April 16, 2004 – The Senate Committee of the Whole will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay to hear three rezoning requests from St. John businesses and individuals.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department held a hearing on the same requests on March 18. Two of the petitions met with fierce opposition from neighbors at that time.
The third, sought by Guilderoy Sprauve so that he can build a shopping center on Centerline Road in Estate Adrian, was not opposed.
– Sprauve is seeking rezoning from R-1 (residential low density) to B-3 (business scattered), so he can erect a two-story building with 1,600 square feet on each level. He said he expects to rent space to a grocery store, the U.S. Postal Service for a branch post office, businesses that need office space, specialty stores, and an urgent care medical office.
– Eric Antonio Smalls is seeking rezoning from R-2 (residential low density, one and two family) to R-4 (residential medium density for multi-family) so he can build two eight-unit apartment buildings on 1.527 acres in Estate Pastory.
However, three area residents and an attorney representing them spoke in opposition to the project at the DPNR hearing, saying they don't want an apartment building in the midst of single-family homes. They also said the road through the area is in poor condition and cannot support the additional traffic that would result from Small's tenants.
– Kevin Smith wants property in Estate Rendezvous and Ditleff rezoned from R-1 to R-2.
Smith had made a deal with Nancy G. Rogers and Dominic B. Watson to help them build a house on a portion of their half-acre parcel off Gifft Hill Road in exchange for their selling him half the land. The R-1 zoning allows two homes on a half-acre tract. However, in order for Smith to own part of the property, it must be split in two. Both houses would share one driveway.
Six neighbors wrote letters opposing the plan. One of them is Smith's former wife, Joan Sparling. Smith and Sparling previously were partners in American Paradise Real Estate — which prompted attorney Steven Hogroian, who represented Sparling, to state at the DPNR hearing that Smith's rezoning request was inappropriate.
Smith then alleged that Sparling had mounted a campaign to thwart his plans because of personal antagonism toward her former husband.
The Senate hearing had originally been scheduled for St. Thomas, but the Legislature announced late on Friday that it would be held on St. John instead in order to give residents a better opportunity to attend.
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