AT a Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations public hearing on Monday, legislators shared concerns over the Commonwealth Zoning Board with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ nominee to the board, Pedro I. Itibus.
Itibus has served as a board member of the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation and has worked for the Department of Public Lands. He is also a former Department of Public Safety officer and a parole officer.
Rep. Vicente Camacho asked Itibus to “put some integrity back into the zoning office” citing numerous complaints, “in particular, their customer service.”
Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, for her part, noted the “delay in processing necessary documents.”
Rep. BJ Attao said the Zoning Board should take appropriate action when it comes to investors.
“A lot of the investors…try to come to the Legislature and bypass the zoning office,” Attao said.
Rep. Diego Camacho told Itibus he supports the creation of an online portal for Zoning Board submissions and downloading of pertinent business documents.
He also mentioned the need to enforce Saipan Local Law 20-25 or the Nuisance Abatement and Blighted Property Maintenance Act of 2018.
“As we are trying to promote ourselves as a world class destination, I think the private businesses should be in line with that vision and really take care of their properties, especially those that have been abandoned in the tourist district areas,” Rep. Diego Camacho said.
The Zoning Board earlier said it needed sufficient funding to implement the law.
