THE Commonwealth Zoning Board, in a media release, says it will prepare a new land use plan and zoning law for Saipan.
Henry Hofschneider, zoning board chairman, said, “The 1993 land use plan and zoning law are very out-of-date so we need to develop replacements right away. This is an opportunity to meet future development needs and to simplify the zoning law.”
In the land use plan, the zoning board will discuss issues and development policies for individual villages and for Garapan and Beach Road.
The plan will also present policy on island-wide issues, such as industrial and commercial development, tourism enhancement, transportation, recreation, poker, natural hazards, utilities, and government facilities.
Steve Tilley, zoning administrator, said, “The plan will provide a comprehensive view of future industrial, commercial, government, and residential development on both public and private property. This will improve predictability for everyone who is concerned about how their commercial, industrial, or residential neighborhood will develop.”
The comprehensive land use plan will guide development of a simplified, user-friendly zoning law for Saipan.
According to Hofschneider, “We want to keep regulation of land use to the bare minimum needed to meet the objectives that the community has established in the land use plan.”
The planning process is beginning now and will finish by April.
Zoning board members and staff will meet with business and government leaders and with village residents.
“We want to meet with business leaders, Parent Teacher Associations, community groups, and anyone else who is interested. We want to know what issues they’re concerned about and what they would like to keep or change for the future,” said Tilley.
In April, a draft plan will be prepared and circulated to the pubic for review and comment.
Following the review period, the zoning board will submit the proposed land use plan and zoning law to the Saipan and Northern Islands legislative delegation to consider for adoption into law.
To find out how to get involved in updating the Saipan comprehensive land use plan and zoning law, contact Steve Tilley at 234-9663 or e-mail steve.tilley@zoning.gov.mp.