Members of the 36th Legislature gathered Monday in Committee of the Whole to review several zoning and policy measures, including two residential development proposals on St. Thomas. While no votes were taken, senators expressed strong interest in the Planned Area Development proposed for Estate St. Joseph and Rosendahl — a project that could bring 80 new homes to the Northside.
Ajani Corneiro, chief executive officer of AC Development, offered testimony in support of the zoning change, describing the project — The Residences at 340 North — as both a housing solution and a long-term investment in local capacity. The proposed PAD, which would be the first Insulated Concrete Form residential community in the Virgin Islands, aims to deliver high-quality, climate-resilient, for-sale homes across three phases.
“This is not just about innovation in how we build. It’s also about who is building,” Corneiro said, highlighting the project team’s roots in the Virgin Islands and its commitment to training and hiring locally. “We cannot keep outsourcing our future.”
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources echoed that support. Leia LaPlace-Matthew, territorial planner with DPNR, testified that the PAD aligns with the 2024 Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan and addresses the territory’s critical shortage of affordable housing. According to DPNR’s review, the proposal offers a lower environmental impact than a traditional subdivision, preserves 65 percent of open space, and includes features like centralized stormwater management, individual cisterns, and wastewater treatment systems.
Still, not all testimony was in favor. Maria Raimer, a resident of the area and descendant of the family that has lived on the land for generations, voiced deep concerns over the project’s proximity to her family’s cemetery and the potential environmental consequences of disturbing a historically sensitive site.
“This is where my navel string is buried,” Raimer said. “The land holds the remains of my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. It is sacred.”
In response, Corneiro and his team said during the hearing that they would withdraw plans for an access road that had raised concerns within the Raimer family, stating that the easement was no longer needed and would not be pursued. The original proposal had included building the road at no cost to assist family members in accessing long-inaccessible parcels, but the developers emphasized that community cohesion was more important. “If it causes disruption, that’s not our intention at all,” they said.
The development team also agreed to preserve a 100-year-old tamarind tree described by the family as a vital cultural landmark. “If this tree means that much to them, then we just leave it there,” said another member of the project team, adding that the development would work around the tree rather than risk damaging it.
Developers further outlined efforts to incorporate environmental stewardship into the project, including replanting native species and exploring collaboration with the Agriculture Department and the UVI Extension program on reforestation strategies. Construction details shared with lawmakers included stormwater retention systems designed to prevent runoff, durable precast concrete walls built to withstand high winds, and septic systems with leach fields managed by a homeowners’ association that will also oversee long-term maintenance.
While members of the Raimer family reiterated that not all concerns had been resolved —including infrastructure burdens and the overall impact on the land’s privacy and potential for agricultural use — they acknowledged that dialogue with the developers had been respectful and ongoing. The project team committed to continuing the conversation, including the possibility of family representation on the homeowners association board once the development is underway.
Senators praised both parties for their professionalism and willingness to engage. Sen. Ray Fonseca noted, “You didn’t come in here saying it’s your way or nothing. You came in willing to compromise.” Several lawmakers said they were especially impressed by the thoughtfulness and transparency shown by the development team and encouraged them to maintain that approach.
The Committee of the Whole also reviewed a separate zoning request for Estate Bakkero, along with other legislative proposals related to government salaries, minimum wage increases, and a permanent easement on St. Croix. But attention repeatedly circled back to the St. Joseph and Rosendahl proposal, which senators are expected to revisit during Wednesday’s full legislative session.
St. Croix Source
Local government, Local news
