Apartment application adjourned over new road
(CNS): An application by Pro Plus Construction for an apartment complex off the Linford Pierson Highway was adjourned by the Central Planning Authority after a hearing on Wednesday. The Yarl Development, which is also the subject of a re-zoning request, has already been scaled down since the original application, but is going be changed again after the developers were told by the National Roads Authority of plans to build a road through the land where the project is proposed. While this is not a barrier to the development, it requires a shift in the footprint, which may also see less encroachment on the mangroves in the area and address objectors’ traffic concerns.
The hearing was heavily attended by conservation activists as well as objectors living in the immediate 450ft radius, who are the only people who can formally object due to the gradual chiseling away of the radius through changes to planning regulations made behind closed doors in recent years. The Mangrove Rangers and other non-profit groups are following planning applications that threaten mangroves and other critical habitat more closely so they can raise the alarm and engage the wider community about development threatening natural resources or beach access.
Several objectors were allowed to present their concerns about the Yarl project, but it became apparent that this will likely be a very different project, which had the CPA at odds over how it should proceed. The developers revealed that they had been in last minute discussions with the NRA and had learned that in addition to a proposed South Sound bypass, another road is expected to be gazetted in the near future that will run through the middle of the land.
The CPA heard that this would remove one of the challenges posed by the development — increased traffic around Halifax Road. The new road would mean that future residents would not be adding to the weight of traffic entering and leaving the LPH via that one small road. However, it was apparent that none of these road proposals exist formally as they are not approved or even gazetted.
As objectors raised questions about issues, such as stormwater management and what roads would go where and who should pay for them, it was clear that many of the agencies involved in the planning process are not properly communicating and the entire process, even for major projects, is disjointed and piecemeal.
But a stormwater management for the entire South Sound basin, which many have been saying is needed for a long time, was not on the agenda and dismissed by the CPA members, as the chairman made it clear that all developers are responsible for the management of water on their properties and would be expected to engineer the solution. However, objectors pointed out that this is not always the case and in the area where this development is planned flooding is a major issue that is not getting resolved.
When questioned by one member of the CPA about how the developer was going to address the Department of Environment’s specific recommendations regarding the loss of another significant patch of wetlands, the developer’s attorney said they did not want to get into that as they planned to consider all of the environmental issues at a later date along with other concerns raised by objectors.
Having broadly outlined the main issues surrounding the development, it was agreed that the application would be adjourned to give the developer time to talk to the NRA, produce an amended proposal that moved the entire development into the northern part of the land, and then re-present the application with the changes and address the issues raised by objectors.
The question of the re-zoning application was also dismissed, as the CPA insisted it was a separate application.
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Category: development, Local News
This is really getting out of hand. Somethings’ got to give or these unelected busybodies are going to cripple development here in Grand Cayman. Mangrove Rangers, Plastic free Cayman, Protect our Future do not have permission to represent me at any meetings and I would like to know who elected them. There soon wont be anyplace safe to build unless we get the greenlight from these eco warriors who are the new special interest lobbyists attempting to dictate to PACT.
Anyone from the public can attend. The public do not get to speak unless they are valid objectors. The CPA are simply doing their job and following the law. Developers are not the elected busybodies.
3:06. Another private sector board.
When are we going figure out that the private sector board system has been a failure.
Offeg CPA Port Authority Airports Authority MACI.
The list goes on. What will PAC do.
And who elected you to to represent me and other Camanians, Mr. Anonymous 3:06 pm? I personally stand with the unelected busybodies to protect our islands and the Caymanians on them, not with a bunch of greedy developers enriching themselves and ruining the future for us.
Hi there 3:06 PM,
Its encouraging to see that people like yourself who care about short term financial gains and not about environmental conservation for future generations are becoming nervous. This indicates that the efforts of the people that do care about the environment are starting to have an impact.
Cayman is decades behind in environmental conservation, for example dredging canals was forbidden in Florida decades ago. Also, in many countries there are rules as to how much native vegetation you should keep in your yard. Cayman still has a long way ahead in adopting more conservation laws but we will get there. Here is a link to an article about a new law in Ibiza and Mallorca that is setting the bar high: https://www.charlesmarlow.com/blog/2018/04/20/law-climate-change-energy-transition/
Thats OK. CPA would ignore you also since you do not have standing to support the development if you wanted to. Maybe you should be more concerned about changing the rules so everyone’s input is valid, than complaining that some people care about something.
No.Any questions ??
If you look on google maps, nearly the whole of the western side of Cayman is completely concrete. Not long now before it’s the whole Island. A shame really. Just a concrete rock in the middle of the ocean.
But given Cayman is one of the region’s least attractive islands, it’s not that big a deal.
If Cayman is so unattractive… why is everyone breaking their neck to come here and buy property via mobile video calls?
Do us a favour and STFU!
People are buying property because no one checks where the money comes from. If you dig into these purchases, your going to find that the money has come from dirty places. But its Cayman and it will take until its too late to fix it.
Every decision made has pros and cons. Nothing is one sided. All the anti development voices were quiet when their development was done. Obviously, if there was not a need for housing, housing would not be being constructed.
Isn’t building apartments less destructive to the environment than individual houses in a subdivision, with lots of paved roads to each lot?
Are any of the anti development voices offering to purchase the land for at market price to protect it?
Are any if the anti development voices offering to donate funds to Government to make up the tens of millions of dollars shortfall in development fees and stamp duty / transfer fees?
Anyone willing to give up government service that these funds pay for?
Or do you expect Government to borrow to make up the shortfall?
Conservation and Environmental Protection is a must, but so is development. Let’s find real solutions to doing both.
9.33am You nailed it. With more and more land being claimed as ‘environmentally sensitive’ or ‘protected wetlands’ the cost of remaining land (already too high), will just about ensure that the average Caymanian will never be able to afford a little piece of the rock. We see all these groups fighting to protect turtles, groupers, parrot fish, Smith Barcadere, mangroves; when will they fight to protect Caymanians.
But we Caymanians created this quagmire to being with by selling historically passed down family land during the boom and we continue to do so, for little profit and no re-investment plan for the cash. Andrew Morris Gerard warned of this situation from the 1950s and he wasn’t even Caymanian!
11.54am Just because we made mistakes in the past doesn’t mean we can’t try to make things better.
How exactly can Caymanians correct the mistakes from the past, we are currently still making? Take a look at ecaytrade and Cireba website. Let’s forget our ignorant modern pride and own up to the mistakes WE allowed to take place. Look around, F-150’s, Dodge Rebel’s, Audi’s and Changan’s and NAU vouchers and no more family land. Or a vision towards a financially independent future? We didn’t listen then and we certainly not listening now.
The majority of Caymanians can’t afford it now. Is this development for them? What is the square footage and the price….I don’t know if you are Caymanian or not….but I think we were al lot better off before these little wide cubes started springing up everywhere.
Most of the objectors are objecting to the rezoning. Did they buy high density residential….No. Should they get to change it…No.
Just contact Mr. Thompson…. He has control of everything!
Jay…poor boy is frightened to death of his role.
Yay. More concrete monstrosities with zero inspiration, but maximum profit.
Just say no.
On another note, at Gridlock Reach, how soon before we see a vehicle vault from the LPH roundabout into one of the new buildings/perimeter wall/fence? I’ll give it 6 months, before we have a Honda Accord art installation.
Wow when you describe it like that you can actually visualise that happening…good grief only in Cayman
Have no fear the Premier AKA known as the Conservation Minister in the past along with the present Planning Minister will sort this out in a jiffy. Everything will be prefect.
#saveourswamp
What a crazy world we live in. A planning board consisting of developers and contractors and chaired by the largest Hardware Store Operator on the island…
When is the PACT Government going to correct this? The Auditor General told Alden and the PPM that the board was totally conflicted but Mr. Development himself, Alden refused to disband this group and re-appointed them.
PACT this one one of these things we fought to get you elected for.. I believe it is Jay’s responsibility and if he feels conflicted since he was in the business and don’t have the balls to do it then The Premier must step in.
Let’s us see if Wayne becomes Waynedart in the same way Alden became Aldart. My money is on “yes”. Give it time.
Anonymous at 10:35 you are too funny!
Open the borders!
And bring in the boarders!
More roads what are these clowns thinking
What are these clowns thinking, more damn roads. fix the flooding!