Residents seek meeting with FIN developers
(CNS): Residents living around the controversial luxury condo project, FIN Grand Cayman, as well as those who dive, snorkel and swim in the affected marine park, want a meeting with the developers to discuss how the negative impact the work is having can be mitigated. Almost 400 people have now signed a petition asking Crighton Properties and the developers, Dale Crighton and Michael Ryan, to explain to those affected by the project how they are being the guardians of the environment they are claiming to be and to listen to the concerns people have. But so far the developers have not responded to the repeated requests to meet with the public.
Rachel Osbourne, a local diver and keen conservationist who lives in the area and was one of the first people to raise the alarm after construction debris from the site washed into the ocean last month, told CNS that people are really concerned about this particular development and feel that the owners should have engaged with the local community well before it started.
“The FIN building appears to be perilously close to the ironshore edge,” she said, which places it at obvious risk from wave action, something that has already been seen. “Silt from ironshore drilling risks smothering local marine park corals. Creating an artificial beach risks further imperiling marine life by introducing organic material and other contamination. Whenever the waves rise or a powerful wind blows, the beach will be lost to the sea,” Osbourne added.
She and other activists believe that the developers have an obligation to engage with local business owners, residents and those using the water to address their legitimate questions and concerns.
“We are also asking them do everything they can and what they have been advised by the Department of Environment to do to safeguard the reef and water quality, to stop the silting and debris falling into the sea, to protect and preserve the reef and marine park and to be the environmental champions they promise to be on their marketing website,” she said, adding that dialogue was the best way to achieve this.
Activists believe that now the public’s attention is focused on this controversial project, there is an opportunity to force the developers to do more to mitigate the inevitable damage from the development. The developers have been making an effort to respond to the adverse publicity the project is generating, but the owners appear convinced that what they are doing has no negative consequences.
Responding to CNS recently, a spokesperson for the developers took the position that development is good and that they are improving on nature. She disputed that they were necessarily to blame for the debris that found its way into the water and that they were putting measures in place for “a net positive on our marine environment”.
“We take the protection of our marine environment seriously and have put our money and resources behind trying to build FIN in the right way, do the right things and not just cut a hole, pour some concrete on the ironshore and ask for forgiveness afterward,” Nadege Parent stated. “We know the world of social media is not the place for calm fact based discussion and it pains us that any other developer, looking at what are going through, would decide that doing things the right way, spending the time and money to get a properly designed and constructed project, is just not worth the effort and cost, and instead stop trying to find sensible long term ways to make development a force for conservation, providing sustainable projects, jobs and funding.
“Just saying no to everything is easy, but development is going to happen and better that it’s done thoughtfully and responsibly,” Parent added.
Responding to the recent debris probems she said, “It appears that small amounts of foreign materials have been found on the sea bed which most likely found their way there during a storm. These materials may or may not have come from the FIN site.”
Having hired a local dive team to carry out the clean-up, Parent said they had also been in close communication with the Department of Environment and were sure all the items will be collected. However, the developers appear unconcerned about the fundamental issues associated with what they acknowledge is the most sensitive part of the project: creating the saltwater lagoon.
“We have gone to great pains in the design and approval of both the lagoon and the construction methodology to be used,” Parent said, noting that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent to get the “design and construction program correct”, claiming it was “fully approved by the DoE”.
This, however, is not the case. The DoE categorically recommended against the project, which is well documented, but the Central Planning Authority ignored that advice and so the department offered what mitigating recommendations they could to manage the development. The DoE technical experts have said that in reality, since the project has been approved, there is very little that can be done to truly mitigate the impact of this work on the marine environment.
The FIN developers say they are employing water turbidity monitoring in six different locations many times a day, using special pumping and cleaning ponds for any ground water exposed during the excavation, as well as silt screens and specific construction techniques. Nevertheless, the evidence speaks for itself that the marine habitat is still being negatively impacted. Parent said that they are “in full compliance of the measures approved by the DoE”, that they have all the necessary approvals and are in daily communication with the department.
“To infer otherwise is false and damaging to what we see as a cooperative approach to bringing these works to a successful conclusion and setting the stage for a long term stewardship our coastal environment,” Parent said in their response. “We need hardly point out that the many other salt water lagoons cut into the ironshore all over Cayman did none of this. The most delicate part of the work is when we need to excavate the lagoon itself, not a very large job in itself but, because it creates loose material, we have to do it when we believe we have a window of calm weather more than sufficient for the time the works will be underway,” she added.
Dismissing public concerns about this project, Parent admitted that the situation was down to the unpredicability of the weather. “The source of the recent social media frenzy around the project resulted from ongoing excavation works which were under way, following all the approved protocols, when the current suddenly turned and, what had been a flat calm day, in a projected week of the same, suddenly had periodic large swells that overtopped the ironshore,” she said. “The moment conditions changed we shut down all works and directed all resources to removing the materials and minimizing any runoff. The sudden shift in the wave patterns also drove our silt screens onto the shore, tearing them in some sections.”
The suggestion that this was a “weather anomaly” that FIN “could not have anticipated” has raised eyebrows, given the weather patterns this time of year. Parent said that those weather events that caused the problems were impacting much of this area of the coast and the highly active currents helped dissipate the silt, and so there was no “serious impact on the area”.
“We have repaired the silt screen and purchased more to expand our ability to cover the areas of construction and we continue daily monitoring and keep the DoE informed,” Parent said. “Going forward we will be even more cautious about the weather risks and the best way to minimize impact is to get the excavation done, the materials removed and the lagoon stabilized as quickly as possible. Unlike any other lagoon in Cayman, we have included a pumping system to improve water quality and an agreed protocol with DoE on any sand reintroduced onto the site post completion.”
Accepting that construction materials can fly about and end up in the ocean, she said staff were using kayaks to scoop up any debris in the water and bring it ashore for proper disposal.
Category: development, Local News, Marine Environment, Science & Nature
The silt screens did not extend to bottom of the marine park. They could only catch the ironshore material if it could float. If the ironshore is light enough to float Fin really shouldn’t have built a wall on it.
So much for the booms like milk the sea outside Fin today
Meanwhile, how do we reconcile this regime’s pre-election comments/lies that, “the port project is dead” even while they quietly rezone the Marine Park and Mission Blue Hope Spot that is/was GT harbour into an expansive Anchoring Zone?
If you bother to do any research you will find this was done for good reason and with the DOE’s agreement.
You really want to dive and snorkel in a working harbor ?
Kinda ironic that the developers do not find social media to be an appropriate place to discuss matters related to the development, but then employ their manager/marketer/media specialist to use social media as the platform to promote and defend their pet project.
Michael Ryan isn’t going to talk to anyone. Have your say on the Fin Cayman Google Maps review page.
Just go to Google maps and then search Fin Grand Cayman. There is a review page for the development.
Tell Michael Ryan what you think.
Why are we blaming Dale? Didn’t this project go through the CPA?
We are blaming Dale and Al’t and Michael Ryan..All birds of a feather completed only by Joey, Alden and Martyn Roper.
12.09am I suppose even if your garbage was not collected you would blame the Governor. Caymanians need to remember, the UK Govt has always pledged NOT to interfere in internal self government unless it involves their international obligations.Try thanking the Governor instead, for obtaining over 100,000 doses of Covid vaccine free of charge, and arranging the regular direct BA flights.
Where were all of you so called activists and environmentalists when Divetech dug their lagoon 2 years ago???? Give me a break. Talk about cherry-picking issues.
Irrelevant.
The comments below are just so typical and expected, anything to do with change or progress in Cayman is met with immediate push back and negativity. People in Cayman aren’t happy unless they have something to complain about… honestly get a life, crabs in a bucket. They have been working closely with DOE and Planning from the inception of this project and have met every criteria and complied with ALL legal requirements to complete this project successfully. The setback of the property is completely legal due to changes in the Planning Law which were brought into effect before this project even broke ground. Educate yourselves on the facts before you comment or pass judgement. The developers have done an spectacular job, this stunning property is elevating luxury living in Cayman to the next level. Cayman continues to be in the forefront for our region, excited to see what is next. Change is coming people, get on board or get left behind….
https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/10/fin-project-in-breach-of-planning-approval/
FIN IS IN BREACH OF PLANNING APPROVAL.
Read the article.
Any other brilliant points and lies your useless mind has thought up?
5:42, I bet you are really looking forward to the new 50 storey Dart building coming next year.
Sounds like you purchased a unit…
5.42pm Climb back in your bucket which no doubt belongs to the developers.The people have spoken.
It’s hideous. Get on board !! You are having a laugh , or a vested interest more likely.
If there is much more traffic on the roads than the present volume . A 15 minute commute will take 2 hours or more. How is that elevating living in Cayman for the majority, never mind luxury for the selfish minority.
There is a reason for sustainable development, and viable infrastructure is a big one.
If to provide feedback on Fin leave a comment on their Google maps page.
https://www.google.com/search?q=google+maps+fin+cayman&rlz=1CAWPBA_enGB849&oq=google+maps+fin+cayman&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.7280j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lrd=0x8f25868bfe5f7593:0x36aa5744a90d5f90,1,,,
The reefs are in crisis facing stony coral tissue loss disease, which has the potential to be catastrophic. (SCTLD)
The local dive industry and water sports operators are struggling.
There is opportunity for developers and corporate sponsors to help by working with the DOE and local marine experts to help save the reefs.
Maybe FIN should get involved? Here are some things they could do…
– Help fund coral nurseries, and the training of local divers and boat operators to survey and treat infected reefs.
– Establish an aquarium to safeguard rare and endangered coral species whilst scientists work on mitigation and cures for SCTLD. It need not be fancy – just a big tank. Or dream big and make a big beautiful aquarium which doubles up as a tourist attraction and educational centre.
– Promise to be a responsible and flexible developer, committed to minimising and mitigating environmental damage and publicly reassure the public that mistakes will be learned from and resources put into making sure not just the FIN residents and owners but the whole island and its visitors continue to enjoy Cayman’s marine parks in all their beauty.
Do the right thing. Let’s have that meeting!
Back to Mob rules. It’s what happens when everything else is broken beyond repair. Third world Government planning department and third world edumacated people.
Michael Ryan is worried that he hasn’t got permission to replace the sand used for beach. If Michael Ryan is refused permission to replace the sand the marine park will be saved from further damage.
He’ll just do it one night without permission….just like he chopped down the mangroves without permission when the Ritz went up
Who got the commissions on all those condo sales?
My hands is clean and my heart are pure, just watch the video if you doesn’t believe me.
I see someone is pulling a “John Barron”. 🤫
This was posted on a Facebook group by Eco Divers Britt Joy.
It is shocking.
‘ I am reposting this on behalf of Cayman Eco Divers:
Hi please note that Cayman Eco Divers does not work with FIN.
They approached us 4 years ago that they wanted to be the first Eco development group out there. We told them some of our concerns and how their plan had some environmental concerns. They then informed us that they would “take it into consideration”.
We even agreed to take out their coral team from Nova Southeastern, to show them what we were working on around that area.
After not hearing from them for 3 years we found that they were causing major damage to the environment around them and we said we no longer wanted to work with them.
We also noticed that they stole our foundations photos and were even claiming our coral nurseries as their own.
We have sent numerous emails to them and even had two zoom calls to take our information and photos down as we no longer wanted to work with them.
To date they have refused to do that and instead we have been having to clean up the mess they have made around the reef.
We have asked them to stop but maybe now that there is a public outcry they might finally take our stuff down and stop stealing our photos and taking credit for our hard work.
Yup, that’s our Mike Ryan,
You have to look at things in context. In partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Nova Southeastern University and the Coral Reef Institute, FIN is the first real estate development in the Cayman Islands to undertake the funding of a coral reef monitoring and restoration program. Fin is within 50 ft of the shoreline and it was to be expected that a small amount of debris would end up in the ocean. As soon as Fin was notified the few items of debris were promptly removed. We can see that the same weather that broke the screens quickly washed the silt away, leaving the marine park in pristine condition. We are grown ups and recognise that sand is likely to be washed from the beach and into the ocean by a storm. The same storm will wash the sand away from the marine park.
FIN sets a new standard for luxury living in the Cayman Islands. Cayman is fortunate to have Michael Ryan who is a pioneer, leader, innovator and visionary in luxury resort and residential development. Michael is one of today’s most respected global entrepreneurs.
We need to be pragmatic and accept a level of give and take between the tenacity of a responsible developer and the impact on the island’s environment.
Fin spokesman talking?
Thanks for posting Michael. 😂😂😂
Maybe this pioneer, leader, innovator and visionary can pay back the public purse the millions that he still owes from the Ritz development. The same bill that he ran away from when he left the island and shipped out all of his possessions so they could not be seized. Shocked that government even allowed him back let alone be involved in another development. Speaks volumes about their integrity.
What kind of BS is this?
6:15pm
Who does this development think its fooling? Seriously?
It’s far more Sin than Fin.Someone needs to educate the Planning Board for permitting this monstrosity. Ms Parent clearly lives in a fantasy world, they did not pour concrete on the ironshore, rather they removed all but 5 feet of it and will suffer the consequences in the next NorWester season. This is the only condo development out of four the area that was too cheap to put curbstones along the sidewalk, that speaks volumes. It was also the only development that used South Church St as a part of their construction site, much to the annoyance of local commuters who face road blocks every day.Shame on them.
As long as the Dump exists in its current state nothing can be called luxury in Grand Cayman. Luxury resort starts with clean air and water in a noise free environment. Drinking champagne and eating caviar in a multimillion dollar condo next to a stinking toxic Dump is not luxurious. Everything in Grand Cayman is in the Dump’s vicinity. You can pretend all you like that the environment is pristine and fool the unsuspecting buyers, but the fact is, Grand Cayman is standing on its last leg.
A number of people have pointed out that the building is at risk of severe damage due the excavation of the ironshore and how close the building is to the ocean. Will the owners of the condos be able to buy insurance?
Dump
Isn’t it a little bit late!!!
The aspiring politician for Red Bay can answer all the questions as he was the one who submitted the project to Planning.
Sammy Jackson?
But it was Al’T, Alden and Joey’s man in charge of the rubber stamp at Planning that approved it..
ALT has been chair from before Joey was born to be fair. (I exaggerate slightly of course)
Like it or not, AlT and CPA have no mandate beyond ensuring that the planning laws and regulations are met, after that, approval is given.
Government decides what is appropriate and where not CPA.Don’t like it? Change the law.
Of course he has been there since time and Memorial. how do you think the PPM keeps the development train running.
Take a look at the makeup of the Planning Board. It will shock you. Even when the Auditor General made it clear that there was too much conflict of interest amongst these members but Alden refused to change.
As far as Joey goes, he inherited them and still didn’t do anything so he is just as complicit as Alden..
Strange as well, not a peep out of David Wight when this is smack dab in his constituency.
If you’re knowledgeable enough to know that he represented FIN (which is no secret), then I refuse to believe that you weren’t knowledgeable to know that he’s addressed this numerous times. And btw, he has meetings where you can ask him anything you like, in person, and he’ll give you a straight answer. But it’s always easier to make cynical anonymous comments on CNS.
Who on earth is silly enough to buy something that is so close to the ocean that it could get obliterated? Presumably their lawyers or realtors are warning them of this debate, or they could be facing some stiff liability when the inevitable happens.
Remember Dolphin Point? When it was being built everyone said it was too close to the ocean, but the developers ignored them. It took Ivan to prove them right.
And now Dolphon Point is being redeveloped. Even bigger buildings this time. So sad to see how my own Caymanians are the ones destroying. What is left of our beautifull islands. Don’t worry though, I hear another Ivan soon come, and 10 times worse. Be carefull how you keep selling out my country 19 MP’S. Time for all 19 to go. Vote them all out. My fellow Caymanians we are the Government. Let’s start fresh, with new ideas. 30 year old politicians they must go now.
Oswald I remember a Northwester doing severe damage at Dolphin Point many years ago. People and the CPA have short memories.
Hilarious that anyone thinks either of these two gentlemen give even the slightest hint of a shit.
That is the most accurate statement so far 3.55.
Wealthy generational and unprincipled newcomer is an unbeatable combination.
gentlemen= a chivalrous, courteous, or honorable man
Ryan and Crighton could give a shit because they have at least 13 condos to sell. Their customers were promised a rock pool and may have grounds to either not complete the purchase or ask for their money back. The beach will have to last until the sales are completed. After the first storm the new owners can sing for their beach.
“development is good and that they are improving on nature” the arrogance and stupidity of these people. If you’re a Caymanian, kiss it all good bye, we are rapidly becoming pushout of our own island unless government grows a set and does something to stop it but they won’t.
FIN spokesperson said the development is good and are improving on nature ??? Odd ….as placing a massive building too large for the plot size on a small street and very little to no landscaping is not what most of the world considers enhancing nature. Cutting into iron shore in a marine park and creating silt issues and later what will be sand covering a marine park is not enhancing nature. Dumping construction debris whether by accident or not is not enhancing nature. Designing a building unbecoming of the local surroundings area is not enhancing nature.
I am not against development but I am against inappropriate out of place unsustainable development. The developer has shown clearly their interest lies only in $$ not in sustainable environmentally friendly development. Buyers beware if the developer is making such untrue environmental claims imagine what else you will be disappointed with once you open the door !
Not to mention how ugly it is!
Reminds me of the Berksoy’s gaudy, gold plated temple on Seven Mile beach.
Have a look-see what Berksoy is up to currently…
https://www.planning.ky/wp-content/uploads/meetings/Acpa0621.pdf
That is just the start, he owns most of the units at Regal Beach and Laguna Del Mar adjacent to his home. They may all come down at some stage for a massive casino if he gets his way.
Yep. I saw this from miles away. Have been saying this is the plan since he began that monstrosity. (lol my friends will think 9:05am is my comment – it’s a good one!)
Any owners there who don’t want to sell up: you don’t have to, even with a 75% majority in favor. The law that introduced that contravened your human rights because it unilaterally took away an ownership right. You just need to challenge it in court.
OMG, thank you for bringing this to light. This would be a disaster to our area and add way too many people to the roads which will be over over over over capacity when the other 3 developments are finished this year already. Mangroves suck up carbon (as does seagrass) we should do everything in our power to STOP anyone ruining something that our earth needs.
White Buildings Matter
Sorry but its too late from that monster went up they should have been concerned. This is what we get ok. More shit to come.
Yes, too little, too late. This ludicrous building will do huge damage to the off-shore environment, and will ultimately find out their ill-planned ‘lagoon’ is a disaster.
Who’s to blame, yes the developers, but also the electorate who are deaf, dum., and blind to elect better governance.
Don’t complain of the developers, we know their history.
Blame those of us who continually elect people who sell…us…out!
Wait till the 50 storey building is built next year by Dart. Will be a real treat.
All smoke & mirrors!!! Wait till David Wight comes knocking on my door looking for my vote. In the meantime the only solace I have as resident of the area is… wait till the rich folk of Dubai come out for their morning dip and smell the rotten eggs! I believe the scientific name for it is Hydrogen Sulphide.
Where does David Wight stand on this issue? Does anyone know?
David doesn’t know, he needs to go ask Alden first..
This is happening right in his constituency and not a word out of him. They figure if they keep quiet it will go away..Someone needs to ask him the question publicly.
Stop voting for these extension cords for the government. This is what we will get for another four years. People please stand up and be counted. Don’t waste your vote on these useless politicians.
3.37pm I don’t think he stands on any issues, he prefers to sit on them.
Who are they kidding? Fin just flushed the slurry straight into the ocean. It is the lowest cost option for Michael Ryan and the highest cost for Cayman’s environment.
Poor Nadege, I know she knows better but has to do the bidding of her bosses.
Why isn’t Dale Crighton or Mike Ryan answering these questions?
Dale has really surprised me. He has family living all around this monstrosity.. His father would be so disappointed in him.
Micheal Ryan on the other hand…well, his history in Cayman speaks for itself..How he was actually allowed to get involved with development in Cayman again? Has he ever paid Government and all of his other creditors from the fiasco with the Ritz?
So disappointed in Dale. I really thought he was better than this.
Obviously he’s allowed develop in Cayman because of Dale. But this is Cayman, it’s always the foreigners fault.
Hmmmm…I have just seen some photos taken today (Thursday 11 March) on a local conservation FB page. Looks like there’s still some debris on the reef.
The developers should answer questions from the public, in public!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175449680355422/permalink/429120408321680/
Thank you