On Monday afternoon, Zoning Administrator Douglas T. Wyatt, and Zoning Planner Therese Ogumoro were in their respective rooms when this reporter arrived to interview them.
Wyatt said they were approving zoning plans submitted before Oct. 1, the first day of the constitutionally mandated government shutdown after lawmakers failed to pass a budget for fiscal year 2011.
He said their office had to turn away clients who wanted to submit zoning plans.
According to Wyatt, anyone who will open or build a business establishment without getting the approval of his office will be cited for “non-conformity” with the zoning law.
“We will try to provide services to the community. We are working the best we can,” Wyatt told the Variety.
Due to the volume of zoning plans under review, Wyatt said he and Ogumoro were providing free service during the shutdown.
Prior to the shutdown on Friday, Wyatt said his office had seven personnel, which included him and Ogumoro.
The Zoning Office, Wyatt added, is also working on proposed amendments that will be submitted to lawmakers.
“We will make sure [our board meeting] happens,” Wyatt said, referring to the scheduled Zoning Board meeting on Oct. 12.
To be discussed during public hearings at the Zoning Office, which is located at Joeten Dandan, are:
• Additional parking on the east and west sides of Bougainvillea Avenue at the TSL Building in Garapan that is currently zoned as “tourist road.”
• Operation of a restaurant just south of the newly constructed Buddhist Temple in Marpi that is currently zoned “rural.”
• Construction of staff housing at the intersection of Beach Road and Quartermaster Road on the lot where the new Sasha Building and Tertle Dive Shop have just been built. This area is currently zoned as “Beach Road.”
