Victor Barrett, the Zoning Board Administrator, however, said the law would be more effective if there’s collaboration between government agencies and the private sector.
“It (zoning office) is the first line of defense,” said Barrett in an interview with the Variety yesterday.
Barrett received criticisms for setting City of New Orleans’ experience after Hurricane Katrina as an example of suspending the zoning law, particularly on Saipan.
“One of the unfortunate consequences of the zoning law suspension was the approval of a debris landfill in the heart of a vibrant Asian community,” Barrett said.
Asked for comment about the criticisms against him, especially from a lawmaker who proposed the 6-month suspension of the Saipan zoning law, Barrett declined to answer.
Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, introduced a bill temporarily suspending the Saipan zoning law.
He said there were “unintended” consequences not addressed despite various public consultations during the drafting of the Saipan zoning law that took effect in Dec. 2008.
