CPA blocks South Sound housing development
South Sound
(CNS): A proposed townhouse development in the heart of South Sound by former deputy chair of the UDP and Honorary Jamaican Consul, Joseph Marzouca, has been refused planning permission amid fervent objections from neighbouring residents, who want their locality to remain exclusively for single-family homes. The proposed development of 16 three-story units, in a similar style to the Vela properties nearby, sits on just over an acre of land but local residents say it’s not in keeping with the neighbourhood character of mainly family houses built on similarly sized parcels of land.
Objectors and attorney Sammy Jackson of Jackson Law argued that the land in question formed part of the Pirates Cove Estates, where restrictive covenants are in place for development, and on this particular parcel the covenants limit construction to a single-dwelling house per lot.
The fact that other multi-family developments had been approved elsewhere in South Sound was not relevant, Jackson told the CPA last week, because that land was not part of the Pirates Cove Estates, where the covenants applied.
Local residents also highlighted concerns over the absence of any green space in the developer’s current plans, which was effectively maximum density on a skinny piece of land. Additional concerns included the likelihood of visitors’ cars parking on the main road obscuring visibility and creating a safety issue, with just six visitor spaces, two of which would be disabled bays.
Architect Darrel Ebanks of Tropical Architecture Group said that because each home would have a garage and two parking spaces, there would be less of a need for visitors to park on the street. A spokesman for the developer also made the point that many families want to live in that part of South Sound without having to maintain an acre of land.
“Cayman is running out of land for multi-family developments,” he said, adding after the meeting that it is unfair that Caymanians and other residents did not have an option other than building a house on a piece of land.
“Our main concern is to maintain the established character of the Pirate Cove Estates, one of the objectors told CNS. “There is a building scheme in place and this development does not fit in with that scheme. The developer said we are running out of space to build apartments but that is irrelevant. We are also running out of space for Caymanians to build single-family homes.”
Category: development, Local News, Private Sector Oversight
Can we start a competition for ugliest new build in Cayman? The hideous brown box in South Sound which has been stopped because of its stairway on to the road? The thing that looks like a municipal office block, also in South Sound? The place on West Bay Road that looks like a downtown Baghdad souk? The spectacularly tasteless monstrosity going up between Breakers and Frank Sound? So many candidates!
Come in guys, get your nominations in….
Dr. Marzuca the solution is simple, partner with Dart then both your buddy Mac and Alden will get the CPA approval!
Dats de Caymanian Way.
Ah yes. Typical class envy.
It is all land banking until a huge condo goes in. Next there is a for sale sign and monies are transferred electronically into accounts. Everything is done without faces and the development will go on. Get used to it people.
Cayman needs zoning to control over building. Cayman will need to address the infrastructure. Dart has done this and this is why the sensible in charge and educated people secretly love Dart.
Sensible in charge????? Bullshit! Educated people love Dart????? Double bullshit!!!
Is this news?
What is news? A wedding which everyone knew would take place anyway? A demonstration to attract the press? A press release? A press conference?
Grow up.
A large order of building supplies could probably have those objections cleared away quite quickly.
Good decision by the CPA especially for one of many self serving architects of the this political cluster f#@% administration Bravo you finally did something right you made a mistake!
I am glad to see people using the right to object to some of these hideous buildings especially when the pay no respect to public open spaces. Now it is time to do something about these buildings that have remained damaged and unoccupied and boarded up since hurricane Ivan.
Seen all the statements about Dart and other developments but ask yourself these questions Is South Sound not destroyed enough now? How much more are we going allow to be put there? How much developments are we going to allow to make fair?
Stop developing SS! There is plenty of other land that could be built on. Let’s leave some greenery please!
says the people who have already built…..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
No, I bought in a long standing complex. Reaping the benefits of the developments but it needs to slow down.
In keeping with the local family homes, well then what is that monstrosity called Vela now in its third development?
Vela = Mega condo’ development of family homes , built literally on top of each other. I guess you could also call the two giant houses just down in front of the new board-walk to the east , opposite facebook shoe tree ‘Family Homes’ too, but with a 25 foot high foundation. Not sure how that got approved , expect Its all about the $.
EXACTLY! Seems like the damn dollar is all it takes to get what you want in Cayman now! Watch see if they not going get it! Just like I knew Dart was going get his tunnel! You watch see! Money talks! Vela looks like something outta North Korea or China! A real prison communism look. And that other monstrous crap being built on sea side omg wtf is that?! Really people! Why is this being allowed here! Taking away the once beautiful South Sound that we had. Taking the mangroves and then Ivan took the rest, why is Cayman NOT TRYING TO REPLENISH THE MANGROVES AND MAKE SOUTH SOUND SOUTH SOUND AGAIN! Government just is not interested in doing anything good for future generations. Just making a concrete jungle like a little Miami outta this place. There’s no parks to watch a sunset or take a picnic or even lay a blanket on and relax! There’s nothing here to say nature lives!
To clarify, VELA is not on land forming part of the Pirate Cove Estates housing scheme.
As a resident of South Sound, we are tired of and frustrated by watching multi-residential housing spring up all over the South Sound road which has and will continue to cause an increase in traffic and change the entire scenic and peaceful area of Sound Sound. Greed and selfishness for the love of money are infested in the hearts and minds of the investors.
8.38am Are you not being hypocritical, there are hundeds of acres in South Sound to be developed and that you cannot stop. Yes it would be nice if all was used for single residential homes, but not everyone can afford them, so townhouse style developments are inevitable.Undoubtedly should you maintain the status quo the value of your property will increase exponentially, but who am I to accuse you of having the love of money as at least part of your motive.
a pastor once told me that in panama where he from, the power struggles in secret societies often turn bad there….within the same society….
This is how everyone in the Island should be acting , because government only see one way and that’s the way one wants them to see .
Take your power back. Have wisdom to preserve every sq.ft of undeveloped land. Financial service industry provides enough revenue for this country to thrive. Spending is the problem. When billions go missing with no consequences, justifying ecological destruction, overdevelopment and urbanization is a crime.
Is it really not keeping with the single-family dwelling development that current residents are worried about or is it more about keeping their “elite” status?
This development would make living in that part of Sound Sound more affordable rather than one person/family having to purchase a lot and then build a home with specific covenants.
This reminds me of when people resist Frank Hall homes coming in their neighborhoods.
Although this would be a more upscale development, it seems to be a similar resistance under the guise of something else; existing residents believing they are somehow better than others and if you are not in their “class”, you should not be allowed to live there.
People just want an affordable place to live and Cayman only has so much land space, come on people.
I wouldn’t call $1mio+ condo’s ‘affordable’.
Exactly. Only certain “Caymanians” will be able to afford this so just drop that part of the justification because it just sounds ridiculous. If the developers are so concerned with affordability and providing opportunities then perhaps consider selling a certain portion below market through a lottery to Caymanians who qualify based on established criteria. It’s done in major cities in the US so I’m sure Cayman could figure it out if they really wanted to. So many things we could do differently on the rock. Sigh.
“…perhaps consider selling a certain portion below market through a lottery to Caymanians who qualify based on established criteria. ”
Epitome of Caymanian entitlement.
Signed,
A Caymanian not expecting handouts.
It is relative, isn’t it?
Compare that to what it would cost to purchase the land AND build a house according to covenants.
Nothing is wrong with “elite” status.
You are not Dart Mr Marzouca
Just put it back in later and it will get approved. Look at what the CPA does for Mr. Dart!
That God he got shot down!! Bracka.
I like Dr. Marzouca but I must say I applaud this decision. If only our people would speak up just as loud for all other areas of over-development and structural development that is killing the traditional ‘island’ look.
While I applaud these objectors I find them hypocritical that they protest this development while some others that are ugly but belong to the wealthiest – Dart for example – . If you are protesting for the protection of the community then all rules apply to all developers.
Govt. changed the rule years ago so you can not object to developments unless you are ‘adjoining’. So, sorry, others cant’ fight your battles for you.
The hideous monstrosity, that NCB is building on top of a grave yard in South Sound, should never have been given permission either!
Yes but just look at who the developer is. Same one who got access for Dumpside, sorry auto correct again, meant to say Lakeside apartments onto the ETH!
Just spread some of the money around and anything flies in these here Cayman Islands! No one will no what they had until it is all gone and believe me that day is quickly approaching. Lets get that new dock going boys!
half of george town is dumpside…..and in a couple of years the dump will be sorted hopefully…..
You were correct the first time with “dumpside”
just like the private dumpside school???
Too bad his last name wasn’t “Dart”. It would have been approved before he was done signing the proposal.
Typical cayman b s. Good for some and not the others. All who you know and blow.
“Cayman is running out of land for multi-family developments,”
Outright horseshit, as anyone who travels east of Red Bay knows.
They meant in areas desirable by most upper-class Caymanians and expatriates and close to schools, town etc.
south sound nimbys….. perfect combination of ignorance, selfishness and hypocrisy.
Good decision CPA.