The Senate Planning and Environmental Protection Committee on Wednesday approved one Coastal Zone Management renewal permit and sent another one back to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
The legal scope of the permit for LaVida Marina was debated by legislative legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes and Julita DeLeon, CZM counsel. The committee elected to return the permit to DPNR for further investigation. Committee Chairman Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg directed DPNR officials to have the permit back before the committee within two weeks.
The second occupancy permit was approved for MOFVI Ltd., the new owners of American Yacht Harbor, after much debate over legalities. The senators asked for an Environmental Assessment Report which DPNR didn't have at the hearing.
Sen. Rocky "Almando" Liburd said senators were thought of as "not investor-friendly," and suggested the permit be expedited. He said that DPNR should still deliver the report, but it could be done after approval.
Liburd and Sens. George Goodwin, Norman Jn Baptiste and Donald "Ducks" Cole approved the permit. Donastorg cast the only dissenting vote.
