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HomeNewsArchivesResidents Gather to Address Potential 'Tragedy' on Great St. James

Residents Gather to Address Potential 'Tragedy' on Great St. James

May 24, 2007 — A "great tragedy" is brewing in the Virgin Islands, a small group of residents said Thursday evening, gathering at the airport on St. Thomas to voice their concerns over a large-scale development proposed for Great St. James Island.
During a public hearing held before the Coastal Zone Management governing board, residents cited a bevy of environmental and ecological concerns in an effort to persuade board members to thoroughly weigh the pros and cons of the project before giving a final go-ahead on the required CZM permit application.
Project-design plans detail the construction of 53 individual home units, which will sit atop three-acre lots connected by roadways. The development itself will span about 163 acres — the entirety of plots marked on CZM maps as A, B and C.
In addition to painting a vivid picture of the island's abundant natural resources, speakers during the meeting detailed the impact such a project could have on the surrounding marine community, along with a network of indigenous and endangered species that range from green sea turtles to tree boas.
On the permit application, CZM also noted similar concerns, saying that any development proposed for St. James Island — which is surrounded by a marine sanctuary — should come under "heavy scrutiny" (See "Environmental and Historic-Preservation Concerns Surround Proposed Great St. James Island Development.")
A memorandum of understanding still has not been formed between the project developer and the State Historic Preservation Office, Budsan noted. In the past, that office has questioned whether the proposed building site will disrupt a few of the island's archaeological treasures, such as the remains of Great St. James Village, a few grave sites, cart paths and a well at Christmas Cove on the southwest side of the island.
"Such a development is going to destroy the area unless we see drastic measures for things like sewage treatment, pollution and sediment runoff," added Jimmy Magner, president of the St. Thomas Fisherman's Association. While Magner added that he had not yet received copies of the project-design plans or accompanying environmental-assessment report, he urged board members to consider how the project could affect the island's thriving fish population and other aquatic species.
"Great St. James happens to be one of the most flourishing areas in terms of fish," he said. "So you have to remember to look at the big picture instead of just one island. Think about how much damage can happen if the project is allowed to go through without the right measures to protect the waters."
Dalma Simon, representing the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John, also noted that grouper fills the waters surrounding Christmas Cove, located on the southwestern side of the island.
"Of all the places I've snorkeled, I've never come across as many groupers as I've seen along western tip of Great St. James," he said. "That area, it's like a place in which the fish rejuvenate. So we should really make sure there's a lot of erosion control — otherwise, everything in that bay could be destroyed."
Simon described the Christmas Cove area as a sanctuary for both community members and tourists that should not be tampered with.
"If you get a chance, go out there before you make your decision," he said to board members. "This place is heaven on earth, and we can't have it destroyed."
While CZM board chairman Austin "Babe" Monsanto told residents that the board would take into consideration all concerns before making a final decision, others on the panel also questioned project designer William Karr about environmental-protection and historical-preservation efforts.
"There seems to be a way to handle sensitive areas like this, where a green space area can still be preserved, instead of having 53 homeowners doing whatever they please on their individual lots," said board member Sarah "Peggy" Simmonds.
Karr explained that much of the historical village — which he said used to be one of the largest "houses of ill repute" in the Caribbean — will be preserved, and will also remain accessible to both the island's inhabitants and other residents of the Virgin Islands.
The island will be accessed via St. Thomas, where residents and visitors can park at a dock located near the East End Cafe in Red Hook. "The owner has a piece of property which has some parking," Karr said. Residents will be able to take an eight-minute boat ride from the nearby dock to Great St. James, he said.
Each of the proposed homes will not be hooked up to the local utilities, but will instead be hooked up to photo-voltaic cells and have wind-generation capacity. Connecting roadways will also be grass-seeded, he said, which will help to minimize water runoff by absorbing up to 10 inches of water in a 24-hour period.
Karr told board members that the proposed energy-saving methods are currently in place on the island. "This is not the promise of tomorrow — we're using it now," he said.
These energy plans are not detailed in the CZM application on file at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. However, a letter from one of Karr's associates states that homeowners will, in the short term, be responsible for the production of their own electricity. "Homes will rely on roof catchment for water supply and will have individual batch sewage-treatment plants," the letter states.
The letter also states that the homes, valued at about $750,000, will "most likely" be used for vacation rentals and not as a permanent home for residents or visitors. While children are not "generally expected" to be a part of the island's new potential population, those who do chose to live on Great St. James can attend school on St. Thomas or St .John, the letter says.
During Thursday's meeting, Karr said that it is currently the owners' intention to have the lots be divided among "children, grandchildren and all others that they see fit."
Board members have 30 days to issue a decision on the permit application. In the interim, residents still have seven days to submit their concerns or letters of support for the project to the board.
"We will be sure to keep our 30 days as promised to you," Monsanto said before adjourning the hearing.
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