While approving several spot rezonings and leases Monday, the V.I. Legislature rejected a request from the V.I. Government Employee Retirement System to rezone land in Estate Hoffman and Nullyberg, St. Thomas, citing disagreement with the GERS’ plans and a need for St. Croix investment.
GERS is proposing that 53.88 acres of land in Estate Hoffman be rezoned from A-1 (Agriculture) to R-3 (Medium-Density) to allow for the hotel, conference and entertainment center, and a senior citizen home. It is also seeking a use variance for 66.7 acres in Nullyberg to allow construction on 105 single-family residential lots to be sold to GERS members.
“In my opinion, not one stone should be moved in this district until St. Croix gets the attention it needs and deserves,” said Sen. Nereida “Nellie” Rivera-O’Reilly. She pointed out recent plans for a new assisted living facility for seniors on St. Thomas and asked about St. Croix.
Sen. Sammuel Sanes said he would not rule out the St. Thomas expense. But “the money is not shared equally. It is not and we need to keep that in mind,” he added.
Sen. Myron Jackson said the GERS hotel and convention center plan “is totally inappropriate for this location.” Jackson said he was uneasy with some of GERS’ alternative investments and said, “This disturbs me the most because it is not a compatible use” for the property. He said he does favor creating new housing, however.
Voting for the Estate Hoffman and Nullyberg rezonings were Sens. Craig Barshinger, Donald Cole, Clifford Graham, Alicia “Chucky” Hansen, Shawn-Michael Malone and Clarence Payne. Voting no were O’Reilly, Sanes, Jackson, Sens. Judi Buckley, Diane Capehart, Kenneth Gittens, Terrence “Positive” Nelson and Tregenza Roach. Sen. Janette Millin Young was absent.
The Legislature approved several zonings, Coastal Zone Management permits and government leases. It rezoned Parcel no, 23 B-1 Estate Mandahl, Great Northside Quarter, from R-1 (Residential Low-Density) to R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two-Family) to allow the owners to divide the property into two quarter-acre lots; and Parcel 405, Estate Hospital Ground, St. Thomas, from R-2 (Residential-Low Density-One and Two-Family) to B-2 (Business Secondary/Neighborhood) to allow for the operation of a six-unit guest house and a small retail store.
It also approved CZM permits and leases:
– between the V.I. Government and Tropical Shipping Construction for its facility at No. 6 Crown Bay. The rent is $30,000 per year. The Tropical Shipping permit and lease covers 15,162.77 square feet of "filled submerged land described as parcel No. 6 Estate Crown Bay Fill," according to permit CZT-15-12. Following the effective approval of the documents, the permit and lease will run for five years with an option for two additional terms of five years each.
-for the University of the Virgin Islands to renovate and expand its marine science program on St. Thomas. Work will involve replacing dock pilings, concrete platform repair and new dock decking at its facility north of Cyril E. King Airport.
– and between the government and Dopetri Inc. for continued use and occupancy of Parcel No. 44 Estate Sub Base. The Dopetri permit covers a land area of 11,993.71 square feet and brings an "existing two-story building with an area of 4,176 square feet into compliance," according to the permit. The company received its original permit and lease in 1992 with an annual rental fee of $9,167.04. Under the new 20-year permit and lease, the stated rental fee is $12,000 per year for the first five years; $22,188.55 for each year of the second five-year period; and then an annual rental fee adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for each of the next 10 years.
