SENATORS Manny Gregory T. Castro and Corina L. Magofna on Friday introduced Senate Bill 24-23, which would suspend the administration and implementation of the Commonwealth Zoning Code and the Saipan Zoning Law, and dissolve the Commonwealth Zoning Board for five years.
The bill also provides for the transition and transfer of the zoning administration employees.
The bill contains these provisions:
1) All approved and existing zoning permits shall be valid and maintained to the terms and conditions of the permits.
2) All pending zoning permit applications and zoning cases shall be filed and not reviewed.
3) The Commonwealth Zoning Board shall be dissolved and all board members shall no longer have any authority to administer the Saipan Zoning Law.
4) All personnel, records, business and financial accounts and funds used in the administration and operations of the Saipan Zoning Office shall be transferred to the Department of Public Works. All personnel shall be transferred to work at the offices and divisions of DPW. All records shall be properly maintained and stored by the department. All business and financial accounts and funds shall be deposited into the department’s business account.
The bill, which includes a sunset provision, will expire in five years.
According to S.B. 24-23, the zoning law is a good law that is necessary to control and develop Saipan in a sustainable manner. “However,” it added, “for the past five years or so, the administration and implementation of Saipan Zoning Law has been problematic and often stifling economic growth on Saipan.”
“It appears that the Commonwealth Zoning Office, based on various reports and community feedback, was perceived as an obstacle to new development and the office has issues of inefficiency, lack of transparency, and delays in the approval process for permits and zoning requests. These issues can lead to frustration among business owners, developers, and residents who find it difficult to navigate the system,” the bill stated.
There have also been concerns about “inconsistent enforcement of zoning laws, as well as a shortage of staff and resources, which can further contribute to the backlogs and slow decision-making.”
Additionally, the bill stated, the zoning office “has begun to go beyond the scope of the law that established it, encroaching on the responsibilities of the Department of Public Works.”
When asked for comment, Zoning Board Chair Henry S. Hofschneider said he will include the bill on the agenda for their next meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday. He added that while he would like to comment, he prefers to give the other board members the courtesy to express their concerns as well. The meeting will be held at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.
