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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesA Master Plan for the Virgin Islands

A Master Plan for the Virgin Islands

Dear Source:
Thatch Cay isn't the only development/environmental issue we are facing but it has become the most recent environmental focus point. There are many others: St. Croix wants to build resorts, conference centers casinos and more hotel space to hold those who would use them. With that come the marinas, new roads and removal of wildlife habitat. On St. Thomas, Mandahl Bay residents are facing what appears to be a whole new waterfront town. Across the Virgin Islands we are attempting to consider the need for growth and at the same time consider the environment for which this growth has become so popular.
The issues are not only Thatch Cay and other proposed developments they also include what we have done already to the land and waters and how we must fix the existing environmental problems before we can move on.
The agency that must make decisions about development and the protection of our land and waters is DPNR. That agency is constantly inundated with new proposals for development and they must make decisions about the environment during the approval process. DPNR is also responsible for our existing conditions-the developments we have already allowed. Unfortunately, DPNR is grossly under-staffed.
Many existing developments have proven to be not environmentally sound even though the original plans attempted to do just that. The long and short of it is DPNR needs a break so they can catch up with what we have already done to our environment and to create a plan which incorporates the existing irregularities so we never have to make the same mistakes again. We desperately need a Master Development Plan for the Virgin Islands and we need time to create it.
There have been many studies, impact statements, grants, focus groups and papers issued on the subject of Virgin Islands environmental concerns. These initiatives are good but without an action plan, they are just information. Each major development and most other construction projects have had to provide plans and specification for DPNR, and oftentimes federal review. Still, many of those reviewed plans were issued permits and which ultimately proved to harm the environment. And not only are the coastal regions, wildlife and the waters themselves the focus but the environment in which we live becomes affected by poor development decisions. Increased traffic, noise, parking, zoning issues, encroachment and ability of government to provide necessary services are just a few additional environmental concerns that come with development. We must take a bold look at what poor planning and poor government oversight has done already before we can go ahead and allow more major development.
I would suggest a moratorium on major development in the Virgin islands so that DPNR, in conjunction with agencies of local and federal government, non-profit groups and concerned citizens, can take a long, hard look at the problems we have created and the things we have done right. We must find ways to fix the things that are broken before we attempt to go on. This does not mean that existing improved property cannot continue to be improved it means not allowing new major developments to start up without having a solid Master Plan.
If such a moratorium was put into place, it would give those agencies who are working on fixing our environmental issues, including DPNR, time to complete them. As it is now, a study is completed only to find that another problem has cropped up somewhere else and the cycle begins again.
We still have beautiful, pristine waters and tremendous views although some have been irretrievably lost because of development. Some are now being threatened. We live in a place that is unequalled on earth. We must find ways to balance growth and still maintain that beauty that attracts people from around the world. Let's take a break for awhile and look inward. In the long run, we would be saving these islands. The monies earned now through construction jobs, property taxes and tourism dollars will surely be spent later when we have to fix what we broke and at a much higher cost in dollar value, lifestyle and decreased visitation
Lets look to the future; let's consider a building moratorium now.

Paul Devine
St. John

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