Zoning officials said there was enough input from community members during different public forums and hearings but former Speaker Oscar C. Rasa noted there was not enough public participation in the education campaign conducted by the zoning office.
Rasa, adviser of the CNMI Descents for Self-Government and Indigenous Rights, said the zoning office should provide more time to the community members so they can review the 156-page proposed text amendments to the Saipan Zoning Law of 2008.
“Why are you fast-tracking this? Nobody has even received a copy of the amendments,” he said during the board meeting.
He and Carl Dela Cruz were the only members of the community to attend the meeting.
Zoning Board Chairman Diego Blanco said they “intensified” their information campaign to give the people a chance to comment about the proposed amendments.
But newly appointed Zoning Board member Alicia S. Igitol said she opposed the approval of the proposed amendments.
Although her appointment has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, Igitol said she attended the meeting as a representative of the public.
“My request for more time for public education is based on my opinion that we need to gather the necessary information for public consumption,” she said.
The information campaign, she added, should ensure maximum public participation.
Zoning Administrator Douglas Wyatt said they conducted special meetings, public hearings, consultations and an information drive through radio, television and newspaper.
Assistant General Kate Fuller, the Zoning Board’s legal counsel, said she also disseminated information to the business sector and professionals through email and online.
She described the proposed amendments “not perfect but [they] would be better.”
Zoning planner Therese Ogumoro said they have conducted at least 13 meetings in the villages and 13 to 20 public workshops.
“The only places that we were not able to go were individual houses,” she said.
Wyatt noted that only three to five persons attended the public forums.
According to Rasa, there was no “majority” public participation in those gatherings.
“The percentage of the attendance is not even 1 percent of the population. How could you determine that the public was represented?” he asked.
Carl Dela Cruz, a Garapan resident, said the propose amendments may encourage litigation among community members.
Dela Cruz is concerned about a proposed restriction on improvements in the tourism area in Garapan and the proposed restriction of “container houses” in homestead areas.
“It should be modified simply based on the cultural beliefs of the people,” he said, referring to the zoning law.
Isidoro Cabrera, zoning board vice chairman, moved to extend the information drive to 60 more days.
He said the board may again extend it if not enough community members will participate in the hearings and meetings.
Also attending the board meeting on Friday were Zoning Board secretary Edward Arriola Jr., treasurer Herminia Fusco, members Henry Hofschneider and Jose Limes.
Igitol and Herman Sablan were recently appointed to the board by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
They will replace Hofschneider and Fusco whose terms will end this March.
