How the Agriculture Department would clear the trees off four acres of Coral Bay land slated for a community garden without incurring a fuss from residents opposed to getting rid of the trees was his biggest worry, Agriculture Commissioner Louis Petersen Jr. said Thursday.
The trees have to come down so sun can get to the plants, he said.
"I’m aware of the community issue and natural resource issue. I’ve been thinking about it day and night," Petersen said.
However, a solution may be forthcoming. After Petersen discussed the tree issue with a reporter covering St. John Administrator Leona Smith’s monthly open house, held at the Battery, Coral Bay Community Council President Sharon Coldren arrived with a proposal.
She suggested that instead of using the Agriculture Department’s tree-filled acreage located on Route 107 and King Hill Road near the Love City Mini Mart, Agriculture work out a deal with the Housing, Parks and Recreation Department to use the five acres of nearly treeless land adjacent to Centerline Road. Water issues and renourishment of the soil will have to be worked out, but Coldren said the water issue can be solved and Petersen said if the Community Council can help with costs, soil can be imported.
The land proposed by Coldren has been used for years by the Public Works Department and most likely, residents, to dump extra fill from road and construction projects. Coldren said this practice has changed the land’s terrain, making it unsuitable for building.
Coldren also suggested instead of building a covered area for farmers to sell produce on the corner of the Route 107/King Hill Road property, as Petersen planned, the Agriculture Department should work out a deal with the Moravian Church to put the building on church-owned property at area called the Triangle, where Centerline Road and Route 107 meet. The area currently has a few food trucks on it, but has lots of vacant space.
"You’ve got lots of traffic there," Coldren said.
Coldren also proposed fencing the corner of the Route 107/King Hill Road site with boulders to keep vehicles from driving over the land.
After hearing Coldren out, Petersen said he was receptive to both ideas and would do a site visit soon.
Earlier, Petersen said the Route 107/King Hill Road property was to be divided into 10 or 12 parcels for farmers to grow vegetables. He said he had 15 applicants for space at the community garden. The project has been in the works for more than two years, but Petersen said the department had to overcome obstacles.
First, the V.I. Water and Power Authority wanted the Agriculture Department land to build a reverse osmosis plant. However, Petersen wanted to keep that land for agriculture. Additionally, Petersen said a resident had encroached on the Agriculture Department’s land. He said both issues were resolved.
Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch was also on hand at the open house. Jerry Runyon, commander of Viggo E. Sewer American Legion Post 131, met with him to discuss getting use of a government building for a headquarters and to offer the American Legion’s help in training first responders.
Finch said Coldren and another Community Council member, Bonny Corbeil, met with him to ask for more Human Services efforts in Coral Bay.
According to Finch, the issue of a bus for senior citizens was resolved with the delivery of a bus some months ago to the senior center at George Simmons Terrace. This brought numerous seniors out at a previous Administrator’s meeting.
However, Finch discussed the problems his department has in finding buses suitable for steep terrain and dirt roads, as well as seniors with mobility issues. He said he hasn’t found that perfect bus yet, but is still looking.
Finch also said Human Services plans to help with funding a new Dial-A-Ride bus for St. John.
