Local
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Taotao Tano sets meeting on NMI federalization bill
The Taotao Tano CNMI Association Inc. is calling for an urgent meeting today with all indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian descents to discuss the pending federal legislation H.R. 3079, which seeks to impose federal control over local immigration. The meeting is at 7pm.
The group, which describes itself as a social advocacy organization, says that H.R. 3079 is an unjust piece of legislation that “will take away our local control of our labor and immigration in our homeland.”
“Our continued silence on this unjust federal legislation will have a negative affect,” said Gregorio Cruz, president of the organization.
“We encourage and humbly ask each of you to attend and join in uniting our island and its local indigenous people under one spirit, one heart and one voice of our true message to our local leaders and the federal government, concerning this critical piece of legislation that will adversely affect us,” he added.
For more information contact Cruz at 256-2325 or Diego at 288-6146. (PR)
PUBLIC NOTICE!
KAGMAN ZONING COMMUNITY MEETING
AUGUST 24, 2007 ZONING BOARD PUBLIC MEETING KAGMAN
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KAGMAN GROUP DRAFT (top left)
TAOTAO TANO grp DRAFT (top right)
3RD GROUP DRAFT (bottom left)
4TH GROUP DRAFT (bottom right)
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Draft zoning law subdivides Saipan into 13 districts
By Agnes E. Donato
Reporter
The Commonwealth Zoning Board released yesterday for public review a draft zoning law that would subdivide Saipan into 13 zoning districts and guide land development over each of the districts.
The draft law updates the 1993 Saipan Zoning Law to address the current pattern of land use, issues, and government organization.
Some of key benefits expected from the proposed legislation are the improved quality of tourist areas like Garapan and Beach Road, faster processing of zoning permits, and the preservation of “rural” areas on the island.
“We're excited about this draft zoning law because it would enhance our economy and property values, make our roads safer, improve life in our villages and neighborhoods, discourage nuisances and assist careful development. We've been working hard on this draft but now we want to hear from the public so we can make it as good as possible,” said Henry S. Hofschneider, chairman of the Zoning Board.
The Zoning Board will also be providing two major opportunities for public discussion and comment.
There will be an informal daylong open house on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, from 8:30am to 9pm. It will be held in the Visitor's Center at American Memorial Park. Zoning staff will be available to go over the draft and the map in detail.
The Zoning Board will also hold a formal public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 25, to take oral or written comments. The event will take place at 6:30pm in the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.
There will also be a discussion on the draft on the John Gonzales Show on that day.
“We want to make sure people have a chance to learn about the draft and find out how it would affect their future development plans,” Hofschneider said. The Zoning Board has prepared a guide that provides a general introduction to the law.
Under the proposed law, Saipan will have 13 zoning districts: Garapan Core, Garapan East, Beach Road, Industrial, Mixed Commercial, Public Resources, Rural, Village Residential, Village Commercial, Tourist Resort, Agricultural, Adult Business Overlay, and Adult Business Park.
Each zone has a different mix of allowed uses. There are general standards that apply to all uses and special standards that apply to some uses. The proposed zoning district boundaries are shown on the draft Saipan Zoning Map.
The Zoning Board listed the benefits of the draft law as the following:
Economic development
-Improving the quality of tourist areas like Garapan and Beach Road.
-Protecting industrial areas to prevent conflicts with surrounding areas.
-Processing zoning permits faster.
Safety
-Improving safety of new connections to public roads.
-Improving design of new parking lots.
-Restricting new commercial signs in road rights-of-way.
Property Values
-Separating and screening conflicting uses.
-Preventing nonresidential development in villages.
-Preserving the character of rural areas while allowing compatible new development.
-Protecting public resource lands for recreation, tourism, and environmental functions.
-Providing landscaping to screen parking areas and improve commercial areas
-Improving the design of commercial buildings and signs.
Here are specific things the law would do:
-Buildings in Garapan and along Beach Road would have more attractive designs and be pedestrian-friendly. This would implement the recently finalized Garapan and Beach Road Revitalization Plan. All commercial buildings would need to meet basic design standards to make them more attractive and pedestrian-friendly.
-Village residential areas would be limited to single family houses. No new poker, auto body shops or other commercial uses would be allowed there, except home businesses.
-Most of the less-developed land would be zoned “Rural.” Typical uses in the rural zone would be housing, agriculture, public and civic uses, and recreational uses. New hotels, resorts, and certain other businesses could be allowed in the rural area if they meet special requirements.
-Existing major tourist hotels and resorts would be placed in Tourist Resort zoning districts.
-Buildings over 48 feet high would be reviewed to make sure they fit in with the surroundings and that there are adequate roads, utilities, etc.
-There would be two types of commercial districts. The Village Commercial zoning district would allow all office uses, light-duty retail, most public and civic uses as well as a mix of residential uses. The Mixed Commercial zoning district would allow all offices, retail uses, hotels, restaurants, manufacturing and processing (with standards), evening entertainment, and residential uses.
-New gambling machine businesses (poker) would only be permitted in Village Commercial and Mixed Commercial zoning districts on Beach Road between Afetna Rd; and Chalan Msgr. Guerrero; and Chalan Pale Arnold between Chalan Msgr. Guerrero and Industrial Drive and in hotels with more than 20 rooms. New businesses would have to be located at least 100 ft from Laundromats, public primary or secondary schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, and other gambling machine businesses.
-Industrial zoning districts would provide space for heavy industry at Lower Base, the Airport, at operating quarries and the landfill.
-Public Resource zoning districts would be established on public land around Saipan to protect the special values of beaches; parks; and other sites of cultural, historic and scenic value.
-An Agriculture zoning district would be established to protect the prime agricultural land in Kagman.
-Signs would have to be in English, Chamorro, or Carolinian; other languages would be optional as long as there is an exact English translation. The design of signs would be controlled. Commercial signs would not be allowed in the road right-of-way. Certain types of signs such as off-site signs and billboards would be prohibited.
-Landscaping would be required to screen parking lots and commercial buildings from major roads.
-In most cases, existing development that does not comply would be allowed to remain as a “nonconforming use.” Owners could maintain their buildings but not do much expansion. If a nonconforming use closes, it could not be reopened at that location.
People can send comments to the Zoning Board by fax: 670-234-9666, by mail: Zoning Board, Caller Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950, by e-mail: staff@zoning.gov.mp; or by hand delivery: Zoning Office, 2nd Floor Joeten Building, DanDan.
Zoning Board members are Henry Hofschneider, Chair, Rex Kosack, Vice Chair, Herminia Fusco, Isidoro Cabrera, Liz Rechebei, and David Igitol.
......................................................................
KAGMAN GROUP DRAFT (top left)
TAOTAO TANO grp DRAFT (top right)
3RD GROUP DRAFT (bottom left)
4TH GROUP DRAFT (bottom right)
============================================================
Draft zoning law subdivides Saipan into 13 districts
By Agnes E. Donato
Reporter
The Commonwealth Zoning Board released yesterday for public review a draft zoning law that would subdivide Saipan into 13 zoning districts and guide land development over each of the districts.
The draft law updates the 1993 Saipan Zoning Law to address the current pattern of land use, issues, and government organization.
Some of key benefits expected from the proposed legislation are the improved quality of tourist areas like Garapan and Beach Road, faster processing of zoning permits, and the preservation of “rural” areas on the island.
“We're excited about this draft zoning law because it would enhance our economy and property values, make our roads safer, improve life in our villages and neighborhoods, discourage nuisances and assist careful development. We've been working hard on this draft but now we want to hear from the public so we can make it as good as possible,” said Henry S. Hofschneider, chairman of the Zoning Board.
The Zoning Board will also be providing two major opportunities for public discussion and comment.
There will be an informal daylong open house on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, from 8:30am to 9pm. It will be held in the Visitor's Center at American Memorial Park. Zoning staff will be available to go over the draft and the map in detail.
The Zoning Board will also hold a formal public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 25, to take oral or written comments. The event will take place at 6:30pm in the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.
There will also be a discussion on the draft on the John Gonzales Show on that day.
“We want to make sure people have a chance to learn about the draft and find out how it would affect their future development plans,” Hofschneider said. The Zoning Board has prepared a guide that provides a general introduction to the law.
Under the proposed law, Saipan will have 13 zoning districts: Garapan Core, Garapan East, Beach Road, Industrial, Mixed Commercial, Public Resources, Rural, Village Residential, Village Commercial, Tourist Resort, Agricultural, Adult Business Overlay, and Adult Business Park.
Each zone has a different mix of allowed uses. There are general standards that apply to all uses and special standards that apply to some uses. The proposed zoning district boundaries are shown on the draft Saipan Zoning Map.
The Zoning Board listed the benefits of the draft law as the following:
Economic development
-Improving the quality of tourist areas like Garapan and Beach Road.
-Protecting industrial areas to prevent conflicts with surrounding areas.
-Processing zoning permits faster.
Safety
-Improving safety of new connections to public roads.
-Improving design of new parking lots.
-Restricting new commercial signs in road rights-of-way.
Property Values
-Separating and screening conflicting uses.
-Preventing nonresidential development in villages.
-Preserving the character of rural areas while allowing compatible new development.
-Protecting public resource lands for recreation, tourism, and environmental functions.
-Providing landscaping to screen parking areas and improve commercial areas
-Improving the design of commercial buildings and signs.
Here are specific things the law would do:
-Buildings in Garapan and along Beach Road would have more attractive designs and be pedestrian-friendly. This would implement the recently finalized Garapan and Beach Road Revitalization Plan. All commercial buildings would need to meet basic design standards to make them more attractive and pedestrian-friendly.
-Village residential areas would be limited to single family houses. No new poker, auto body shops or other commercial uses would be allowed there, except home businesses.
-Most of the less-developed land would be zoned “Rural.” Typical uses in the rural zone would be housing, agriculture, public and civic uses, and recreational uses. New hotels, resorts, and certain other businesses could be allowed in the rural area if they meet special requirements.
-Existing major tourist hotels and resorts would be placed in Tourist Resort zoning districts.
-Buildings over 48 feet high would be reviewed to make sure they fit in with the surroundings and that there are adequate roads, utilities, etc.
-There would be two types of commercial districts. The Village Commercial zoning district would allow all office uses, light-duty retail, most public and civic uses as well as a mix of residential uses. The Mixed Commercial zoning district would allow all offices, retail uses, hotels, restaurants, manufacturing and processing (with standards), evening entertainment, and residential uses.
-New gambling machine businesses (poker) would only be permitted in Village Commercial and Mixed Commercial zoning districts on Beach Road between Afetna Rd; and Chalan Msgr. Guerrero; and Chalan Pale Arnold between Chalan Msgr. Guerrero and Industrial Drive and in hotels with more than 20 rooms. New businesses would have to be located at least 100 ft from Laundromats, public primary or secondary schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, and other gambling machine businesses.
-Industrial zoning districts would provide space for heavy industry at Lower Base, the Airport, at operating quarries and the landfill.
-Public Resource zoning districts would be established on public land around Saipan to protect the special values of beaches; parks; and other sites of cultural, historic and scenic value.
-An Agriculture zoning district would be established to protect the prime agricultural land in Kagman.
-Signs would have to be in English, Chamorro, or Carolinian; other languages would be optional as long as there is an exact English translation. The design of signs would be controlled. Commercial signs would not be allowed in the road right-of-way. Certain types of signs such as off-site signs and billboards would be prohibited.
-Landscaping would be required to screen parking lots and commercial buildings from major roads.
-In most cases, existing development that does not comply would be allowed to remain as a “nonconforming use.” Owners could maintain their buildings but not do much expansion. If a nonconforming use closes, it could not be reopened at that location.
People can send comments to the Zoning Board by fax: 670-234-9666, by mail: Zoning Board, Caller Box 10007, Saipan, MP 96950, by e-mail: staff@zoning.gov.mp; or by hand delivery: Zoning Office, 2nd Floor Joeten Building, DanDan.
Zoning Board members are Henry Hofschneider, Chair, Rex Kosack, Vice Chair, Herminia Fusco, Isidoro Cabrera, Liz Rechebei, and David Igitol.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
MEETING TODAY
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