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The National Environment and
Planning Agency (NEPA) wishes as a matter of record to refute
reports in the media that there was any misrepresentation of the
responses of residents in the Greenwich Park subdivision to a
community survey conducted by the Agency relating to the change of
use application for an existing residential building to be used for
a doctor’s office and pharmacy.
Further, the Agency wishes
to advise that this matter was dealt with by the Town and Country
Planning Authority (TCPA) in accordance with the provisions of the
Town and Country Planning Act. After careful and full review was
undertaken by NEPA, the TCPA in arriving at its decision took into
consideration all the relevant factors.
The Agency wishes to state
that it followed established procedures and that at no time was any
document or record falsified as was reported in the media. A
community survey was conducted by NEPA on July 17, 2009. Thirty (30)
responses were received with seventeen (17) respondents objecting to
a medical office. The responses were compiled and submitted for
inclusion in the review process. It must, however, be noted that a
community survey is only one step in the process. NEPA also relies
on technical review, legislation and advice from support agencies.
Consequently, the following
facts must be noted:
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The Planning
Technologist from the St. Ann Parish Council who carried out the
site assessment concluded that the development was considered
compatible with residential use and would not be considered a
nuisance but an additional amenity to the residential community
of Greenwich Park. This was communicated to the Director of
Planning at the St. Ann Parish Council in a memo dated February
17, 2009. It should be further noted that the site is located on
a service road that runs parallel to the North Coast Highway.
This site fronts the highway and is opposite to RIU Mammee Bay
Hotel.
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A site inspection was
carried out by NEPA on July 7, 2009.
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The application was
referred to the National Works Agency in a letter dated July 17,
2009. The submission was heard and additional conditions
specified by the Authority.
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The Chief Executive
Officer of NEPA had a telephone conversation with a
representative of the citizen’s association to ascertain the
details of their objection on July 20, 2009. Subsequently, the
CEO contacted the Association’s Legal Counsel to ascertain the
status of the legal matter which the citizens indicated was
before the Court. However, the lawyer advised that it was for an
adjoining lot and not the site in question.
The Agency recommended the
change of use to the Board of the Natural Resources Conservation
Authority/Town and Country Planning Authority at its meeting held on
July 21, 2009. The Authority concurred with the recommendations for
the change of use on the following grounds:
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The proposed development
does not change the character of the area
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The St Ann Parish
Council supports the idea of the proposed change of use and is
of the view that the site is somewhat located outside the
community, notwithstanding that it is a part of the original
residential subdivision. This is justified by the fact that it
faces the highway and is accessed from a separate service road
adjacent to the highway.
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The development of the
highway has now reduced the setback of the proposed site making
it closer to the highway and more susceptible to noise and other
nuisances.
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The development has been
endorsed by the National Works Agency
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The site is directly
opposite and faces a bus stop and an emerging taxi-stand, which
are likely to increase traffic stops within the vicinity.
The Agency wishes to note
that based on its investigations it is aware that there is a case
presently before the courts with respect to commercial activities in
the area specifically related to lot/s being used as stables for
horses which serve the tourism industry. It should be noted that the
case is NOT against the proposed change of use by the
applicant as was suggested in the news report.
NEPA invites any other
questions on these and other matters.
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