New Zoning Board member Steve K. Jang, center, with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang shortly after the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation confirmed Jang’s nomination on Thursday.
THE Commonwealth Zoning Board is now complete.
On Thursday, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, in the presence of Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, swore in businessman Steve K. Jang as a member of the seven-seat board.
Chaired by Rep. John Paul P. Sablan, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation unanimously confirmed the nomination of Jang earlier on Thursday.
The board’s other members are its chair Henry S. Hofschneider, vice chair Michael Evangelista, Pete Itibus, Charlotte P.R. Cepeda, Stephen P. Sablan and Eleanor Alinas.
During the delegation session, Office of the Governor Special Projects Coordinator John Paul B. Reyes thanked lawmakers on behalf of the governor and lt. governor “for the time and effort you all put into reviewing and examining our nominee.”
He added, “Your untiring effort on entertaining our nominee is just a step forward as the administration completes the vacancies for all board members and commissions.”
All 18 Saipan lawmakers present voted to confirm Jang. House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, Reps. Denita Yangetmai and Malcolm Omar were excused.
In an interview, Hofschneider said the Zoning Board, which will meet in the first week of July, can now move forward in addressing critical issues pertaining to the islands’ zoning rules.
One of these, he said, is the publication of the proposed regulations that will implement Saipan Local Law 20-25 or the Nuisance Abatement and Blighted Property Maintenance Act of 2018.
There are also proposed amendments to the zoning law that the Zoning Board has submitted to the Saipan delegation for consideration. He said the Zoning Board will have to press on those amendments.
In their next monthly meeting, he said, they may also consider a conditional-use application submitted by the Northern Marianas Technical Institute for a new campus in Koblerville.
