description partially reads.

As of 1pm yesterday, 953 Facebook users have already joined the group. Concepcion believes that the growing number of supporters signifies “awareness among the public that we should be careful with our lands, especially during these tough economic times where people are too easily tempted to make a quick buck by leasing/selling their property.”

According to Mercado, heir to Lots 458-NEW-5 and 6, developers should look into developing abandoned buildings that plague the island.

“We must begin now to stand up and let our voices be heard before our island becomes an overdeveloped, concrete infested, and economically challenged society. Let’s work on getting the abandoned and vacant buildings leased or converted into housing. Let’s keep our island clean and preserve our natural resources,” she said in an email response.

Not properly designed

Michael S. Sablan of Blue Water Homes LLC said that they’ve already looked into the option of developing abandoned buildings “but they are not designed properly to accommodate family residences.”

“While many have expressed concerns on the project, many are also in support of it. We are overwhelmed by the public support at the zoning public hearing and outside the public hearing ,” he said.

Since the project is still in the concept phase, Sablan said they welcome these concerns during public hearings “where we can weigh the project against the community’s concerns.”

He said the rescheduling of the public hearing for their permit application with the Coastal Resources Management has yet to be announced.

He dismissed concerns about the Blue Water Homes project “encroaching on public beach access,” saying that the development will be done in the area around the beach and not on the beach. “We empathize with the neighbors.and we will make sure to follow all laws and regulations pertinent to this development,” added Sablan.

Ogumoro said there is “no definite information yet” whether the Blue Water Homes application will be on the agenda for the next board meeting on Oct. 6.

“Anyone in general is welcome to express their concerns on the public comments part of our board meetings,” she added.