The Department of Planning and Natural Resources recommended approving Hugo Roller’s request to rezone 15 acres on St. John to allow the development of an "eco resort" on Monday during a Senate zoning hearing.
Roller currently uses the property, comprised of three separate parcels (Map SJZ-3, nos. 8-4-1-A, 80401-B and 8-4-1 Remainder) adjacent to King Hill Rd. as a commercial farming operation where vegetables, herbs, fruits and landscaping plants are sold. He is asking the Legislature to approve rezoning it from A-2 Agriculture to B-3 Business Scattered.
During public hearings, neighbors expressed concern about the density and size of the operation, Stuart Smith, DPNR’s director of Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning, told the Senate. Roller agreed to several restrictions on the rezoning to address neighbors’ concerns.
The department recommended approving the change, but with restrictions specifying there be no more than five campsites per acre, that at least 40 percent of the sites must be allocated for nonpermanent structures, and no person to occupy any of the campsites or other facilities for more than 90 days in a year. Outdoor amplifiers would also be prohibited.
Planning also recommended approval of George Rogers’ and Colette Rogers Anthony’s request to rezone parcel no. 41-5-2 in Estate Frydenhoj on St. Thomas from R-2 residential low density to B-4 business-residential to allow a storage business, restaurant and retail or office space.
Other rezoning recommended for approval Monday included:
– Little Oak Ventures’ request to rezone no. 6A New Quarter, St. Thomas, from R-5 residential-high density to B-2 business secondary neighborhood to construct a two-story office building and parking;
– Dvergsten Company’s request for a use variance on parcels nos. 2-2 Remainder, 2-2-3 and
2-2-4 Estate Bovoni (Eastern Part) nos. 1 and 2 Frenchman’s Bay Quarter, St. Thomas, to build a warehouse with office and storage space on the property, which is zoned B-2 business;
– Courtyard Land Co.’s request to rezone parcels 40A and 40B, Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, from B-4 business residential to C commercial to bring the pre-existing, nonconforming self-storage business o the site into zoning conformity;
– Cassi Land Co.’s request to rezone parcels 20-37 Estate Smith Bay, 14-2, 14 Remainder and 13AB Estate Frydendahl, St. Thomas, from B-4 business residential to B-2 Business Secondary Neighborhood to allow current uses to continue;
– and Sunshine Parking’s request to rezone remainder parcel no. 18A Estate Smith Bay, St. Thomas, from R-3 residential medium density to B-2 business secondary neighborhood to bring a pre-existing nonconforming commercial parking lot into zoning conformity.
No votes were taken at the information-gathering hearing. The zoning matters will be voted upon during the next legislative session.
