Dart tries again over tunnel extension
West Bay Road tunnel
(CNS): A subsidiary of the Dart network of companies has submitted another application to the Central Planning Authority to extend the controversial tunnel on the West Bay Road. Following the recent rejection by the CPA of the proposed extension of around 200 feet after officials found that the developer had not provided sufficient justification, rather than appealing, Cayman Shores Development Ltd has modified the original application, making it slightly shorter, in another attempt to get the green light to lengthen the tunnel.
The creation of the underpass on the West Bay Road is part of the Dart Group’s long-term plan to link Camana Bay with the company’s various properties on Seven Mile Beach. If this application for a marginally shorter extension is successful, it will pave the way for the tunnel to extend across the front of the Royal Palms site, which Dart bought in the summer and where is has plans to construct another luxury resort.
The developer also has plans to build on top of the tunnel, though few details of those plans have been revealed.
Category: development, Local News
Dart had the approval to do this long ago but now since everybody in the Cayman Islands against him doing it Government trying to make it look good on them for telling him he can’t extend the tunnel. Sooner or later he going get to extend it so I suggest you all stop wasting your time fighting against the man.
I’m going to die some day, but I’ll still take care of my health until then.
There might not have been so much objection to the tunnel if Dart had been willing to give up more of his land to make it wider. The best option was an outright refusal of the existing tunnel but the CPA could have exercised their authority and specified the length (max 22 feet) the width and that it be high enough to accommodate the large trees, houses etc that are sometimes transported via the road. It should be an overpass not a new city. Take charge of your island, people!
Yes we all know he owns government.
So are you saying we should all give Dartt rverything?
Hell no not me!
You are s puppet on his payroll.
Thumbs up if you believe the CPA is going to turn it down. Remember it’s Up for down.
I would love to see DART buy a large piece of land on Seven Mile Beach and donate it to the people of the Cayman Islands as a new Public Beach..a man can dream right??
Yeah. Cuz he loves us, right?
He tried.
When?
Read the NRA Agreement. Properly.
Dart builds extravagant structures ( which I personally do not fit the beauty of GC). More of my concern is does GC have a hook-n- ladder fire truck that would reach the top floor of Kimpton hotel if God forbid of fire?
I too hand wring all day and lay awake at night in fear that the CIFD hook-n-ladder trucks cannot reach the top floor at the Kimpton
….and quietly don’t comment after a preventable tragedy happens.
Don’t ever leave the safety of your home, it’s a dangerous world out there.
I don’t, weenie.
Yes, that’s nothing but a dream..He might build a park somewhere on invaluable land for you Caymanians but you really think he is going to give you any of Seven Mile Beach…Good Luck with that!
DART is a financial investor not a investor in people.. He will throw you Caymaninas a few crumbs and keep a few you employed so you don’t complain..
Get over guys, you are finished..After the wall (Tunnel) is built you will be charged admission to get on the beach..or maybe there will be a few $5 an hour Filipino security guards telling you to get off the beach like his Kimpton does..
Nothing is for free my friend…no beach for you..dream on!
Th CI Gov, planning and everyone one else who thinks they have an upper stance when dealing with Dart are fools and clowns to themselves and in way over their head. This is a chap who lays with those seizing warships and its crew as collateral taking advantage of loan defaults. ‘He’s only getting his money’ you argue, – no he’s only putting himself in a position to leverage money at a huge gain despite what most would term as immoral practice.
Put your seatbelts on Cayman, – i despise the method and the development but there’s a reason Cayman is his gemstone, it’s just way to easy…
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/business/dealbook/argentina-reaches-deal-with-hedge-funds-over-debt.html
Buying debt and enforcing the terms is immoral? No, just good business.
I guess that depends on your morals.
What has morality got to do with it? The ‘victim’ borrowed money and chose not to pay foreign creditors back, then sails a nice big asset into a foreign jurisdiction… doh!
wow…caymanains preaching on morality….zzzzz
Who you calling a Caymanian, dipstick?
Good for Dart. Caching!
NOT good for the Country.
A modern day Columbus.
6.56, if you lend me $100 and I accept that loan, agreeing to pay you all the interest and capital over a period of time, and then tell you that owing to my own incompetence at finance that I actually only want to pay you $30 back in total, who is the crook?
Dart
7:50 – that’s a removed concept. I loan you $100 assuming the risk and you default on the repayment. Fortunately for me a stranger comes along and offers me a $30 gesture and then goes on to make your life miserable seizing what he can of yours so as to capitalise with a $70 dollar profit against your hardship. This is the foam gilded deliverer you ascribe reverence for….
You are ignorant as to the role of these funds. They all the transfer for value of high risk assets by banks and your pension funds to them. But you would probably need that explained by pictures. In crayon.
Says the man with basic English writing issues!!
One’s view on this issue depends on whether the old West Bay Road where the Kimpton now is was a deeply important matter of high cultural significance or whether one actually has a life.
Perhaps I should not have been shocked by the way the CPA responded to the first application. It was clearly an invitation for Dart to come back with what he considers a justification for what he wants and thinks he has a right to have. His motivation is not a justification. The two pedestrian overpasses connecting the Hyatt and Ritz properties were granted not only because the companies wanted them but because of the public safety issues if guests and staff had to cross the West Bay road at ground level. A similar pedestrian or even a vehicular overpass would have been sufficient for the Dart connection. May I suggest that the CPA consider the current and future residents of this island, first and foremost. The existing tunnel has already been and will continue to be, a safety concern and a great inconvenience to road users. Tunnels and bridges are usually a part of a country’s ground transportation plan designed to improve public safety and convenience. This is a private company asking to construct a bridge so that they can acquire more space for commercial purposes, hopefully the CPA will not agree that the company’s wishes can justifiy the safety and other concerns of the NRA and road users. Furthermore would they really approve something that will further detract from the character and natural beauty of our island. Cayman is not desperate for development, and even it we were there is no justification for approving this extension.
If this is approved, what next?
Begging our heavenly to intercede on our behalf.
How exactly is the Cayman Bay underpass a safety concern and great inconvenience to road users? Struggling to see the safety point, and at 3 lanes each way wide it’s a damn sight quicker to navigate than the old road.
Maybe the tarmac is a bit rough for 5.34’s knuckles when he walks around.
Nice subtle racist remark. Well done old boy.
The Insulting, racist comment at 10.15 am, got 6 thumbs up. How disrespectful to the Caymanians who built this country and made it attractive for investors, and welcoming even for those who try to degrade them.
What I don’t understand is that Dart had this layout planned for how long? Had to get approval from the government to do this but as soon as he starts his project the government want to shut him down? If that was the case the government shouldn’t have approved him to do this to begin with. He ended up wasting money for no reason.
Your statement does not make any sense. He couldn’t have had approval if he is only applying now..
He didn’t own Royal palms when the original proposal was made.
You don’t make any sense bro, he needed to get approval to start doing work on public roads before doing anything because its illegal to do work on public roads without any approval.
He had approval. The latest approval is for the extension. See?
You work for Dart?
This is awesome! Can’t wait for it to be done so I can walk my children to the beach safely. Go Dart!!
Bad parenting: Blow hard example.
Huh?
Good. DART provides top end first world amenities, and that improves the quality of life for those with the application and talent to earn decent money. The moaners are bitter and jealous second-raters.
That is so true! Yes we need everything that Mr Dart companies will do here.
High quality always
I wish that People would stop thinking that Dart is doing anything to improve their life . There’s very few people who really gets good benefits from what he do , the others just get a paycheck to live on , then if you want to go to one of his establishment it would cost you half of that weeks pay . So where are you benefitting from anything he do ?
And his organization pays a fortune in work permits and duty, and the money his employees spend locally has duty on it too. All of which goes to pay for the stuff government spends on, from education to infrastructure. So don’t shop at Camana Bay if you don’t want to, but just because you don’t directly buy his products, stay at his hotels, but his liquor, go to his movie cinema doesn’t mean that every single person here doesn’t benefit from the money his organization injects into the economy. Hate him if want, but if the Dart organisation went elsewhere the local economy would have a major hit.
You inability to generate sufficient economic value to earn a modest income is your problem, not Dart’s problem.
Unless you are third world educated as many here are. Self survival is paramount when you do not have a work skill to keep up with those around you.
A person who can not take or keep responsibility for themselves and their family will never understand a society that takes care of all the people instead of just themselves. Grand Cayman is still a few generations behind in this respect and not doing much to catch up. Therefore anything done to modernize and take the island into the future will just make more of the island unacceptable to a large segment of voters. Keep in mind that it it hard to watch yourself and your lifestyle being left behind as the rest of the world progresses. Let them cry.
Go build your bio-dome in Belize.
I hear they pay a reasonable price for duck eggs down there.
Has anyone ever died from LOD (lack of Dart)? Has anyone ever been plunged into a life of poverty and dispair from LOD? There are 7.6 BILLION minus 50,000 people in the world that are still actually alive with no help from Dart. Does everyone here realize that without Cayman, there would be No Dart? Yes, it goes both ways. Down boy!
8.43, of those 7.6bn, more than a fair share live in appalling poverty and horrendous conditions. Whilst Cayman has its issues, it is nothing on the scale of other places and even trying to compare them is a complete waste of time.
I will go out on a limb here and say that one could argue that daddy D tunnelizing, and hotelizing the island is creating “horrendous conditions” for the natural world that someday people will just slowly shake their heads at.
The limb broke. Too bad it was a high one.
Funny, I feel just fine.
Any developer has a right to “develop”. However Dart seems to do his development then seek permission while we poor people have to go through hoops to erect a fence to keep stray dogs out our yard – for example. Has anyone considered emergency services responding to an incident. Oops I forgot. Dart is trying to get his own fire service, police station and ambulance service on site so they will respond through the tunnel. It also looks like Dart gets what he wants good or bad. Look at the DOE while there may be something wrong going on there I think government is giving the Caymanian at the helm a hard time so they can justify why giving that project to Dart. They would sacrifice their own people for the love of Dart. If he takes over all our essential services, brings in his own people, does as he likes – like he already owns the island then govt just needs to stop the charade and hand over the keys. I am waiting for my letter from Dart asking us Caymanians to leave his country. Something stinks!
That’s the Cayman system my dear. Brought forth and perpetuated by our own elected members, and “enforced” on you by our own Caymanian country men and women, with glee I might add.
Elected members outwitted by a very clever and well organized outfit.
The arrogance displayed by DART and its employees dealing with planning is repulsive especially considering most are former high ranking employees of the planning department or ministry.
That type of arrogance is the culture of the dart organization and management because they know they own both ppm and udp. Both sides have bent over backwards to accommodate every request of dart. Cayman better learn from Antigua and Allen Stanford who held the same power over the country as dart has over Cayman.
Comparing Dart and Stanford…really? Dart has real money, not Ponzi scheme stuff and you just hate that you don’t have that, right? Dart has never done anything bad in Cayman, Stanford did bad everywhere. Why is it some people are so obsessed with hating here rather than looking at pure facts rather than inventing marl road bs all the time.
Let’s see how this one plays out.
Blah blah blah … really? Did no-one notice that the bridge-beams for the ‘extension’ are ALREADY here on island? They arrived with the last shipment of beams for the existing overpass and they are sitting for all to see on the old Coral Cayman property beside Royal Palms.
The extension WILL be approved because the ‘Golden Rule’states that “the one with the Gold makes the rules”.
The DART group has brought a lot of positive investment to our economy … but at what price to our way of life?
Remember the PPM’s recent ‘Air Rights Law’? hmmm.
I’m glad they are building the tunnel/overpass, every construction worker, heavy equipment operator, concrete vendor and steel vendor on the project are spending their paychecks on rent, food, gas, entertainment etc thanks to projects like these. Circle of life. Besides that, it’s pretty cool.
Wow. Pretty easy to see: You like shiny things.
Why do you despise the working class so much that you wish them to be unemployed?
I am working class, bonobo. Why do YOU despise us would be a better question. And yes, I meant bonobo.
I’ll try to decipher your scribblings, I think you are saying you are working class and you don’t like the tunnel.
Perhaps you are not involved in any construction and therefore couldn’t care less if contractors and their employees get to eat. Greed takes many forms doesn’t it.
Having trouble deciphering simple English sentences?
Try this one: are you working class?
Yes, and I love it when millionaires and billionaires spend their money on vacation homes and developments. It means my family gets to eat, have a home and maybe take a trip to Disney once in a while.
What do you do for a living and Where do you draw the line?
To 7:38pm, shame its not Caymanians like he promised
Except for government, the biggest employer of Caymanians on the island. Plenty of Caymanians paying rent or mortgages directly and indirectly from Dart.
The more that are paying directly and indirectly from Dart, the more money he is making.
Interesting math. And if the Dart jobs go away along with the pay checks, how exactly does that put bread on the table?
Who’s table? Mine or dart’s?
It is wonderful
All that just to link 7mile to those overpriced dull shops and below average restaurants. A crossing with lights and a pathway would’ve been enough.
Yeah cause tourists never get ran over you cashew.
For you. You are not really thinking of anyone else are you. Such is your culture.
This is a done deal..DART has never embarked on anything that done not received the rubber stamp of the Government..Face it they need his money and they are in a position where they can’t say no..it’s a shame but true..unfortunately nothing anyone can do..
We have been fed the Kool Aid that makes us believe we need his money. Our leaders have bought into his bull$hit.
Drain the political swamp of all the parisites and bottom feeders that Dart has in his pocket. If you dont know who I am refering to, get your heads out of your asses and smell the roses.
I’m on your side, but you need to work on your imagery.
Quite enjoy the petty attempt to protest dumped on roadside. Shame they dropped it at the wrong end.
Cheeky twats! As much as we Caymanians hate those tunnels Dart should be grateful they got what they have now!
NO more tunnels!!!
what about an overpass?
any reason for your fear of tunnels?
It’s small world mentality.
A monorail or sky cable cars back and forth from Royal Palms to Camana Bay would be amazing, don’t you think?
I heard a long time ago that a monorail down the centre of the By pass between Kimpton hotel & Camana Bay was being talked about by Dart (Mark VandeV, Jackie D etc).
I’ve sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!
Donuts… Is there anything they can’t do?
Just sing us a catchy song and we’ll buy one too!
I also heard that the last time Branson was here it was to sell them on Hyperloop One for the same route.
Sir Branson would never agree to this. He and his guy Jason Feltz are pro environment…hello “10 Island Challenge” which our Island didn’t want to sign up for
Yes 3.56 and whilst we are at it, lets have him build a mountain so we can all go skiing in winter too.
He doesn’t need to build a mountain – C.I.Government is already building one… (Mount Trashmore)
Greed is a sin.
kind of like tax evasion…..
Yes, but tax avoidance is not.
Yes it is
….. but not tax avoidance.
Tax avoidance is greed and is sinful. Using offshore structure to reduce tax bills is the very definition of greed, selfishness and sin. Those who do it or encourage it are sinners.
How about all the inhabitants of the Cayman Islands who benefit from the offshore industry. They all sinners too? I guess you don’t benefit at all from all the money government gets from the offshore industry, not you, no siree.
If you don’t like our system there are literally tons of flights headed north every day..By the way don’t you think your friend Mr. Dart is thriving from our tax system..Spit in the sky and it will fall in you face…
Which is precisely why hell will be full of Caymanians when I get there.
Yes.
Knowing the Bible is not the same as living by the Bible.
SMH
Hypocrites galore, heads held high in Church.
God sees all.
Get over it as it will be a well done and beautiful project just like everything our Mr. Dart Group does. Hail to the Chief!
And just imagine all those shops built across it that no one can afford to rent. Looks like a turd.
Does anyone actually believe this will not be approved?
Dollars run tings…
Interesting that the beams needed for the extension are already sitting on the old Coral Caymanian property. Guess they were all purchased at the same time. As we already have this “tunnel” it seems silly not to allow it to be a bit longer.
Maybe these can be turned into 24-hour SMB “animals allowed” shelters during the hurricane season with screens on the ends! Standing room only.
Great until the storm surge comes in.
Welcome to the Dart Islands sold to them by locals and politicians! You only have yourselves to blame.
This is too funny. Did anyone ever think this would not be approved?…I hear the sound of the CPA/PPM rubber stamp sounding loudly!
Almost all the CPa members will gain financially from its approval. That is how they make decisions.
They’d better hurry. Don’t look now but the extra bit is already in the process of being constructed…
any rejection by planning will be met with a successful legal challenge by dart.
You mean they have been bought out by Dart? Iam beside myself I AM SHURE.
no problems here….please proceed asap.
Dart publicly unveiled a $300mln development plan back in February 2015 with illustrations of what they had hoped to roll out. A big $60mln chunk of that was the creation of the dual underpasses that were at least partially approved by CPA, and mandated by the NRA Agreement already.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2015/02/03/Dart-unveils-$300m-Camana-Bay-plan/
The problem with the Cabinet is that they are allowed to negotiate as our “gatekeepers” in back rooms and bind the territory and its residents to agreements without adequate qualification or oversight. When the public pushes back in hindsight, the Cabinet adopts a politically-popular stance and/or feigns surprise, or denies they/we had made such an agreement, or that they/we are in breach of a clause or prescribed timeframe.
It’s a game full of bad behavior on both sides. It is important for the Cayman Islands to move all of these negotiations into a public forum with press access to provide full public transparency, and supervise the behavior and rights of all parties (including those that may have been deliberately excluded).
You elect your negotiators. Dont like it, mark that X elsewhere next time and see if it makes any damn difference.
Guaranteed approval after an initial rejection which was nothing more than a charade to convince the minions that the government are not in his pocket.
Absolutely bang on comment. There was no way Government were ever going to stand up to Dart – they’ve been playing footsie with him under the table from day one on this deal.
One call to Minister for Planning Joey Hew and he’ll do what he needs to help his friends. Dart run the country not government.
Joey Who? Is he in government?
Hey, at least that’s SOMEBODY.
Leave Mr. Joey alone you haters. He stands up for the people. He fixed the Boggy Sound Road for us!
Hahaha
Arden McLean fixed Boggey Sand road. Get Joey to deal with the public access rights to the beaches if you want to see how much he stands up for the people.
or government said “at least complete the form and make it look like the rules apply to you”
And you know this as fact because you are government and not a minion? Or are you a minion who wants to be relevant by making up fake news? Progress works for those who see the future and build for it. Those who live in the past can not go there.
Let’s hope so. The famous road lawsuit shows the caliber of the enemy that oppose such wonderful developments.
Clearly everyone on the island other than the Dart Group has been asleep on this.
In my upinion, what is actualy happening is Dart is obtaining free public land (the roadway) and then building a building with a tunnel going through it for traffic. Much like the old main Chicago Post Office had an expressway going through it. The only difference is that the Oist Office was there first.
Boy, did we ever miss the boat on our tiny island!!
Bingo. And how long before every other developer who has West Bay Road footage decides to do something similar.
Please check closely next time you go through the underpass and you will see that the road is still there and has not been “obtained”by anyone. Granted that you and many like you will never need to use the overpass to cross the traffic many others will. Over passes are needed here because of the many drivers who don’t see the need to slow down or stop for people crossing the road in crosswalks.
Do we need an overpass this long though? The entire Cayman population could stand on top of it and it would still have space..
Great! Let’s have a party to celebrate the awesome way to get across the road without dying from getting hit by some crazy bus or taxi driver.