From left, acting Zoning Administrator Yubert Alepuyo, Zoning Board Secretary Pete I. Itibus, Assistant Attorney General Keisha Blaise, Board Vice Chairman Michael Evangelista, Board Chairman Henry S. Hofschneider, board members Michael T. Demapan and Shane Villanueva confer during break from a public hearing on Thursday at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.
THE Commonwealth Zoning Board on Thursday tabled the conditional use applications of two cannabis businesses, but approved the applications of other businesses during a public hearing at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.
Present were the board’s new Chairman Henry S. Hofschneider, Vice Chairman Michael Evangelista, Secretary Pete I. Itibus, board members Michael T. Demapan and Shane Villanueva.
Acting Zoning Administrator Yubert Alepuyo presented the applications, location photographs, and architectural plans to the board.
By a vote of 3 to 1, the board tabled the application of Da Dankery which proposes to use a property in Dandan, zoned as rural, for cannabis farming. Da Dankery owner Sidney T. Quan answered the board’s questions pertaining to the property and location of the proposed cannabis farm.
Evangelista made a motion to table the application because, he said, the board needed to look into the “legal aspects” of easement or right-of-way on the road to the proposed farm. Villanueva cast the lone dissenting vote while Demapan recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
The board also tabled the application of Max Investments LLC, which plans to open a cannabis retail store in Garapan. Hofschneider, Evangelista and Itibus voted yes to the motion to table the application while Villanueva voted no. Demapan again recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
Evangelista said he wanted to get a clarification on the parking requirement calculation. The application indicated 12 parking lots but the architectural plan showed eight.
Gus Noble, who represented Max Investments, was disappointed with the board’s decision.
The Zoning Board unanimously approved the conditional use applications of Shalom Church which plans to put up a restaurant in Finasisu; couples George and Jyn Binghit who want to build a general wholesale warehouse in Susupe; Anthony R. Flores who will build a fish mart and snack bar in San Jose; Brenda B. Repeki who wants to use a cargo container van as a studio-type house in Kagman III; and Mariana Water Tour Inc. which wants to open a carwash business in Garapan.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this news story failed to mention Zoning Board member Michael T. Demapan’s recusals.
