New med-city threatens 22 acres of mangrove
(CNS): A planned area development for a new medical tourism project due to be heard by the Central Planning Authority this week threatens around 22 acres of mangrove wetland in West Bay, but the developers have not offered a proposal on how they plan to compensate for the loss of this primary habitat. The site for Aster’s rival medical complex to Health City is partly man-modified but more than half is tidally flooded mangrove forest adjoining a larger surrounding wetland area of mangroves to the west. While the National Conservation Council has said the developer does not need to do an environmental impact assessment, but before the CPA contemplates approving the PAD, a number of environmental concerns still need to be addressed and missing information supplied.
In its screening exercise to assess the need for an EIA, the Department of Environment raised a number of issues, not least “the proposed compensatory mitigation for the 22 acres of primary habitat that will be cleared, to ensure ‘no net loss’ of mangrove wetland habitat”. This is missing from the application, as is a comprehensive landscaping plan for the site, and both must be submitted to the NCC for approval.
The DoE also pointed out that a comprehensive waste management assessment will be required to determine the likely amount and type of waste generated, the impact on the landfill and road network, opportunities for reduction, reuse and recycling of waste, and to assess the management and disposal methods for hazardous waste.
The experts noted that another assessment that should be undertaken is one that demonstrates the need for another medical facility, which should consider the likely socio-economic effects, such as housing supply requirements, demand on community services, impacts on existing medical services balanced against the creation of jobs.
“Given the scale of the proposal, it is premature to grant planning permission prior to completing a needs assessment for the proposed facility,” the DoE said. The experts also pointed out the need to consider the project against the backdrop of other development in the area and the cumulative impact.
“There are several other committed and proposed developments in the surrounding area, including several large scale apartment and residential subdivision applications, which may give rise to cumulative effects, including impacts to stormwater management, traffic impacts and impacts to the ecology of the area due to the continued loss of wetlands,” the DoE warned.
When it comes to the more immediate and direct environmental impacts, this project is likely to both contribute to climate change and be affected by climate change during construction and operation. The removal of the mangroves is of specific concern to the DoE because mangroves are among the most carbon-rich tropical forests in the world and have “tremendous carbon store”.
“The removal of the mangroves and the removal of peat to facilitate construction within the PAD will result in releases of stored carbon. Carbon storage is a key ecosystem service provided by mangroves which would be completely removed by the PAD,” the experts said, explaining the need to mitigate against this loss by providing compensatory mangroves for protection.
Mangroves also provide other ecological services alongside storing carbon, such as providing habitat for species, including birds, which are protected under the National Conservation Law.
“There should be ‘no net loss’ of wetlands. This objective can be achieved through compensatory mitigation… Whilst every proposal is different, it is common-practice to apply a ‘mitigation compensation ratio’ that establishes the number of acres of mitigation required per acre of wetland impact. The mitigation ratio differs from case to case based on the characteristics of the impacted wetland and whether the proposed mitigation involves wetland creation, restoration, enhancement or conservation. Mitigation can be provided through on-site mitigation, perhaps by the designation of areas of mangroves to remain or otherwise, and off-site mitigation.”
But the proposed development offers no mitigation and the DoE said that until it does, the CPA should not grant planning permission.
“The granting of planning permission should only be contemplated if the applicant is requested to provide a mitigation proposal to the National Conservation Council for approval, to deliver ‘no net loss’ of mangrove habitat,” the DoE said in the comprehensive screening opinion it has submitted to the CPA. “Although the proposal outlines that it will make ‘use of existing water features’, it includes no detail of measures to retain any of the existing mangroves or other vegetation into the landscaping and no specific details of the stormwater management plan have been included which may include the preservation of wetland areas in order to utilise their water storage capacities.”
The DoE also points out that proposed lakes on the landscaping plan do not align with existing waterbodies on the site and the DoE was concerned that appropriate consideration and integration of natural resources into the overall PAD has been neglected in this project. And while proposals to use native plants for landscaping will offer some mitigation for the loss of native vegetation, it will not deliver the ecosystem services that mangroves provided.
“The cumulative loss of mangroves on the western end of Grand Cayman has been a major issue over the last few decades due to development. Since 1976, 72% of all the mangroves on the west side of Grand Cayman have been lost, making preservation of the remaining areas of key importance. The application submission has not included any ecological assessment information,” the DoE added.
In its conclusion about the proposed PAD and the development in general, the DoE team said that more information was needed to adequately assess the likely effects of the development, both positive and adverse.
“The Proposed Development has included some embedded mitigation and enhancement measures to reduce the environmental impact of the development, however, the specific implementation of these has not been included in most instances. There are likely to be beneficial effects due to the generation of employment and provision of medical education and training, however there is limited quantification of these impacts,” the department stated.
Aster’s medical project PAD is scheduled to be heard at 1pm, and in addition to the DoE comments, the CPA will be considering the objections from neighbouring landowners as well as significant submissions from the planning department. According to the current agenda, despite the size and impact of the project, the National Roads Authority has not submitted any information about the potential effect on the roads and traffic levels.
The Aster PAD application is one of a number of projects before the CPA this week that have significant public interest. These include a major condominium development by Frank Schilling of Uni-Register in the Sand Hole Road area of West Bay, one of the last strips of undeveloped beach front in the district, and an application for a fence in critical turtle nesting habitat on a South Sound beach to prevent walkers getting too close to a beach front property.
See the CPA agenda in the CNS Library.
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Category: development, Health, Local News
This is proof that the previous government planning policy was geared to the population expanding to over a 100k despite their denial and waffling about stronger and safer future for Cayman,which was just another big lie! Premier Wayne Panton needs to set a clear plan now on development if that is possible now? We cannot keep building out, which is out pacing our infrastructure.
Who are all these hospitals for? Especially when the business model for the Shetty Hospital has proven to be an openly admitted miscalculation? We seem to be tripling down on broken ideas. Cayman is not known for producing top quality surgeons, or any of the other various specialists so these are all importe expertise…what is the allure? At USD$500 a night, we aren’t a cheap long term convalescence jurisdiction either. Additional hospital capacity is wasted without paying patient volumes…from somewhere…is anyone going to ask who that is?
Who is Frank Shillings (Uni-Register) Caymanian partner for the condo development?
CNS: He is a Caymanian. Story coming later this morning.
And hope he has a real Architect, not one of the many draftsmen inflicting the flat roof boxes on us.
Seven Mile Beach (including “Corridor’) is a National Interest Issue/ Issue of Public Interest. This has been rendered inaccessible to Caymanians and the country needs a change in management. I can’t wait to hear who the new Chair of the Central Planning Authority will be! 🙏
HCCI didn’t manage medical tourism, what makes this new project so sure of attracting tourists?! Developers need to pay duties in FULL. And why can’t the mangrove portion be preserved and add ‘nature’ value to the development. People need the environment. The environment was created for us after all. If DART was smart he would have added a restrictive covenant to the property to ensure that all the mangrove could not be cleared indiscriminately benefiting people and the environment. XXXX
CNS: This development has nothing to do with Dart. Also, I deleted your final highly bigoted sentence.
The gentrification of West Bay marches on. Question is, where are all the Caymanians going to live?
Its not just in West Bay gentrification is happening.
Caymanians will soon be delegated to some reservation, smh.
Jamaica
I think there is a big difference between inland mangrove and shoreline mangrove. The mangroves along the shore are much more valuable and important than the inland mosquito breeding groves of mangroves.
10:06 you idiot.Mangroves are mangroves.Inland or Shoreline.So you’re hired to plant B.S. in the debate?
Cayman is too small for so many medical centers.How will they make money with so much big competition? I’m in agreement with Real Med Tourism.Im concerned why Cayman is the choice are these doctors properly trained and certified or is Cayman now used as an experimental jurisdiction? Where are the list of doctors involved in the project, who is heading up this facility? What are their credentials? I see no portfolio published, proof that Cayman political leadership and national security is at an all time low when this manner of publication is used tfor such important break I G news involving health.
Calling people idiots because they disagree with your rabid environmental stance and wish to delineate between shoreline mangroves and weeds inland (which carry the mangrove label) will not win you any love or support bobo.
David… Ease up Buddy!
Calling folks Idiots will only distance YOU!
Let’s see.
Mangroves: Inland vs shoreline – Shoreline matters a LOT.
Mangroves Inland – Less so as they are just not as important..
If you wish to make an argument, please do your research and be logical!
Stupid rants are not helpful.
Don’t worry, our new Premier will not allow this to happen. Remember he was the architect of the conservation law. They won’t dare destroy mangrove under his watch. He will take a look at it.
Save the mosquitoes! They’re part of our culture! If you don’t like them, go back to where you came from. Don’t let the plane door hit you on the way out. Am I forgetting anything?
No, you didn’t forget anything other than logic. Sigh… Our electorate is so, so, so stupid…
Wotch you talking bout Willis! New hospital is going to feed new supermarket and tons of apartments ( New Projects)run by Cayman’s new Slum lord fronted by Caymanian realestate company right across the road. Plus there are other apartments now being built which are owned by government officials! Approval will be issued no matter what you fools say or come up with. The environmental onslaught continues unabated. PPM legacy still alive!
Well voters tried to take Dart offline in Cayman and new premier listening Alden same old advisors have put him back online yet again and re hired a Dart connected appointee connected directly to 2 exchief officers now hired as a Dart Consultant and Realestate boss Yes folks you cannot make this shit up! Same old same old!!
How unfortunate Cayman is to have an entity investing billions of dollars in Cayman. Every nation on earth, including many impoverished nations in the Caribbean, should be so unlucky.
Investing billions of dollars in Cayman for who?
It is surely not benefitting locals.
If you can’t see how the locals won in the last 10 years – Then you don’t remember what it was here 20 years ago
8.47 what ARE you talking about. ?
You just did though.
Dart isn’t the developer of this particular hospital, but don’t let that stop you from your jealousy and hatred.
Of course it will be approved when the chair of the CPA so happens to control the only hardware store on Island. I’d be struck off for such self serving dealings – outrageous.
They are not the only hardware store on Island. It’s amazing that you guys can say whatever you want on this site for whatever it is that you hope to achieve. It would be good though that for a change you were at least vaguely factual.
Apologies my mistake – only hardware store with a decent supply/stock of materials.
Kirks, Cox, Uncle Bills, Ace all closed? I get your point, but don’t make shit up 😉
Thank God for us all he was there. He’s a good man and a true Caymanian. Deserves a lot better than your cowardly scorn.
72 % of Mangroves on the west side of Grand Cayman (which has 5% of Grand Cayman’s Mangroves. – not exactly then end of mangroves in Cayman- but never give up the opportunity to use statistics to evoke an emotional response.
Bobo, would be good if, next time, you could identify yourself as an educated/learned environmentalist that knows about these things.
So how many do YOU think we need then? Should we just have a few lining the North Sound? Is that goo enough? Lol
Come now, don’t throw logic into the issue. That will really confuse folks.
People who have done what ever they wanted to their land with no permission asked are the ones now say no one else can do it. Why listen? Honest question.
Apparently no notices were served on the adjoining property owners in the vacinity.Project recently announced. Appears to be a rushed application.
If none of the adjoining property owners were served notice, then how are there objectors scheduled for todays meeting?
That would be as a result of it not being true.
Caymanians: hello!
Who set the precedent for removing massive amounts of protected mangroves in these cayman islands?
None other than daddy DARTkins. But he gave back….so it was okay.
I thought you were going to state the obvious. Caymanians. But they are Caymanians so it was OK.
Boy, you fool. Developers – including Caymanians – were removing MASSIVE amounts of mangroves long before Dart ever came to these islands. You must be very young to think that!
If you take a drive around the island you will see a lot of development going on but equally you will also see that the island is still largely undeveloped with masses amounts of land ….some of the developments will take decades to build out like crystal harbor and Patrick’s island over 30 yrs and still going …we don’t need to panic we just need to be sensible :…where these Sudo hospitals are going are the best spot for them the 4 lane highway are already in ….the way people are jumping around you would thinks it’s the last lot on the rock truth is far from it
Driving around the Island all you see is fkn concrete every direction you look. Can’t even see the fkn ocean view anymore unless you’re a millionaire living in one of those ugly condos on west bay road.
East end is the only section of the Island untouched.
I would support this hospital if it was the last grassy area on the island, filled with turtles, blue iguanas, cancer curing plants, white owls and my grandmother was buried there — on the condition that all those elements were safely relocated in advance of construction.
This will be approved. The entire western side of Grand Cayman has been leveled. Years of runaway development, weak environmental protection and, no-care attitudes has resulted in what we have today.
But don’t worry, the DOE will dig its boots in to the ground and object to anything happening on the eastern part of the island, to atone for what was allowed to happen on the west side.
I always read with amusement, the agenda for CPA meetings. The DOE will give a lengthy review of all the ecological diversity on a piece of property, then turn around and aak that the developer don’t tear it down until absolutely necessary. Of course, that’s if the development in question is west of Res Bay. When it’s east of Red Bay…..that’s a different approach.
Don’t take my word for it, read the input form DOE on some of these projects.
Care to site any specific ones in say the last 6 months to back up your claim?
Just look at the Regal Beach, Marriott, etc.. This is what happens when you mess with mother nature, so build your concrete jungles and wish for the best. Mangroves does protect us from such things as tidal waves and winds from hurricanes, storms, etc.. Let us see how money can stop waves and winds from hurricanes or serious storms!! Just a bunch of greedy bastards who can’t satisfy with the billions that they now have. But no worries, you can spend it all when they are singing, “on the sweet bye and bye”!!
Nobody stops the Thompsons from doing what they want. Nobody.
The previous government and Gene Thompson already inked the deal before PACT was in power.
One Parliament’s actions do not bind another
Not if you don’t mind paying millions of dollars in lawsuits for breaking a legally binding contract. Remember the signed port deal McKeeva broke for the Chinese port deal that the UK blocked?
The UK blocked Mac’s Chinese deal for very good reasons… they knew what was going on .
Yes it cost the country $millions – all as a direct result of Mac’s highly dubious (attempted) dealings with the Chinese.
maybe they should answer some hard questions about the east end white elephant first…..
Say No to Gene Thompson and Aster Group. Cayman does not need them nor does the environment.
And you thought PACT was going to be any different… lol!
All that’s going to happen here is some placebo answer is going to be given when they chop down that 22 acres of mangroves. Like they will plant a tree somewhere else.
2.00pm Perhaps the Premier’s new Ministry should adjust “Sustainability” to “Manoeuvreability”.
Here we go again just ignore the DOE and tear it all down please and hurry before the DOE notices.
And if you get really really sick, grab a handful of mangroves and everything’s gonna be alright.
I just can’t believe that such a small minded group can stand in the way of advancing the health services of our community.
“advancing the health services of our community” is specifically what medical tourism facility is not designed to do. And they are not standing in the way – they didn’t even require an EIA – they are just saying here’s the shortcomings of your current plan, do it better.
What the heck is going on with all the development. We are already struggling with the lack of road infrastructure causing so much traffic.
Maybe the first step is to deal with the number of people bringing in cars.
All the rental companies sold their fleet from 2019. They will soon want to bring in a new fleet of 2022 models… We don’t need anymore cars!!!!
Where do you think all the derelict cars from the dump are going? IN THE SEA. There is a full barge in GT being loaded now.
“the lack of road infrastructure causing so much traffic”
Do you think Los Angeles doesn’t have enough roads.
Building roads doesn’t reduce traffic. Building roads encourages more driving. A lot of places have figured this out already. What Cayman lacks is transportation infrastructure, not “road infrastructure”.
railrroad ha
u knw cayman and those other places can easily be solved for traffic problems but the truth is we have those in our government service boasting 3-4 positions and jobs that pay them very well each month with with a five figure pay check while that money can hire those out of jobs to do the job and solve road problems
Building roads doesn’t reduce traffic.
Really? How come it only takes 15 minutes to get from West Bay to town now when it used to take almost 2 hours before they extended the highway. And comparing an area with almost 19 million people to Cayman is just stupid.
And how many hundreds stranded in Jamaica?
I can’t believe you got that much ignorant people liking this comment. The cars/scrap metal will not be dumped in the sea you idiot. How about you read before making stop comments. All the scrap metal which includes derelict vehicles being sent away by barge has been sent to a recycling facility in Florida. Believe it or not they get paid quite a bit for an entire barge load. So no dumping in the sea .
Wow…thanks CNS. You just compiled my entire list of bulletpoints to read out as an objector at the meeting tomorrow. Only thing not mentioned is the 95 feet tall hospital, excessive site coverage overall, many setbacks reduced to half and of course the elephant in the room which is the pathetic PAD planning regulations that actually allow a PAD application to include Public Open Space and Mangrove Buffers!!! Oh….and yet another medical waste incinerator potentially dumping a cocktail or carcinogens and pathogens into our environment and air…..but heh, this is under the new direction of Medical Tourism
Challenging a project of national importance such as a hospital of this caliber in the name of saving a handful of inland white and black mangroves is an act of economic lunacy and hostility against the Cayman people. Look at the Cayman Islands on a map of the world, if you can even find us and you will see that even if we never cut down another bush on this island it would have no impact on sea levels or temperatures on our island in our region, or elsewhere in the world. We are too small to make a difference to global carbon footprints, saving trees here to neutralize carbon worldwide is an act of mental anguish and futility that only results in economic strangulation. It just doesn’t matter here when we are so small – engaging in symbolism with no tangible result or consequences is lunacy. Unlike the red mangroves that line our foreshore and protect us against storms and surging seas, the inland white and black mangroves are a pest species that do not deserve to be grouped together with the red mangroves. They add no material value to our nation. The department of environment may be well intended trying to preserve lands. But when they make statements so far reaching against a project as good as this hospital it starts to call into question whether they have lost their way and are working on an agenda that runs against the wishes and good of the Caymanian people. Reel it in Gina and Wayne. Many of us don’t like what we reading and when your subordinates speak so strongly against good projects wrap your objections in an environmental flag, you do harm to those trying to protect the environment because you risk marginalizing yourself as environmental zealot who has lost their compass in the eyes of our community. Like crying wolf… When you say bad things about good projects in the name of the environment it’s hard to get taken seriously when there’s a real environmental concerns because everything is just a no no no from DOE
No one but a damn fool would badmouth the DOE! Obviously, you are NOT a Camanian! How much are you being paid to write this garbage?
Actually, the same can be said for you.
Man you really get wrapped up in your fight for the ruination of Grand Cayman. Who is paying you?
P.S. Change your phony name…….. You aren’t Caymanian!
The person could be… look at what Caymanians have done to Cayman!
Look the F around!!!!!!!!!!!
Care to identify yourself? Maybe it is YOU who is not Caymanian.
Call me Bobo
How many hospitals 60,000 people need? Are there serious health issues? Expats are mostly young and healthy. What about local population? The focus must be on prevention.
This forum is full of trolls. Pay no mind. Most Caymanians don’t appreciate a good hospital until they get sick. Then they grateful.
seriously this world needs help and the people in it population growth is growing daily bo the show must go on and build to PREVENT health problem in the future Health Tourism mon
I agree with you Anonymous 3:57pm, however this medicial development is NOT for Caymanians. This is all being driven by greed and the promise of ‘medical tourism’ which won’t work and we will be left with another monstrosity forced to lower its prices for to entice the very locals they are stealing the environment from, once they don’t receive the critical mass of visitors to make the project profitable. The greed machine is alive and well.
Caymanian at 1:23 pm. Preach ! You summarized the last 20 years of DOE commentary in a perfect nutshell. Thank you. I completely agree.
If everyone in the world took the view that environment conservation did not matter, where would we be? It’s a collective of small minds thinking like you who have caused the ruination of the planet today. It doesn’t matter how small we are or how insignificant you and your non-scientific self says our contribution wil be, we should all still TRY to help and not continue to desecrate every in sight. So should we just steam roll the entire island for everything you deem ‘necessary’ (like a 5th hospital on our less than 100 sq miles?). It’s been proven that Cayman has some of the largest carbon stores (called ‘Blue Carbon’) because of the precious mangroves. So in that way, it’s not so much about the quantity of acres we can save, but about the multiplied amount of carbon that even a small amount of mangroves can sequester versus acres of regular forest. Thank God you’re not in charge! There would be no green anything left on this poor little island.
This type of big world philosophical talk is madness. Damning ourselves into an environmentally grounded recession is madness. We can educate and lead by good economic example and we are doing that as a nation — but calling good projects into question over an inland swamp shrub is madness. 5 hospitals are a gift from God. We will have the best care any aging population could ever hope for and have you seen the state of repair of the first hospital? It may need to be torn down at some point and then we will have 4? Chrissie Tomlinson was nearly shuttered once in different times (that would have left 3, if these next 2 get built!). You have to plan for the future or be damned to live with the worsening Country you created through your inaction. “Blue Carbon” is something desperate environmentalists put in their spliff in order to see a green flash at sunset – that never existed in the first place. This island is going to be just fine with another hospital or three probably better. You could always move to Little Cayman if you want nothing. Or better yet become a park ranger in Belize where you can have all the blue Carbon you want.
“Look at the Cayman Islands on a map of the world, if you can even find us and you will see that even if we never cut down another bush on this island it would have no impact on sea levels or temperatures on our island in our region, or elsewhere in the world. We are too small to make a difference to global carbon footprints, saving trees here to neutralize carbon worldwide”
Who EVER said we should conserve OUR environment to neutralize carbon worldwide??? LMFAO how about we just try to cover our own a$$es??
You are a complete numpty.
So what does planning have to say about the clearing of mangroves for the new Police Station in WB.
I don’t know….. What DID they say?
who wants the cayman mangroves VOTE petition remember the years past and what it did for you… NOTHING the truth! if you want to save it dont sell it
our years past many many years ago our government in place then put lots of strain on the people of the caymans so they will sell for less than their land same same money wins it all
when does ? landlocked swamp land suddenly become ‘precious mangroves’
When it becomes tidal.
1:17 pm. Exactly!
Obviously another ignorant, uninformed person. Makes me ashamed to be Caymanian when I see expats understanding the importance of wetlands more than our own people who write them off as ‘useless swamp’. Educate yourselves so you don’t continue to be the underdogs in your own country fools!
When someone else other than me tries to develop it, of course.
you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs…
We aren’t making omelets, dummy!
sense of humor needed here 3:11 pm…
to get to the core u hav to begin from the outer layer which is why its all happening Money Money
buy an omelette instead…bo
eggs still nedd to be broken!
And once the golden goose is gone… no more eggs!
We don’t need this!!!
Is another medical centre really necessary
Gene Thompson certainly thinks so!
Only because Shetty dumped him and bruised his fragile ego. Gene’s like, “I’ll show them and put a new hospital closer to town and put them out of business.” But then, Shetty cuts a deal with Dart and they plan an even better hospital that’s even closer to town and you don’t have to go to the Republic to get there. Give it up, Gene. That’s checkmate.
We don’t need this here. That’s it. Nothing else to say. Turn it down.
Do you really think the CPA chairman will do that?
How are they going to mitigate and minimize the environmental impact?
Easy!
They can’t and they won’t.
But will they be allowed to proceed?
Yup.
Is a hospital really needed there? If we are going to develop the land it would be better used as homes for young Caymanians.
Obviously another ignorant, uninformed person. Makes me ashamed to be Caymanian when I see expats understanding the importance of wetlands more than our own people who write them off as ‘useless swamp’. Educate yourselves so you don’t continue to be the underdogs in your own country fools!
But BoBo needs a home and wants the government to give it to him. He’s a Caymanian. Where are his rights?
Young Caymanians have been priced out of the market long time ago. Get ready for the Cayman ghettos
You mean like the ghettos the exploited Jamaicans and Filipinos live in here?
For god’s sake, its an inland swamp on privately owned land. Give it a rest. No one is going to miss it other than frogs and mosquitoes.
If you look at the second aerial image, plenty of green swamp left over.
Such hyperbole.
Ever heard of climate change? While the worldwide impact may be slight by removing the mangroves, the local impact no doubt will be huge because more concrete and asphalt can only increase local temperatures. Where is the commonsense?
Ever heard of Math? This island is 10 miles by 20 miles. You could cut down every tree and paint it black and the increase in heat would have zero impact on the environment or sea levels. Our fate is sealed by what happens in China and India and Brazil and Africa. If you want to save the environment, build a condo complex here and take a million ion profits to buy 100,000 acres of rainforest.