In an interview yesterday, DPL Secretary John Del Rosario said he would rather see the area remain as it is now.
As soon as the unexploded ordnance cleanup is completed, he said the site can be re-vegetated and turned into a public park or anything that can complement the island’s tourism industry.
He recalled that the idea of a homestead village in the area was based on plan that justified a request for federal funding for the construction of a new sewer system north of Saipan.
Del Rosario said the people should refrain from jumping to conclusions or over reacting every time clearing activities happen.
He said the land clearing of the site is necessary so that the cleanup team can use the magnetometer efficiently in detecting unexploded ordnance in the area.
Del Rosario said DPL is looking at three other areas on Saipan that may soon have homestead villages — 200 lots in Koblerville; 78 lots on Capital Hill and 200 lots in Obyan.
DPL, he said, is willing to work with other agencies, like the Zoning Office, in pursuing these new homestead projects.
Del Rosario said DPL is aware that Obyan is not classified as a residential area in the new zoning law, and this why they have to discuss this issue with the Zoning Office.
He disclosed that DPL has taken back 80 homestead lots from recipients who failed to comply with the terms and condition.
To accommodate as many as applicants as possible, DPL may try to redesign these 80 homestead lots so they can benefit more families, he said.
