$500M of projects OK’d in 6 months

| 31/07/2019 | 56 Comments
Cayman News Service

(CNS): Development in the Cayman Islands shows no signs of slowing and becoming in anyway sustainable, after the Central Planning Authority approved over half a billion dollars worth of projects in the first six months of this year. Despite the premier’s claims that the National Conservation Law is stifling development, the CPA green-lit an unprecedented 380 projects over the first two quarters of 2019; another 659 planning permits, valued at more than $205 million, were also issued over the same period.

While some of this total represents small projects or family homes, a significant amount of the applications appearing before the CPA are much larger developments, including condos, apartments, mixed-use projects, hotels and other major commercial endeavours.

Although government constantly talks about the need for more sustainable development, the amount of work in the planning pipeline, especially on the oceanfront, does not appear to be in the least bit sustainable. Moreover, the revelation that the CPA has given the OK to more than CI$523 million worth of projects comes at a time when officials from the planning department are promising improvements to the systems that will make it even easier and quicker for developers to submit applications to the CPA.

Speaking at a “Business After Hours” information session hosted by the planning department, its director, Haroon Pandohie, said efforts were being made to speed up the time-frame for applications and streamline the process, from applying for planning permissions to the permit process, via its online systems.

“Every service offered by the department is available on the planning portal,” he said. “Our objective is to enhance the efficiency and quality of our service while reducing the amount of paper involved in the planning process and instances in which applicants have to resubmit information.”

The online planning system currently allows clients to apply for permits online, and to track permit related plan reviews and inspections. Key status updates are also automatically sent to customers via email. Other features include the ability to apply for various permit types online, to upload electronic plans and drawings, the tracking of plan reviews, requesting and tracking of inspection requests and tracking of plan reviews.

In the face of these efficiency efforts and a surge of development, the premier is chairing a review panel with the intent of watering down the already limited protections for our natural environment in the National Conservation Law. On numerous public occasions the premier has implied that the conservation legislation is undermining future development.

Yet so far, a tiny percentage of planning applications that have been reviewed by the National Conservation Council have resulted in the need for an environmental impact assessment. At the last count it was just six and most were road projects, where the NCC and Department of Environment had raised concerns that the proposals, mostly for farm or connector roads in North Side, which would threaten unique and important pristine habitat, were arbitrary and had not been supported by any justification. One was also for the road to support the Ironwood golf course project, which has still not broken ground.

The application by one of Dart’s network of companies to remove beach rock from Seven Mile Beach, north of the Kimpton, where the developer is contemplating another hotel resort, remains the only commercial project where an EIA was recommended. In most cases the DoE is trying to work directly with developers to avoid the need for EIAs by helping them to mitigate any damage their developments may pose to the environment at the early stages.

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Category: development, Local News

Comments (56)

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  1. 876 says:

    Cayman has enough buildings and hotels already how much more do they expect to build on this tiny island? Take a look at cayman on google maps nearly 90 percent of west bay road and Georgetown is covered with buildings and hotels not much tress to see just plain concrete!. Cayman doesn’t even look like what a real island paradise should look like and some of the locals and expats living here only care about living this so called lavish lifestyle and not embracing the island culture like how the other islands embrace theirs!..

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  2. Anonymous says:

    For the locals who criticize development. Cuba, Jamaica and Honduras, are all countries that wish they had some form of development happening to stimulate the economy and provide the locals with work and a modernized infrastructure.

    Unfortunately balance is not something that comes naturally to humans, so instead of doing things moderately and at a sustainable pace we get greedy and go full throttle. Or have a greedy government who oppresses its people by keeping them poor and uneducated while raiding the barn. So you have to choice to make,
    1) A stagnant economy which supports strong culture, heritage and a natural untouched landscape (because nothing changes), uncontrollable poverty and crime etc or,
    2) A developed flourishing economy which leads to potential opportunities for everyone, like jobs in construction, business, commercial and retail, the modernization of infrastructure (communications,roads etc) that dilutes culture and eradicates the natural environment, social and financial segregation which breeds poverty and crime.
    ( I will take my chances with this one because CUC and Fosters doesn’t except culture at the register).

    Please ignore those among us, not all but some, with their condescending, oppressive, colonialist mentality that would love to see us swinging from the trees. The Canadians, Americans, Brits, Ausies etc you know who you are. That come to these shores and on here to Lecture to us on the way things should be done. They think they have all the answers because everything is better back home but yet we find ourselves on this ROCK, and Considering that their home countries historical success was based on war, colonization, oppression and enslaving the native cave people ( based on the far left description in those said countries) we need to wake up and smell the bullshit. Nothing would make them happier than for cayman to move backwards and be a undeveloped grass piece where “tourist” could come and drive around in their tour buses viewing the local cave people, culture and heritage that is so unique and untouched while we grovel at their feet like the cave people we are and they look down their noses at us tossing out crumbs. Only to return to their own modern developed hometowns with all the finer things in life, and talk over tea time about the natives in the “ Caymins ” and how we are so nice and made them feel like King’s and Queens and they live in trees and they eat mangos all day.

    Point is what we have here is far from perfect but is as close as it gets. Hence the 2 to 1 ration of imported labor to Caymanians. This being said Cayman is in a position of great advantage because there is more work available on this island than there are locals to fill them. There is no reason for us to have an unemployment issue, just the unemployable which we have. Development can be a good thing we just have to develop as a people with it and be mindful of sustainability across the board.
    So stop complaining show up to work and take advantage because everyone else is.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    The NCL. gives Gina unlimited powers and needs watering down.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    And no money for healthcare, education and a livable minimum wage.
    All the money goes to a few.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Substantial income to govt in fees, import duties etc.
      That is how you get your hand outs.

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  5. Anonymous says:

    Losing the essence of Cayman not to mention the wild life being uprooted and no place to go. Heading towards concrete jungle for certain. Sad!!!

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  6. Anonymous says:

    This must be music to the CIREBA cartel ears. All that commission for putting things on a website and unlocking front doors.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Does anyone think the guy on the planning board that owns the hardware store scrutinizes these applications before approving them? I think not.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    Does the scaffold in the picture meet the government safety standards? Looks like a real professionally run job site.

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  9. Anonymous says:

    What is the percentage of 500 million goes into Caymanians pockets and what percentage is sent off the island ?

    Why is it that construction companies are allowed to lay off working Caymanians first while the work permit holders remain working?
    Many of these companies are Sharing work permits.
    why is it that immigration or WORC allowing this to happen to working Caymanians ?

    Where is the protection for working Caymanians ?

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  10. Anonymous says:

    (GREED—MONEY—POWER—CONTROL—SECRETS—DECEPTION—TAX EVASION) those words perfectly describes the cayman islands!

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  11. Anonymous says:

    Please enlighten us with your knowledge 12:50.

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you are meaning that this is a safe and maintained job site then perhaps you should clean off your glasses but if you are just a supporter or participant of the rampant un-regulated cowboy construction industry; then you must feel that picture shows a work site that is normal for you and your workers. Does that help towards your enlightenment?

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      • Anonymous says:

        Looks like the typical sloppy cheap as@ Cayman construction sites to me.

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      • Anonymous says:

        Where are the inspectors from health & safety at the labor & pensions office?
        What about the so called Builder’s Law that was the big political savior?
        More CIG talk but no action.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I think if you surveyed tourists at the airport about all the construction and concrete, you would find the majority are against it. The tourists who have any longevity visiting, I bet would especially be against all the destruction of mangroves, open beach areas, destroying reefs and the idea of tall buildings.

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    • Anonymous says:

      From TA forum:
      “Construction is on steroids compared to previous visits.”

      “Dart has successfully closed the shore road past the Kimpton. It is a weird set up of like two roads now – no thru access. To access a couple of condo complexes and the Coral Reef villa rental you use one road. To access White Sands you use a different road. Huge cleared lot to the north of the Kimpton (off the by pass)….no idea what is going in. Prime beach location though. Dart is loved/hated with locals for sure. Lot of money made from take out packaging! Love him or hate him he is changing the landscape of Cayman.”

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    • Anonymous says:

      8:43 that is why you are living a good life!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Tourists want…….Sun, air conditioning, comfortable pool and beachfront accommodation, bars and restaurants , and a local population that is barefoot and riding donkeys.

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  13. Anonymous says:

    yet my application for less than 500 sq ft house went to central planning authority and took a longer than expected time as i was building near a prestigous neighborhood…sad! you guys can immagine why….

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  14. Anonymous says:

    Why live in a world where we can make a living by developing and excelling, when we can just point our fingers and virtue signal toward those that do?

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  15. Anonymous says:

    8:12 please have his eyes check!

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  16. Anonymous says:

    Hate to read this! Too much cement already!

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  17. Anonymous says:

    CPA does whatever they want/have agreed to, regardless of minutes and/or physical stakeholder objections at their deliberately and meticulously rescheduled meetings dates and times.

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  18. Anonymous says:

    The day that Kenneth Dart tells his senior corporate people on Grand Cayman to study and start implementing sustainable development is the day we will start with serious sustainable development here.

    50 storey buildings on Grand Cayman, are not what sustainable development is about on this island.

    I urge you, Mr. Dart, to think of your legacy and what you will ultimately leave your grandchildren.

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  19. Anonymous says:

    sign of a strong economy…but cave people will always complain.

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    • Anonymous says:

      We live in an era where people who mostly accomplish nothing in this world, except being professionally outraged and offended toward those who achieve exceptionally. What a sad existence.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ..sign of a strong economy or the delusion of growth?
      Your infrastructure would collapse very soon. Your neglect of education would produce detrimental foreseeable consequences. Your country is divided. Social unrest is coming. The Dump is a sleeping volcano. You’ll have no place to run when it explodes, may be literally, may be in the form of epidemics and or congenital birth defects, poisoned beaches and ground water. No cancer fundraising events would save you. Once insurance companies learn that cancer risk in Grand Cayman is tenfold of an average rate, they would refuse coverage. Just like Lloyds Insurers refuse to cover 5G Wi-Fi illnesses.
      So good luck with your “strong economy”.

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  20. Anonymous says:

    Cayman is a real concrete jungle! I bet little cayman and the brac will be next!…

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  21. Anonymous says:

    If tourists wanted to see Miami, they would stay there. Even my 12 year old son said as we were approaching Cayman by air that it looks like Miami.

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    • Anonymous says:

      ok…the record number of stay over tourists prove you wrong.
      try the brac btw….everything you want but nobody goes there.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Also, it doesn’t look anything like Miami.

      Do you agree with everything your 12 year old says?

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