The Department of Planning and Natural Resources convened a virtual public hearing Tuesday to review a use variance request for the existing bus terminal located at Plot Nos. 24 B and 24D Estate Slob, King Quarter, St. Croix. Planning Technician Gail Pagan served as chair. The request seeks to allow a bus passenger terminal as a matter of right.

Project manager for Design District Architects, Kenneth Serrant, represented the Public Works Department. “The plan is to demolish the wooden structure that is there and construct a 2,100-square-foot building that will accommodate three employees and 50 passengers who will be transiting between buses and the public bus operations,” he said.

The facility will include a ticket area for three employees, a manager’s office, a breakroom for all bus drivers, and an available restroom. Serrant confirmed that there are no cultural or historic resources on the property, no plans involving animals, and no homes will be developed on the site.

Concerns about project timelines surfaced when Assistant Director Gregory Richards referenced delays seen in other federally funded initiatives. “We see this happening with several departments … no movement has happened and that’s always really my concern … the time frames of which these projects begin and are determined to be completed,” he said.

Project representative Clarence Browne responded that funding is secured and clarified its source. “It’s federal, but not disaster recovery money tied to Maria. This is more transportation funding,” he noted. Browne added that the rezoning request is the final administrative step: “This is probably the last thing we need in terms of our approvals … The site has been used as a bus terminal for going on 30 years.”

Browne said the project is already under building permit review and that a bid package is expected to reach the Public Works Department before year’s end. Construction is anticipated to take about 12 months once procurement is completed.

After Leia LaPlace, territorial planner, opened the floor for public comment, no comments were received. She reminded attendees that the public comment period remains open until Dec. 5.

Pagan reiterated the next steps in the process. “Once the public hearing is complete, we have 30 days by law to prepare a recommendation report,” she said, noting that the report is forwarded to the commissioner, the Legislature, and the applicant.