May 15, 2008 — The Coastal Zone Management Commission will hear from developers Tuesday proposing an access dock and three moorings for Inner Brass Island.
Inner Brass is a small island, or cay, sandwiched between Hull Bay on the north side of St. Thomas and the south side of the small cay Outer Brass. The island encompasses 127 acres. Of these, the applicant owns roughly 95 acres.
The CZM hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources conference room at the Cyril. E. King airport.
Island Green applied to the CZM to build an access dock that "will service a small cottage that is being constructed by the owners," according to the application.
The cottage has already received a permit, according to Corby Parfitt, one of the principals of Island Green.
While the application proposes a two-phase dock construction for Sandy Bay, Parfitt says his group just wants to construct the first phase now.
Phase II proposes occupying 3800 square feet of submerged land, extending 188.5 feet from the shoreline.
"We have only requested and are perfectly content with the 83-foot dock request," Parfitt said.
The CZM asked for the second phase for a bigger dock, he said..
"We accommodated CZM's request to demonstrate ability for the dock to be expanded," Parfitt said.
The idea behind the bigger dock, Parfitt said, is to provide one dock to service the island and prevent the beach from getting cluttered over time with a number of little docks servicing individual parcels.
Local environmental advocates have expressed skepticism about the intentions for the dock. Two groups have submitted comments asking CZM to take measures to ensure the proposal is not part of a piecemeal approach to a more extensive development plan.
"I continually urge the DPNR to place a moratorium on any future development of our cays," said Jason Budsan, of Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John. "However, because of the development of Thatch and other cays, this probably will not happen."
Budsan advocates implementation of a comprehensive land and water use plan that encompasses the whole of the environment and the territory's natural resources.
Parfitt said his group has contacted Budsan and Helen Gjessing, who chairs the League of Women Voters' Planning and Environmental Quality Committee.
"We are happy to see their comments on the record," Parfitt said. "These are two people I really respect, who take time to go through these applications at the level of someone who gets paid to do that. Their feedback was very productive."
Meanwhile, rumors have been flying around the Northside about plans to build a huge condominium project in Hull Bay and move the beach road. But the Source has been unable to confirm these plans.
For more information, contact the CZM at 340-774-3320 or visit its website.
Editor's note: Shaun A. Pennington contributed to this story.
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