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Outlook [EXTERNAL MAIL] Bakkeroe Community Coalition: Rezoning Formal Response From USVI Bakkeroe Community Coalition <noreply@jotform.com> Date Mon 1/12/2026 10:36 PM To Leia LaPlace <leia.laplace@dpnr.vi.gov> You don't often get email from noreply@jotform.com. Learn why this is important   Good Day DPNR Representatives, We hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the Bakkeroe Community Coalition (BCC), we are writing to respectfully request a follow-up response to the concerns formally submitted to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources regarding the rezoning application currently under review. The BCC represents a growing mailing list of residents within the St. Thomas Estate Bakkeroe neighborhood, organized to promote civic engagement, transparent communication, and a unified community voice. Residents have voted internally, taken the time to carefully review the application, participate in the public process, and submit correspondence outlining procedural, planning, and neighborhood-impact concerns. While we appreciate the response received to date, several questions and issues raised by the Coalition remain unresolved or require further clarification. Given the significance of the proposed rezoning and its potential long-term impact on the community, residents are seeking a clearer understanding of how DPNR intends to address the concerns submitted. We respectfully request: Clarification on outstanding issues raised in prior correspondence Guidance on next steps in the review process Confirmation of how community input will be considered moving forward The BCC and its members remain committed to engaging in this process constructively and in good faith. We believe meaningful dialogue and transparency are essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring outcomes that align with sound planning principles and established procedures. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. We look forward to your response and continued engagement. Respectfully, Bakkeroe Community Coalition (BCC) Building Community. Protecting Our Neighborhood. Strengthening Our Voice. Click Here to Contact Us Zoning Correspondence: #2 Good Day DPNR Representatives, We are writing with urgency to formally express the collective primary concerns and objections of the Estate Bakkeroe Residents that have been submitted regarding Application No. CCZP0091-25, including those raised by affected property owners and residents of Estate Bakkeroe. Incoming votes of residents on the matter are curently reflecting a unanimous strong opposition to the Rezoning Application proposed. Based on the information disclosed during the recent zoning meeting and the subsequent correspondence circulated among residents, it is evident that this rezoning process has been compromised by serious procedural deficiencies, lack of transparency, and incomplete disclosure, all of which undermine the integrity of the public notice and hearing requirements. Undisclosed Parcel and Failure of Proper Notice Of particular concern is the disclosure—made for the first time during the hearing—that Parcel No. 1-61-4 is being treated as part of the proposed development, despite never being identified in the application materials, public notices, or official correspondence issued by DPNR. This omission constitutes a fundamental failure of notice. Property owners adjacent to and impacted by this parcel were denied their legal right to receive advance notice and to meaningfully participate in the public process. Public notice is not a procedural formality—it is a legal safeguard. Discussing and relying upon parcels that were never disclosed to the public invalidates the hearing process and deprives residents of due process. Lack of Clarity and Scope of Development Equally troubling is the absence of any site plan, development details, or parcel-specific explanation of how the rezoned properties would be used. The Commission is effectively being asked to approve a sweeping rezoning from R-1 Low Density to R-3 Medium Density without knowing the scale, layout, density, circulation, parking capacity, or operational impacts of the proposed development. This lack of specificity invites misuse, misrepresentation, and future expansion beyond what residents were led to expect. Incompatibility with Established Residential Character The proposed relocation of trailer-style workforce housing into a long-established, low-density residential neighborhood is fundamentally incompatible with surrounding land uses. Residents purchased homes in Estate Bakkeroe with the reasonable expectation that zoning protections would preserve neighborhood scale, character, and livability. Once this scale is broken, it cannot be restored. Traffic, Parking, and Infrastructure Impacts The neighborhood already bears cumulative impacts from multiple hotel developments, including traffic congestion, inadequate parking, blocked driveways, and compromised emergency access. Introducing medium-density workforce housing—without a traffic study, parking plan, or mitigation strategy—will exacerbate these documented issues. This area is not walkable, lacks sidewalks, and is not served by transit, creating foreseeable safety risks for both residents and future occupants. Cumulative Rezoning and Disregard for Comprehensive Planning Perhaps most concerning is the pattern of incremental rezoning decisions being made in isolation, without regard for cumulative impacts or alignment with the recently adopted Land and Water Use Plan. If a comprehensive plan was developed, approved, and adopted by the Legislature, it must be respected. Ignoring it within a year of adoption erodes public confidence and renders the planning process meaningless. Request for Corrective Action At a minimum, this matter requires: 1. Immediate and complete clarification of all parcels included in the rezoning request 2. Proper public re-notification identifying the full and accurate list of parcels 3. A rescheduled public hearing that allows affected residents a fair and informed opportunity to respond to the complete scope of the proposal Proceeding without correcting these deficiencies would validate a flawed process and set a dangerous precedent for future rezoning actions across the Territory. For these reasons, we respectfully urge DPNR and the Commission to halt further consideration of Application No. CCZP0091-25, require full re-notification, and deny the rezoning unless and until a transparent, comprehensive, and legally compliant process is followed. Thank you for providing any clarifications, your urgent attention to this matter and for your committment to uphold fairness, transparency, and the public trust. Respectfully, USVI Estate Bakkeroe Community Coalition Click Here to Contact Us Zoning Correspondence: #1 cc: BCC Residents   Caution: This e-mail has originated outside of GVI network. 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