Jan. 17, 2007 — Reliance Housing Foundation, which expects to build a 72-unit affordable housing community at Calabash Boom on St. John, received on Tuesday a cease-and-desist order from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources for violating the terms of its Coastal Zone Management permit.
"It was for noncompliance with the special conditions of the permit," Planning spokesman Jamal Nielsen said Wednesday.
He said that that Reliance did not get all its Army Corps of Engineers permits for its underwater pipes, which was one of the special conditions.
Nielsen said Reliance also did not submit a spill-contingency-control plan and a water- and air-quality certificate to Planning's Environmental Protection Division before work started. Both came under the special conditions.
He said Reliance on Jan. 10 received a verbal cease-and-desist order that gave them two days to install silt fences and clean up from the work done on putting in the road.
Nielsen said that an inspector found heavy equipment on the site and that Reliance had started building the road.
He said the order did not mention a fine.
Citing "pending litigation," Reliance President Robert O. Jackson said he couldn't talk about the matter. Reliance received its CZM permit on Dec. 28, 2005.
The project sits on two parcels totaling 9.3 acres and will have two-, three-, and four-bedroom units along with a community center. (See "CZM Grants Permit for 72 Affordable Housing Units").
Calabash Boom resident Bonny Corbeil is keeping an eye on the project. She said Wednesday that people were still working at the site. "It just annoys me no end," she said.
She said it amazed her that big companies can continue to get away with such infractions.
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