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Office of the Commissioner GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS --------0-------- DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES 4611 Tutu Park Mall 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted Suite 300, 2nd Floor St. Croix, VI 00840 St. Thomas, VI 00802 (340) 773-1082 (340) 774-3320 dpnr.vi.gov Report by the Division of Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning on the Petition to Amend Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20, Application No. CCZP0008-25 Petition of applicant, Virgin Islands Department of Health, to amend Plot Nos. 11-F and 11-G Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to P (Public). The purpose of the request is to bring the property into zoning conformity for use as a Medical Laboratory and Offices for Emergency Medical/Ambulance Services. Aerial photo of site, formerly the Ralph de Chabert Housing Project. Property Owner(s): Virgin Islands Housing Authority as per Deed dated July 6, 1959, Document No. 15/1960. Applicant Representative(s): The Virgin Islands Department of Health- Rueben D. Molloy, Assistant Commissioner and Dr. Brett Ellis, Territorial Public Health Laboratory Director. Paul Silverberg, Engineer, President of Silverberg Associates. Acreage: 11-F is 0.68 acres as described on survey drawing A9-132-C018 and 11-G is 2.603 acres as described on survey drawing D9-6925-C025. Surrounding Uses and Zones: To the north is vacant land, formerly the Ralph de Chabert Housing Project. To the east is residential activity. To the south is the former Charles Harwood Hospital. To the west is the Fire Station and Juanita Gardine K-8 School. Recommendation Report for CCZP0008-25 MapGeo aerial view of property (marked in red) The surrounding area is zoned R-3, C-Commercial, and P-Public with two rezonings: Parcel No. Estate Year rezoned Original Zone Rezoned to Act No. 274 Richmond 1978 R-3 C- Commercial 4181 1, 2, 1A, 2A, 4, Remainder of 7, 7A, 7AA, 7 AB, & 7B Penitentiary Land 1993 W-2 P 5905 Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 (property location indicated by red X) Recommendation Report for CCZP0008-25 Infrastructure: Public lines will handle water needs and sewage. Other needed DPNR Division reviews: None. Project Summary: At DPNR- Assistant Commissioner Molloy, Dr. Ellis, and Mr. Silverberg testified the intent is to utilize the two-story buildings placed on the property for the BSL-3 Public Health Laboratory and offices for the Emergency Medical Services. Public Response at DPNR-CCZP Public Hearing held March 25, 2025: There was a question on the permanent use for the site which response was office use and the lab which is not a public/forward facing lab. There was no opposition or concern expressed with the proposal and no post-hearing comments received. Analysis of Request/Reason for Recommendation: This petition follows ten previous petitions, starting in 2022, for rezoning government-owned properties to P-Public for two reasons: 1. To comply with Virgin Islands Code, Title 29, publicly owned should be shown upon the zoning map as such and 2. The receipt of federal funds for Disaster Recovery projects. Recommendation Report for CCZP0008-25 Previous government petitions for rezoning government-owned land to P-Public Agency Property and Island Zoning map amendment Year and Act granting rezoning WMA 64-31 Smith Bay, St. Thomas R-3 to P 2022, Act 8601 WMA C Nazareth, St. Thomas R-2 to P 2022, Act 8606 WMA 73C Concordia, West End, St. Croix R-3 to P 2022, Act 8605 WMA 1 Cotton Valley, St. Croix R-2 to P 2022, Act 8607 WMA 10-M Fredensborg, St. Croix A-1 to P 2022, Act 8599 WMA 6 Rem Susannaberg, St. John R-2 to P 2022, Act 8608 DPW 73-B & 271 Concordia, West End, St. Croix R-3 to P 2022, Act 8677 VITEMA 102-A Rem, 102- B, & 102-C Hermon Hill, St. Croix R-3 to P 2023, Act 8710 DPW 6-A Susannaberg, St. John R-2 to P 2024, Act 8849 DPP/Bureau of Corrections 104 to 109 Nisky (Subbase), St. Thomas C to P 2024 Act 8860 This site was formerly the Ralph de Chabert Housing Project but now intended for the permanent use of office and laboratory. The zoning map amendment will bring the property into zoning conformity with Section 229 (q) of the Zoning Code, for government-owned land receiving federal funds. Recommendation Report for CCZP0008-25 Recommendation The Department of Planning and Natural Resources recommends the following: Pursuant to Title 29 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 3, Section 238, Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 for the island of St. Croix be amended by changing the zoning designation of Plot No. 11-F Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix consisting of 0.68 U.S. acres as described on survey drawing A9-132-C018 from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to P (Public). Pursuant to Title 29 Virgin Islands Code, Chapter 3, Section 238, Official Zoning Map No. SCZ-20 for the island of St. Croix be amended by changing the zoning designation of Plot No. 11-G Estate Penitentiary Land, Company Quarter, St. Croix consisting of 2.603 U.S. acres as described on survey drawing D9-6925- C025 from R-3 (Residential-Medium Density) to P (Public). ______________________________ ________________________ Jozette J. Walker, CPM Date Assistant Commissioner Cc: Jean-Pierre L. Oriol, Commissioner 10.2.2025