Members of the Save Harbour Island Association Ltd. are pulling out all the stops to ensure that large-scale developments proposed for the tranquil island are either discontinued in their present form or significantly downsized.
The association said on Tuesday that developments such as the Valentine’s condominium buildings and an upgrade to the Romora Bay Club would result in serious and permanent damage to the island.
The group has retained attorneys Fred Smith and Liz Thompson to make representations to the relevant local and central statutory government bodies, and they are also expected to issue a Judicial Review against the Harbour Island District Council.
The Save Harbour Island Association, Ltd. is comprised of over 150 residents. It is an organization of both Bahamian and foreign residents and property owners who wish to ensure that development on Harbour Island proceeds in a manner which is environmentally sensitive and which preserves the unique heritage of the island as reflected in its architecture and quality of life. It will seek to ensure that development is responsibly planned, small in scale, and respectful of the island’s limited resources.
The Association outlined in a statement that it is sad that the endearing qualities of Harbour Island have also made it an attractive development target.
Association members have complained that, “The massive scale of Valentine’s condominium buildings and extended marina has permanently destroyed the residential character of the south end of Bay Street.
“The island is now threatened with another over-sized development proposal,” the group continued, pointing out that, “Parmenter Realty Partners have purchased the Romora Bay Club, and are proposing to erect 10 buildings with approximately 40 condominiums and a 50-slip marina. The marina dock will cover approximately four acres of harbour (600′ x 300′) and will be about six times the size of the Government Dock.”
The Association expressed serious concerns about the effect on “the already compromised environment, both on land and in the harbour.”
According to the Harbour Island Association, the two projects, if completed as planned, would add approximately 88 rental units to the island and would double the current market and add a serious strain on already overburdened services, such as water, electricity, garbage collection and waste disposal.
The approval process for developments of such a size on Harbour Island was seriously flawed, the group maintained,
pointing out that there were no meaningful zoning regulations on the island. There was also very limited opportunity for community input, they said.
“The seven-member Town Planning Council gave ‘approval in principle’ to the Romora proposal based on what was inadequate information ﾖ two crude site plans and an elevation ﾖ and in the absence of any information on the project’s potential impact on the island in areas such as traffic, water, electricity, garbage, and damage to the environment,” the association reported.
In addition to the association’s efforts to manage and control development, members said they will act as community watchdogs for local rights and express other concerns of the community in an atmosphere of compassion and understanding for one another and to foster comradeship and mutual respect of, and by all segments of the community.
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
