“The Zoning Office should not entertain any applications for rezoning of any commercial projects located within any residential communities,” Marcelino Aguon said.
Aguon wrote a letter to the Zoning Office which is accepting comments on the proposed amendments to the zoning law.
In his letter to Zoning Administrator Douglas T. Wyatt, Aguon said the zoning regulation should be “enforced to the maximum extent practicable in protecting the integrity of all residential zoning areas on island.”
In an interview with Variety, Aguon said other residents agree with his position.
He said the Zoning Office should maintain the beauty of residential communities.
He believes that Garapan and other villages are already congested and he described as “eyesores” the three- to four-story commercial buildings in residential communities.
“Residential houses are sandwiched by ugly warehouses apartment complexes and so forth,” he said.
Aguon said the Zoning Office should have “zero tolerance” for any proposed commercial structures within residential communities regardless of size and magnitude.
All commercial and industrial type development should be placed in the right location as currently zoned, he said.
He said he will support the rezoning of rural and mixed commercial areas if they’re located on the main highway only.
“All commercial projects planned within any secondary roadways and beyond should not allow for rezoning at all except or unless they are confined within the rural or mix commercial areas,” he added.
“Noise, pollution, traffic and other environmental concerns are seriously affected by commercial buildings if placed within our sensitive residential communities,” he said.
If the Zoning Office would allow for rezoning in any residential areas or communities, it will set a bad precedent and more applicants will follow, Aguon said.
“In the spirit of preserving, maintaining and keeping a sound, safe and healthy residential community, let us not even review, accept nor allow any commercial applications to be accepted or even entertained for future projects that will require any magnitude of development within the confined area of our residential communities,” he said.
The Zoning Office, he added, should now deny any applications for commercial purposes in residential areas.
