A proposed marina by Summer’s End Group in Coral Bay, St. John, is facing attention from federal and local agencies due to legal challenges and environmental concerns, according to a Senate hearing Wednesday. Local families have also raised financial issues related to the land involved, legislators heard. The project aims to support St. John’s economy, but it must address these challenges before construction can begin.
At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture, chaired by Sen. Javan E. James Sr., concerns regarding the financial impact on local families, particularly those with land leases to Summer’s End, were highlighted. Due to ongoing delays, families such as the Marsh Sisters Trust and Calvert Marsh Inc. have continued to pay property taxes on land tied up in the project without receiving the expected rental income, according to the testimony.
Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory said the situation is “unconscionable,” as these families face increasing risk of foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. “These are small families on the island of St. John. We did not know it was gonna take this long. If you wanted to truly partner with them, you would work with them and help to support what’s happening instead of now forcing them to sell their property off. It’s not good.”
Representatives from Summer’s End said they are committed to working with affected families and have been in discussions to resolve these financial issues. “The issues that have been raised about the family are very important to us,” said Chaliese Summers, managing member of Summer’s End. “We have constantly been in communication and working towards a settlement.”
Environmental concerns have also been raised, particularly regarding potential risks to Coral Bay’s seagrass meadows, which are critical habitats for endangered marine life. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has expressed reservations about the project’s mitigation strategies. While not requiring direct approval from the EPA, its recommendations hold significant importance in the ongoing regulatory process. The Army Corps of Engineers is currently awaiting input from the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the environmental assessment.
Despite partial permits and some legal victories for Summer’s End, comprehensive environmental clearance remains pending.
The Army Corps of Engineers has played a crucial role in the project’s trajectory, with delays attributed to changing personnel and procedural issues. Developers had hoped for a permit decision by July, but that deadline has passed. “We’ve had approximately eight different reviewers with the Army Corps of Engineers,” Summers noted. “Each time a reviewer changes, it creates further delays.”
From its inception, the marina project has faced multiple lawsuits. Attorney David Cattie provided insights into the legal developments affecting the project, highlighting a recent settlement with the Marsh family regarding key parcels of land. “On November 4, 2024, the parties jointly filed notice with the Superior Court advising that they have come to a settlement and resolution of all outstanding issues and claims between them,” he reported.
In addition, Cattie detailed two prior lawsuits involving former landowners James Phillips and Genevieve Rodriguez regarding another parcel required for the marina’s expansion. These cases were resolved in favor of Summer’s End, securing its “unquestioned legal authority to utilize the property in the Marina Project.” This resolution allowed Summer’s End to initiate preliminary site preparations, marking a tangible move toward construction.
Cattie further described ongoing litigation with environmental groups such as Save Coral Bay, which has opposed the project and has filed multiple suits to revoke project permits. While Cattie acknowledged that some cases are still pending, he noted that several others were successfully dismissed in higher courts, including a recent Supreme Court denial of Save Coral Bay’s petition, which affirmed lower court rulings in favor of Summer’s End.
Despite these challenges, Summer’s End said it aims to position itself as a constructive influence within the St. John community. Rick Barksdale, a representative of the development group, stated, “Summer’s End is not you alone; Summer’s End is all of us,” emphasizing the group’s connections to local families.
Supporters of the marina project, which proposes 115 wet slips, a local market, wastewater facilities, and Customs and Border Protection access, argue it could diversify St. John’s economy, which is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism, by attracting yacht-based tourism and creating jobs. That included the late Sen. Robert O’Connor Jr., who at one time stated that the marina was “about more than tourism — it’s about local jobs and a stable economic foundation.”
The $112 million project could bring in $46.4 million in benefits and create over 80 direct jobs, plus 362 more jobs that will be created indirectly in the territory, according to testimony at Wednesday’s hearing.
James indicated that further input from affected families and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be necessary for continued oversight. “This is not the end,” he noted, stressing the need for additional hearings to ensure the project serves the community’s interests.
Sens. Javan E. James Sr., Marvin A. Blyden, Diane T. Capehart, Dwayne M. DeGraff, Novelle E. Francis Jr., Alma Francis Heyliger, and Donna A. Frett-Gregory attended Wednesday’s hearing.
