Lawmakers on Monday reviewed multiple zoning measures during a Committee of the Whole hearing chaired by Senate President Milton E. Potter. No votes were taken; lawmakers are expected to take final action during a future session.
One proposal, Bill 36-0267, would rezone Parcel No. 19-2-111, Estate Smith Bay on St. Thomas, from A-1 (agricultural) to R-3 (residential medium density) so owners Asiah Clendinen-Gumbs and Selwyn Gumbs can properly operate three dwelling units in a two-story structure that has long functioned as multifamily housing.
The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources said the property has historically been used more intensively than its zoning allows, that water, septic and parking capacity exceed code requirements, and that the change is consistent with the 2024 Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan and the territory’s need for more housing. Multiple senators said they supported this bill.
“When you look at zoning applications, you’re really just trying to make sure they make sense. In this case, the law provides a process to correct an improperly zoned property … I will definitely support this measure. I don’t see anything wrong with it,” said Sen. Hubert Frederick.
A second measure, Bill 36-0269, would grant a use variance for Plots 24B and 24D, Estate Body Slob, King Quarter, St. Croix, where the LaReine bus terminal has operated for more than 30 years on P-Public-zoned land. The variance would clear the way for the Virgin Islands Public Works Department to replace an aging, roughly 400-square-foot building with a new, approximately 2,100-square-foot concrete terminal designed for three employees, about 50 passengers, and more than 30 parking spaces, using roughly $1.69 million in grant funding.
The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources backed the request, saying a variance is needed because bus terminals are not listed as a permitted use in P-Public zoning, and reported no opposition at a 2025 public hearing.
Sen. Marvin Blyden, speaking about the LaReine terminal and the Gumbs rezoning together, said, “These two bills are no-brainers for me … I will be supporting both of them.”
A third measure, Bill 36-0270, would rezone Plots 11-F and 11-G, Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix, from R-3 (residential medium density) to P-Public to match their use by the Virgin Islands Health Department as a biosafety level-3 public health laboratory and Emergency Medical Services offices near the former Charles Harwood Hospital.
DPNR officials said the site, once part of the Ralph D. Sharpe Housing Community, is now a non-public-facing lab and office complex served by public water and sewer.
Planning staff told senators the change is part of a broader push, under Title 29, Chapter 3, Section 229(q), to ensure that government facilities are correctly designated as P-Public on zoning maps and to bolster eligibility for federal disaster-recovery funding. “This petition follows 10 previous petitions for rezoning government-owned properties to P-Public,” planning technician Keshoi Samuel said, noting that those changes “have been approved since 2022 for government agencies across the territory.”
At a March 2025 public hearing, nearby residents sought clarification about the lab’s purpose and whether it would be open to the public; DPNR reported no formal opposition or post-hearing comments after those questions were answered. The Health Department did not send a representative to Monday’s hearing.
Finally, Bill 36 0271 would rezone several waterfront lots along Strand Street in Christiansted, Plots 31 B, 32 B, 34 CA, 34 CAA, and 34 CB, from R 3 to a business designation so Central Line Car Rental LLC can operate as a stand-alone commercial use rather than only as an accessory to the nearby Hotel Caravelle.
While the applicant requested B‑2 (business secondary/neighborhood) zoning, DPNR recommended B‑1 (central business district) to better align with the historic downtown context and existing business pattern. The lots sit within the Christiansted Historic District and near the seaplane terminal and are subject to flood‑hazard and elevation requirements; future permits will require Historic Preservation Commission review and include stormwater and drainage controls.
Senators raised questions about lease implications, potential future uses under B-1, and bill-drafting inconsistencies that legislative counsel will review. DPNR staff said B-1 “will be more consistent with the comprehensive plan and appropriate for the intended use.”
Sen. Dwayne DeGraff highlighted inconsistencies between the bill text and the parcels described, and asked whether approving the rezoning before the current lease expires could expose the government to contractual problems. Legal counsel was directed to review the bill language before it comes to a vote, while the applicant’s representative, architect John Woods, agreed to submit additional information on lease status and wash‑down water management.
“This proposed zoning designation is representative of the changing needs of the town of Christiansted, expanding the business district, and it still leaves the opportunity for residential development if it is needed,” Woods told senators.
Senators also heard testimony on Bill 36-0200, which would rezone a portion of Estate Beeston Hill in Company Quarter, St. Croix, from R-1 (Residential – Low Density) to B-2 (Business – Secondary/Neighborhood). Invited testifiers included officials from the VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources and local residents. Details of that measure and the discussion will be covered in a follow-up report.
