Responsible developer wants sustainable planning rules
Top Hat writes: As a developer who strives to operate ethically and responsibly, it’s incredibly frustrating to see the lack of accountability and poor planning that continues to put both residents and the environment at risk. Development should contribute to a better, more resilient future for Grand Cayman — not worsen the flooding and infrastructure issues we’re already facing.
Recent storms have shown us that this is our new reality, and we need to respond accordingly. Yet, many projects move forward without any meaningful engagement with the community or a proper stormwater management plan.
Developers pushing for high-density construction in flood-prone areas, like the natural basins south of the Linford Pearson Highway, are not just creating immediate problems for neighbouring areas, they’re setting us all up for long-term disaster. Responsible development means considering how our projects affect not only our clients but the broader community and environment.
The fact that there is still no comprehensive national stormwater management plan in place is mind-boggling. I want to see a system that allows for thoughtful, sustainable development where the government, residents, and responsible developers can work together to prevent these issues.
But as it stands, we don’t even have transparency about who is on the so-called stormwater committee or what steps they’re taking to address the growing flood risks. Developers who cut corners, clear land indiscriminately, and ignore natural drainage systems make things worse for everyone — and yet, they face no real consequences.
Then there’s the push for an arterial road through a huge swathe of wetlands as opposed to effectively implementing a national transportation plan. This is a clear example of decisions being made without the necessary studies or data. Mangroves play a critical role in flood prevention, and to destroy them without fully understanding the consequences is reckless. We need to make informed decisions, not take shortcuts.
Developers who genuinely care about the future of this island want to do the right thing. We want clear guidelines, transparency, and a focus on long-term sustainability. But until the government takes real steps to address the underlying issues, the same bad actors will continue to exploit the system, and everyone will pay the price.
At some point, the liability will fall on those in power, and the failure to act will have serious consequences, not just for the land but for the lives and livelihoods of people in this community.
It’s time for real action. We need responsible development policies, enforced fairly, to protect Grand Cayman for the future.
This comment was posted in response to Stormwater issues become Cayman’s latest crisis.
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Category: Business, Construction, development, Local News, Viewpoint
Turning Caymanian Neighborhoods into gettos
This is the reason why we need a proper Social Housing Program
If this was done in the Cayman Islands with the make-shift apartments built in people yards that does not have proper Planning Approval
https://www.thenassauguardian.com/news/shanty-homes-coming-down/article_a9ba92a4-81c9-11ef-bc91-7b1bda2a050a.html
A lot of Filipanos and Jamaicans cramded into a make-shift one bedroom apartments in Winsor Park, Swamp, Rock Hole and Dog City that is living in cramped unsafe conditions that is paying $100 a week would be forced to return home
We have no Planning Department Enforcement Inspection laws to address or enforce the issue of ignored reports of upto 10 people cramed or living in unssfe mske-shift one bedroom apartments; all or most of whomb are working and being paid a minimum wage and not realizing that some of these places that have been built for cheap accomodations put there lives in danger without proper Planning Inspections and Approval are really Electrical Fire Hazzards
https://www.caymancompass.com/2024/09/01/over-30-displaced-following-george-town-fire/
Which brings me to a brief conversation i had with a Jamaican Tenant who rented and lived in a one bedroom with seperate bathroom quarters that was no larger than a standard bathroom with an area of 6 feet by 6 feet in a wooden structure, who would get an electric shock while sleeping night each time they rolled up against the wooden wall the bed was against that had there electric fan plugged into the electric socket
Customs & Border Control should be or need to start requiring copies of a Lease Agreement or to provide proof of Living Accomodations before a Work Permit Approval and Renewal is issued, before issuing the Grant of Permanent Residence and the Grant of Caymanian Status
We have built projects in the Swampland since the late sixties. Anybody who has ever noticed that when it rains the North Sound turns the water a tinge of red. Thats where the excess flooding goes too. So the land has to slope to the north sound. It depends if you are in the Central mangrove area. If you’re in Windsor park, Half way pond , South Sound, it has to slope to the south. We are a Sea mount. Marcos Giglioli the man who brought down the mosquito to a manageable number said dig canals in the swamp to the sea. Then seaman said put pipes under the roads so that water follows that path to the sea. You’re welcome it’s not rocket science. The only problem is the bureaucracy to say “approved”.
Top Hat you seem to be very intelligent and have some ethics as a professional and community minded. Its developers like you we need on island to make Cayman a great place to work and live.
The sad part is when it gone, it’s gone and it’s going at a face pace!
Thank you.
Former CPA chair ALT was just given permission from his former colleagues to proceed with razing more mangrove buffer for a $7.5mln slumlord mini lot fiefdom. Not only a water drainage issue, but transport and registration irregularities with almost half the normal minimum package width and length being approved by the semi-autonomous government gatekeeping agency. Welcome to Cayman.
It is all based on pure greed and how much the developers can get for themselves and to hell with anyone else. Of course our CPA bunch along with the elected representatives could care less as long as they all get for themselves, just screw everyone else.
If the CPA aren’t being guided by law, or even best practice, what good are additional soon-to-be-ignored regulations that seek to plug the most obvious holes?
The whole CPA and especially that chairman need to be sacked ASAP. How can you have a chairman who is doing business with these big developers? The board needs to be made up of people who are not involved with any construction related activities so as not to have unjust influence or conflicts of interest.
Agreed. Nothing in the law states you have to be a generational Caymanian to sit on these boards and this common approach means those appointed are rarely not conflicted.