The V.I. Legislature approved rezoning a Smith Bay parcel to allow two children of former Sen. Allie-Allison Petrus to each build a residence, while addressing zoning matters and board nominations during legislative session Monday.
The Petrus family asked to change Parcel No. 7-D Remainder Estate Misgunst, No. 6 Great Northside Quarter, St. Thomas from R-1 to R-2, low density, one and two family, so each daughter could have a parcel .4 acres in size upon which to build. The current R-1 zoning requires parcels of at least half an acre.
The request was controversial both at a July 9 planning meeting and at a Senate zoning hearing earlier in November, where Stuart Smith, director of comprehensive and coastal zone planning, testified against the change, saying it could lead to increased development density because it would set a precedent for future requests. (See related links below)
Although several senators, including Sens. Craig Barshinger and Nereida"Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly, expressed some degree of concern over the rezoning, when the vote came, it passed 14-0.
The Senate also overruled DPNR to approve Harthman Leasing III’s rezoning of 72.9 undeveloped acres in Smith Bay, St. Thomas, to give developers more flexibility. The company asked to rezone 25.5 acres at Parcel No. 17 F Estate Smith Bay East End Quarter St. Thomas from A-1 (Agricultural Zone) to B-2 (Business-Secondary/Neighborhood) and 47.5 acres at Parcel No.17 Remainder Estate Smith Bay, Nos.1, 2, and 3 East End Quarter, St. Thomas from A-1 Agricultural Zone to R-3 (Residential-Medium.
DPNR raised concerns the development could overburden existing infrastructure.
Ivy Moses’ rezoning and variance for an organic pineapple farm on 2.9 acres in Susanaberg, St. John got the thumbs up Tuesday too. Moses asked to change Parcel no 28 Estate Susannaberg from R-1 and B-4, business-residential area zoning to all B-4 zoning with a variance to allow the farm. Moses also plans a water distribution center selling water from a well on the property, an historic park, and a convenience store, with the whole called "Neptune’s Landing."
A V.I. Waste Management Authority request for a variance on .74 acres of land in Lovenlund on St. Thomas to build a convenience center for residents to deposit their garbage was approved without controversy.
The Senate approved the following board and commission members:
• Phillip Payne to the Economic Development Authority, representing St. Croix;
• Avery. Lewis to the Economic Development Authority, representing St. Thomas;
• David Knight to the V.I. Historic Preservation Commission, representing St. Thomas;
• David Hayes to the V.I. Historic Preservation Commission, representing St. Croix;
• Douglas Dick to the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, representing St. Thomas;
• Laura Forbes to the Pharmacy Board, representing St. Croix;
• Janzie Allmacher to the Nurse Licensure Board, representing St. Croix;
• Anne Doute to the Nurse Licensure Board, representing St. Croix.
At the end of Tuesday’s session the Senate passed several resolutions honoring severalVirgin Islanders, including:
• Ursula Nathalia Magdalane Millin “Aunt Sula” Krigger. age 111;
• Retired Brigadier General Timothy Lake;
• Commander Master Chief Neilsa Jackson;
• and Dion Parson and the 21st Century Band.
