The lawmaker is also urging his colleagues to pass Saipan Local Bill 17-1 which he has amended to “reflect a five year suspension” of the zoning law instead of six months.
“This bill will provide peace and joy throughout the CNMI and the business community, since it will suspend the zoning board until 2015,” he added.
Torres, Ind.-Saipan, reiterated that the zoning board’s letter to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is “antagonistic, libelous and misleading and, furthermore, reveals a continuing disrespect for both the Legislature and the commonwealth’s business community.”
In its letter, the board said Torres should not vote on zoning legislation due to a possible conflict of interest.
“The real conflict is the very first rezoned area provided by the Zoning Office on map sheet 9 of 29, which rezones a specific area on Isa Road going to Capital Hill that benefits one family,” Torres said in a letter to the board. “Let’s be honest, couldn’t this be ‘the real conflict of interest’ [benefiting a] member of the Zoning Office administrative staff?”
He reiterated that he has no financial interest in any property in the Oleai area that was rezoned.
“Furthermore, I have no personal interest in the land that belongs to my brother in that area,” Torres said, adding he has “numerous relatives all over the island.
The Zoning Board should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office if it thinks he violated any law, Torres said.
