Introduced by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, House Local Bill 17-26 seeks to rezone districts and allow flexibility in land use by land owners.
Zoning Board Chairwoman Herminia Fusco and Zoning Administrator Douglas Wyatt attended the delegation session to speak against the bill.
Fusco distributed a letter to lawmakers urging them to reject the measure which she said will “pose a number of serious problems of interpretations.”
Senate Floor Leader Sen. Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, said before acting on the bill, they must first comply with the constitutional requirement of conducting a public hearing.
If it becomes law, H.L.B. 17-26 will designate 16 areas for different uses. Many of the villages will be designated as “village commercial” or “mixed commercial and industrial.”
Torres, in an interview, said the current zoning law hinders private landowners from making the best use of their property, hence, depriving them of economic opportunity.
But Fusco said the bill will allow for “spot zoning,” which courts, she added, view as illegal.
She also questioned the end result of the rezoning proposal: “Who would really benefit — the public or private interest?”
Fusco said the public must be given the chance to comment.
The Zoning Board, she added, also does not like the way the bill refers to certain properties: “Lifoifoi piggery,” “Vicente Diaz property” or the “former Poppy’s Night Club.”
These descriptions, Fusco said, “are simply too vague to enforce and suggests the practice of spot zoning.”
She said the bill should use lot numbers in making references to particular sites.
