Another proposed requirement is that any outside trash bins and dumpsters will be screened with a six-foot wood or concrete screen, and the screen will provide wide-swinging doors so that the dumpster can be accessed by a disposal service.
Moreover, storage areas will be maintained only in the rear yard and must be kept out of view from the general public.
These are among the text amendments of the Saipan Zoning Office to the proposed changes to the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008.
Recently fired Zoning Administrator Douglas Wyatt said the intent of these amendments is to ensure that zoning districts located in tourist areas provide a neat and inviting appearance to visitors.
“There are a lot of good changes to the law that will really help the people of Saipan,” he added.
Wyatt said there were a lot of areas that have been rezoned and some people were not happy of the consequences.
He said the Zoning Office and its board “sat down and thought what to do to better the zoning on the island.”
Wyatt said the proposed regulation regarding cargo containers is one of the important amendments the Zoning Office introduced.
Under the proposal, cargo containers may be located in the front of a property for a period of not more than five days to load or unload cargo.
If a cargo container is to be used for permanent storage, it should be located in the backyard and screened from public view.
When a cargo container is to be used as a residence, it should be architecturally altered to reduce its industrialized appearance by providing windows and doors and other features such as open porch areas.
Cargo containers should not be used as part of a fence structure.
Acting Zoning Administrator Therese T. Ogumoro said they transmitted the text amendments to the Legislature on Monday.
The Zoning Office is also expected to make a presentation to lawmakers.
Since he no longer works for the zoning office, Wyatt said Ogumoro and Assistant Attorney General Kate Fuller, the Zoning Board’s legal counsel, will probably meet with the lawmakers to discuss the proposed changes.
Wyatt said the text amendments were based on recommendations of government agencies, the business community, Northern Marianas College students and residents who attended the village meetings conducted by the Zoning Office.
