June 9, 2008 — The Coastal Zone Management Division of Planning and Natural Resources hasn't heard one word from Coral Bay Marina, a CZM official said Monday at a meeting of the Coral Bay Community Council.
"They've been silent for so long, I'll have to consult with the legal counsel on this," said Jean-Pierre Oriol, CZM special projects coordinator, to 20 people who attended the meeting at the John's Folly Learning Institute.
Coral Bay Marina's CZM permit was finalized Sept. 20, 2006. The developers planned to build a 116-slip marina along Route 107 in Coral Bay. (See "CZM Committee Agrees to Changes for Coral Bay Marina Permit"and "Coral Bay Marina Gets Okay — With Conditions.") The principals were Robert O'Connor Jr., Eglah Marsh Clendinen and Minerva Marsh Vasquez.
While the developers of the second marina planned for Coral Bay held a series of pre-application meetings, they never formally applied for a CZM permit, Oriol said. He did not identify the developer, but in 2006 T-Rex St. John made public its plans to build a marina on land leased from the Moravian Church. (See "Marina Development on Tap for Moravian Church Property?")
Additionally, in response to a question from the audience, Oriol said CZM hasn't received any application from Grande Bay for a marina. Grande Bay is building condominiums on the Cruz Bay waterfront. Rumors continue to circulate that a marina is in the works.
While Oriol and CZM Director Janice Hodge were the main speakers Monday, Community Council President Sharon Coldren announced the receipt of a $300,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to address stormwater issues in Coral Bay.
"It's so we can make things actually happen," she said.
The money will pay for professional expertise to solve Coral Bay's extensive stormwater problems, which result in Coral Bay Harbor turning brown during heavy rains.
Hodge outlined the process for obtaining a major CZM permit.
"We encourage pre-application meetings," she said.
Those meetings between the developer and the various Planning divisions allow Planning staff to explain what's needed to successfully complete a CZM application.
"That's so you don’t design to what you think will meet CZM requirements, but find out it doesn't meet Environmental Protection requirements," Hodge said.
While CZM Committees on each island have final approval on land permits, permits that involve water require approval by the governor, the Legislature and, finally, the Army Corps of Engineers.
Applicants must first get CZM approval before the Army Corps signs off, Hodge noted. If CZM turns down an application, the Army Corps won't give its approval.
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