South Sound mangrove threat
(CNS): The Central Planning Authority (CPA) has once again given permission to a project that will allow a developer to remove critical recovering mangrove buffer. Despite recommendations from the environment and the planning departments against the application, the CPA have given the nod to RC Estates to remove 50 feet of recovering buffer that runs 2,000ft along the coastal lots of a proposed development in the South Sound. The developer will be filling the area with marl and extending the lots into the ocean, which is also a marine replenishment zone. Both environmental activists and residents in the area said they were bitterly disappointed by the decision which will place not only the newly replenished mangrove under threat but the local marine environment as well.
The CPA met on 15 August to consider RC Estates application to modify an approval from 2003. The original plan had provided for the developer to build a seawall at the inner edge of the 50ft mangrove buffer. The seawall was approved but it was conditional on the developer leaving the mangroves in place.
However, the applicants asked for an amendment to move the seawall location as indicated in plans submitted to the CPA and to remove the condition to retain the mangrove buffer. They claimed the mangrove was damaged and in other instances in the area developers had not been required to retain a mangrove buffer. The CPA approved the change, which means the buffer can be removed and the developer now has the green light to fill in the area and build a 9ft concrete sea wall.
Although the area was damaged by Ivan, the Department of Environment (DoE), with assistance from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Migratory Bird Conservation and Reef Ball Foundation, has invested time, energy and public resources into the replenishment of the buffer, which was beginning to grow back.
During the recent hearing the DoE presented extensive evidence of the recovery to the CPA and listed a catalogue of environmental issues relating to the removal of the recovering buffer as well as the importance of continuing to replenish the area and not remove more. The DoE also pointed to the sensitivity and significance of the area as a Marine Replenishment Zone and as a protected Scenic Coastline Zone.
The planning department also advised against the removal of the mangrove, pointing out that the preservation of mangrove buffer at the high-water mark was best planning practice. “From Department’s perspective, the 50’ buffer should be retained,” the planning department said in its recommendations
The Development Plan (1997) designates this area as being a ‘Scenic Coastline Zone’ and Section 20 of the Development and Planning Regulations (2006 Revision) requires the CPA to ensure that the open character of scenic coastline land is preserved and to safeguard the public’s right to use the beaches and to gain access to them through public rights of way. In addition, the plan states that “the panoramic views and vistas provided by these coastlines are natural assets which are to be safeguarded for present and future generations.”
Despite the recommendations from the two government departments, the CPA said it was swayed by the presentation given by the applicant’s lawyer that the owners had a legal right to develop the land. The attorney argued that his client’s land had a fixed boundary, which the sea had eroded, but it was still his client’s boundary.
The argument comes in the wake of a recent report pointing to the critical significance of mangroves in arresting storm surge among many other benefits.
The CPA has given permission to the removal of mangrove buffer on other occasions, most significantly the removal, more than two years ago of over 350,000 sq ft of mangrove buffer at the North Sound on the land belonging at the time to the Ritz Carlton developer, Michael Ryan.
Officials from the DoE have lamented the failure of the mangrove buffer designation to protect this critical habitat and has stated several times this is one more reason why the country is in desperate need of a National Conservation Law, which would ensure environmental considerations are paid more than mere lip service in the face of development.
With the newly recovering mangrove now under serious threat, activists in the area are calling on the wider community to help preserve the buffer. They are asking people to write letters and submit comment to the media, and to the Minister of the Environment Mark Scotland as well as other members of Cabinet. The campaigners are also asking for volunteers to help with legal, marketing and other expertise, or to donate to the Protect South Sound fund.
For more details on the campaign contact protectsouthsound@gmail.com
See CPA minutes here
Category: Science and Nature
The green continues to trump the blue in Cayman…sad and pathetic.
The same Planning Department and Planning Board is preparing to allow Dart to rezone 27 acres of Mangrove Buffer at Camana Bay to build homes and apartments on the North Sound.
Another part of the DART STEAL that Mac is pushing for his buddy Ken Dart.
West Bay Mom that is mad as hell at how Mac is selling us out!
I don't think you can blame the CPA for allowing this to happen.
The problem is the interference from politicians who have other priorities.
As long as politicians are personally involved in real estate, road building etc, this is what you get.
But in a way you can't blame these politicians for their corruption, that is how the animal thinks.
Blame the Caymanians that voted them in ! ! ! !
"Human prosperity never rests but always craves more, till blown up with pride it totters and falls. From the opulent mansions pointed at by all passers-by none warns it away, none cries, 'Let no more riches enter!' "
-Aeschylus
Ok, lets get the facts straight and resist the temptaion to roll this up into a sensational story that might just get someone sued for libel. Even the headline to this story is misleading, and CNS should be more responsible than this and at least try to report this in a way that appears to be objective.
There is no mangrove buffer zone in south sound. The zoning in that area is low density residential with a scenic coastline “overlay” zoning on the coastal part of the property. Curiously enough, Scenic Coastline
zoning requires the CPA to ensure the open panoramic views and vistas of the coastal areas so zoned. Rene Hislop can’t be blamed for that. The legislative assembly did that, back in 1977 and again in 1997. Also, there are hardly any mangroves left in the area which is the subject of the planning application as they were mostly all destroyed by Ivan and subsequent storms. The only mangroves there left standing in the water are a few that are left from what the developer himself planted at his expense and which mostly perished.
All of the area comprising the application is privately owned land, purchased at full market value, which is, among other things, based on the zoning. Are we proposing now that the government, who creates that zoning and guarantees title to all property registered in Cayman, should somehow prevent development of that property after it has collected Stamp Duty on that market value? Are you serious? Think about the long term ramifications of that!
But, it is clear that there is now a culture of objection to every development in Cayman, ostensibly on the basis of environmental concerns, and particularly in South Sound, because after all, the South Sound coast is pristine virgin land, right? But wait, wasn’t all of that land created by massive dredging of the sound itself in the 1970s by the husband of the staunchest of defenders of South Sound, in collaboration with the Government of the day, including the father of the greatest defender of the environment? How hypocritical is that?!
The simple fact is that this and many of the other “horrid” developments that have faced mighty objection over the years (the Ritz, Camana Bay, etc) are viable and legitimate developments which many other countries would give almost anything to have, and they have made tremendous contributions to our economy. But, yet we still continue to expect to get everything for nothing?
And it’s all fine and well to sit there and object to every development and say things like “its all about the almighty dollar”, but the reality is that we all enjoy the benefits that a vibrant economy brings. So, I would ask, how healthy is any economy without the so called almighty dollar?
For correction, the mangroves that the developer "Planted at his own expense" is much more misleadin than any other headline I've seen!
The developer "made an agreement" with Government that allowed him to create a 9' seawall and fill in the water where Villa Emerald is located. In return for the land that he was reclaiming he had to re-plant as much mangrove as he destroyed.
Now they're going to let him destory those he planted and not make compensation to the island or its natural resources in return.
Sham Shame Shame!!!
07:29 perhaps you should look at it from everyone else's point of view (with regards to all developments on this island) other than those people who are involved.
We are all left in the dark about evrything that goes on down here, there is absolutely NO transparency whatsoever yet everyone preaches it like its their new favourite word.
Perhaps if the select few that are involved in these so called developments actually enlightened us with the plans and gave a sound explanantion to us the public there wouldn't be such an uproar.
Just about everyone i know in South Sound (i have lived there for 32yrs) is opposed to this project, apart from Renee Hislop. But hey, we are all divided on the island right now anyway so keep it going right?
Its all shady dealings by shady people, plain and simple.
And quite frankly the way our picture is being painted at the moment with all the goings on down here, there wont be any more development, we will suffer huge losses and all this will stand to have been pointless.
In addition to the environmental issues that this disaster of greed/development and planning will cause it will also directly impact my home. However between the development of the bypass road and the new SS development, I can look forward to flooding during heavy rains and during major hurricanes. I won’t even go into the special people who developed my neighborhood.
XXXX But we think they are great people because some of them perch on pews during Sunday morning service and sing hymns. What a insult to humanity they are. As long as they have two cents to rub together they could care less about the animals or the humans who will have to deal with the mess they are making.
Does this mean that now we have legal precedent that anyone who has water front land can now build 9 foot seawalls and fill out into the ocean? I like how they call it "high water boundary line" but the line is way out in the water…..high water my you know what!!!
I bet there are lots of people that will now be applying for their rights to re-establish boudaries that are in/near water. All the way down and around the coast.
GOODBYE BEACHES!!!
GOODBYE ETHICS!!!
GOODBYE CAYMAN!!!
And I would advise all those down SS coast to start your applications early because if you don't get filling soon this is likely to casue errosion and your house might end up in the drink.
They allow companies to buy a tear down the craft market, they allow developers to move the WB road and block off public beach, they let one company buy up an develop most of the Cayman land and businesses, now they let XXXX Hislop and company destroy one of the last remaining santuaries.
I don't live in South Sound but I can tell you this makes my heart hurt.
I drive into work evey morning and take SS rd because that one little stretch brightens my day.
I drive home and I take SS rd because even if I'm stuck in traffic it immediately takes some of that post work day stress right out of me no matter what my day was like, just looking out over the water (now I won't be upset to see that shoe tree go but I may be a minority on that one).
I know that at least one big Caymanian family owned a lot of land in this area at one point. I can gaurantee that there is no way the REAL Captains would have sold that if they knew what was to be done with it!
The land was sold without a care as to what would happen to it, but were happy to take the dollars, perhaps they thought "green backs" meant the new owners would be providing trees in return?
Just for clarity, the last time either Emerald Sound or the South Sound dock lunacy appeared online, there was a poll asking if you support or object. That poll had to be pulled down because there were over 400 votes from one IP address.
The developers involved are on these posts constantly (probably why when you see multiple posts in favour of the development they all still get 99% thumbs down).
Its a shame to see a Caymanian family that came from such highly esteemed members selling out worse than just about anyone else. I imagine that their relatives and ancestors who worked on honesty and integrity are completely disgraced.
CNS: Note that the poll referred to here was not a CNS poll. Our polls are limited to one per IP address.
There is local fishing charter company that recently placed an ad on ecay trade which is fine. But as part of their advertizement they use pictures of a large grouper hung up on the scales. They clearly have no regard for the environment or the law. The grouper in the ad is a Goliath Grouper otherwise known as a Jew Fish. These are protected in Cayman's waters and it is totally illegal to kill them. But hey, seems no-one around here, from the top down, cares about the environment so who's to judge them. It is a free for all it seems.
Anyway, I'm wasting time writing this… gotta get out there and do my pilageing of the natural rescources before it's all gone.
Name and shame. Especially since you can provide a website link to prove your claim.
The picture you are referring to was of a grouper caught 20+yrs ago which I believe is way before they become protected.
And i am pretty sure its a warsaw grouper not a goliath (although it is goliath in its size).
It was also caught in over a 100ft of water and was dead when it got to the surface.
Anymore facts required on the matter 15:46?
I can only imagine from this response that the ad belongs to you. I know for a fact it is a recent picture, because the people in the picture with the fish were todlers 20 years ago! and I know for a fact that it is a shallow water Goliath Grouper, the tiny eye gives it away. The deep water groupers have larger eyes due to the fact that there isn't much light at the depths in which they live. Good try at saving your ass.
I am not saving anyone's ass, and it is not my charter company or me in the picture. Good try. My friend does have a charter company and i thought by chance he had posted a picture i know of from 20yrs+ ago..
So when hurricane ivan came through south sound did it stop the surge? Did the mangrove stop the surge coming from the north sound? So we need the mangrove so that it can stop or slow down the surge ?
Something is wrong , either you weren't here . If you were here you had temporary blindness or never left george town.
Will any of this mangrove help george town from storm surge? 7 mile beach? West bay ? East End or northside ? How about bodden town? So where on this island did the mangrove stop the 8 foot storm surge? Certainly not south sound ! I suggest all who own reclaimed swamp destroy their homes and replace the swamp they bought. Then you can feel better. ahhhhh
It is all about the almighty $$$. Is there no common sense left in Cayman?
This is why sadly, I dont even bother trying to protest anymore. It is all about XXXX whose who in the 'zoo" with this kind of decision making. We can scream all we want to no avail….remember the 'save the dolphins' campaign to stop the parks here?…and we got TWO parks instead? Shameful whats done for greed in the name of delevopment……
The XXXXs denote comments which are not repeatable on CNS and have been deleted by the Editor because they are libelous.
So here is my opinion of the Caymanians who are destroying this Island paradise, in the name of greed and selfishness, also of the wimps who are incapable of reining in their fellow countrymen because they are gutless and do not care about their country……you are all XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and I hope one day your children blame you for all this wanton destruction and greed, you deserve it.
For pitty sake, get up off you backsides and do something positive for once, before it is too late.
Stop blaming the Expats who are trying to help you and show some courage, put an end to this madness and display to the rest of the world that you are a remarkable nation of people, whose principles are based on Christianity and love for your homeland, not your bank balances!
I do care and I am currently ashamed of you all for you childish behavior.
Cayman, its where lots of money is spent on getting nothing done at all. And always will be.
When May's elections come around next year just REMEMBER the minister that allowed all of this to happen for the last three years and see to it that he never gets thats opportunity again! I dont have much to say on this as people always seem to overlook the root of the problem. why is the conservation law not passed? who is responsible for it's implementation? Even Stevie Wonder could see that the stalling of this law is deliberate.
I'm almost sure I saw an article on CNS re that same mangrove at south sound, where someone was saying the surrounded area of the mangrove appears to have some form of de-tox and it needed to be investigated. Something about some greens or tree won’t grow because the water was intoxicated. Some bloggers suggested that maybe people throw their pool water there. Can’t remember the story quiet well. So now they want to take it over. It makes me wonder was that area deliberately polluted so that what is going to take place now would happen.
CPA=NO BALLS or BRAINS…..All studies, reports, and expert consultants findings are in agreement that development of this type in South Sound will be irreperably detrimental. How can CPA permit any lawyer to pressure them to make insane decisions like this. Rene Hislop should be the next Premier…..XXXXX. Shame on you and shame on the CPA and shame on Mark Scotland.
I don't think it was the lawyer pressuring them. I think it was dollars… MANY dollars! Money talks in the caymans.
Mother nature has a way of reclaiming mankind will never win sometime we pay with money sometime we pay with our life be careful where you build.
CPA Members:
Mr. A. L. Thompson (Chairman)
Mr. Steve McLaughlin (Deputy Chairman)
Mr. Peterkin Berry
Mr. Peter Campbell
Mr. Dave Christian
Mr. Ernie Hurlstone
Mr. Ray Hydes
Mr. Gillard McLaughlin
Mr. Rex Miller
Mr. Allan Myles
Mr. Eldon Rankin
Mr. Helbert Rodriquez
Mr. Antonio Smith
Mr. Haroon Pandohie (Executive Secretary)
Mr. Ron Sanderson (Assistant Director of Planning (CP)
Please note that Mr. Pandohie and Mr Sanderson do not sit on the CPA and vote. They are there from the Planning Department and not voting members. They have been known to advise CPA and be ignored also.
Isn't it interesting that from day one, MLA Alden McLaughlin has not outrightly and publicly oppose the Emerald Sound iniaitive. Activist living in the area had to come up with the numbers of signatories to oppose the planned development.
This is not Emerald Sound. That project is across the road not on the sea.
Great work boys!
Hardly working and makeing the big bucks. Its good to know the king.
While we have some serious political issues right now – without our few last remaining natural resources, (Our beautiful south sound coastline, protection from serious hurricane surge, few remaining HEALTHY reefs) there will be very little for us to argue and fight over.
This is a proven natural defense for Cayman, and how money-hungry developers can manipulate government officials and departments to allow this destruction of mangroves in ANY AREA is disgusting.
We the peopleneed to stand up and remind them ALL that…People should never fear their Government, their Government should always fear the People.
Another one of CPA's great moves is the electronic signs by Hurleys. Last night as I am supposed to be watching the road the sign is lit up asking me to text something. Oh stupid is that? How could they even think reading these things make sense?
If you're driving keep your eye on the road. The signs can be read by your passengers.
hahaaa…if you actually were able to read them you would realise they say, "dont txt and drv"…
How about the sidewalks on the Chrissie Tomlinson round about…now thats asking for trouble!
People weren’t able to stop west bay road from being closed. Your not gonnastop this either. Cayman is no longer about it’s people. Sad
It is about your people – but just certain people. The expats do not want the mangroves to go, nor the west bay road closed either, its the chosen few with the money who have all the say here, Money talks.
I thought that it was A FAD and it would pass, but now I believe AFAD means Anything For A Dollar.
This saddens me. It looks like the CPA wants every mangrove pulled up and dumped away all in the name of greedy developers. I'm afraid that they don't come to their senses soon and actually show some regard for nature, Grand Cayman will become another concrete jungle.
When are they planning to start ripping up the mangrove? Does anyone know? If the do please inform the public and I for one would be willing to go down and protest! If the politicians can't do what is right then maybe we can…..
I am with you on that!
Enough is enough!
Occupy South Sound – till some rational decisions are made by our government and political leaders on this.
They will also be ripping up the "shoe trees", guaranteed.
Can someone explain to me again why we have Minister for the Envirnment, DOE and National Trust in Cayman?
Develoment of this kind in A Replenishment Zone is just absurd.
I hope they do knock down the shoe tree, it looks like a diseased trash tree now.
We must hurry and destroy the environment of the Cayman Islands before some stupid politician passes a Conservation Law. Way to go CPA you are leading in this area.
Cayman is not for Caymanians anymore, it's for anyone who has the $$$$$$, and the right friends in the right places.
The person doing this IS Caymanian!
O.K. So we have some uncaring. money-hungry Camanians too. Not everyone has read the story of Judas.
Do I take it from your posting that you are blaming the Ex-Pats again?
It's a shame that its Caymanians selling the land and developing these areas. As you say, its all about the $$$$$$$$. We need the Conservation Law NOW, its way overdue and this is the reason why. Too many vested interests in government and the opposition, its all about self enrichment and to hell with everyone else.
Just like everywhere else, unfortunately.
I believe the developer is in fact a Caymanian.
As is the Architect of the development.
Who is the architect? This is actually not Emerald Sound but a different project.
Welcome to the real world. Did you just wake up? The world (Cayman included) is for those who have the ability to turn hard work into something with substance. And the rest just cry about it.
They think the environment should be abolished. It's too big and hard to keep clean.
Remember this article. Its going to haunt those who mindlessly develop with no regard to conservation of wild life and the ecosystem. There needs to be a balance to everything: –
World famous diver calls for rational local policy
The letter (posted below in full) speaks about the need to look beyond short term gain and what he describes as “the gradual and endless push to sacrifice” the future environment for the economic benefit of a few.
Cousteau has been visiting Cayman for more than thirty years and says in that time he has seen the human impact undermine the natural environment as a result of a failure to have a national policy to protect the islands’ coastlines.
Yep, its not what you know……
"The good ship Cayman has sunk…." And, please note that, as always, it was Caymanians at the helm when it sank.
This is the only coastal mangrove outside of North Sound, providing natural marine habitat for the environment and marine life in the area. A Caymanian developer and his hot shot Caymanian lawyer have no conscience and are intent on its total destruction and removal after international grants invested so much money in its replenishment and restoration after Ivan. It is shameful how Caymanian developers have absolutely no interest in preserving their own environment for future generations,all for personal interests and greed.
A 2003 Planning permission overturned and then after a loss of coastline from Ivan, reclaim a boundary registered 13 years ago in 1999/2000. There are lots of coastal properties with boundaries now in the sea, therefore this reckless approval by the CPA NOW sets a dangerous and damaging precedent for all to just start filling in the coastline to create more land.
SHAME SHAME SHAME Mr. Hislop and your Group who just think that they are smarter than all of the rest of us. You are no better than Mr Ryan and the others who care not about this country or our laws.
Its also a Replenishment Zone…..go figure.
I am truly confused at what appears to be conficting reports from environmentalists . Didn't they say that the ice at the artic circle was melting ? Wasn't it true that the house at south sound that Rene built with a wall in front of it, didn't receive damage like the ones from east end to south sound ? Isn't it true that most houses on the coast line who were on higher ground had no damage from hurricane ivan ? Didn't the area that had the buffer that was all around this island have up to 8 feet of sea water through it ? When are you all going to stop ?
If the sea water is rising like the scientists are saying isn't this the next step for the future of Cayman ? Only higher ground or sea walls ?
Nice Try Steevo
Just another day on an island where, if you are a big developer, you can do whatever you like……sigh……
Shameful
Oh lord, does this mean more signs?
And with development –
MORE LAWS TO MANAGE AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT!
See the article titled "CSIPL still waiting on law".
It explains a lot related to this article.
Yes, sadly.
Corruption one of the elephants in the room. No one want to talk about it let alone deal with it.
Disgusting. Spend money replenishing the mangrove, only to rip it out!
When will they ever learn? I lived on that bit of coast during Ivan, and there only saving grace was the thin mangrove cover. Now they want it removed, didnt they learn from allowing the Dart and Ryan rape of the other side of the Island?
Just a thought, but did they get any senior political help in this? Are there any strange fee notes hanging around? I guess not, but then maybe that is one lesson senior politicians have learnt, dont put anything in writing!
Caymankind.
Greed will ruin Cayman and i pray that God will open the eyes of the nation before all is lost.
"Greed will ruin Cayman"
It already has, look around you.
Th.. Th.. Th.. That’s all. Folks…
The CPA has sold us out again.
Good thing Rene at RC got friends on the board… Now maybe he can dock his boat in his own marina and maybe it won’t get stolen this time around…
XXXX Caymanians profiting from Caymanians at the sole expense of the Caymanians…….this lunacy has to be stopped. The rape of these islands has reached crisis point and all the electorate can do is sit and wait for Armageddon………..wake up you fools and see that your country is being pillaged by greed and stupidity ( XXXX )
Piracy, aive and well in the Cayman Islands.
The CPA was many years ago stacked with developers and their real estate buddies. There is not a scientist or conservationist of any kind in the organisation. Why, then, would anyone expect any sensitivity let alone understanding towards mangroves buffering us against storms – amongst their other key ecological values? The only green the CPA knows is the kind you find in banks!
One would've thought that the CPA would taken the recommendations from Planning and the Dept. of the Environment seriously, and not gone ahead and given approval to destroy what is so precious to our evironment and our survival. The big picture is geed and money, which destroys people and country. What sense does it make to fill out into the sea with marl. Wait for the next big hurricane and their greed will be washed away.
Stop destroying what God has put in place as our protection. I wonder at the approvals that are passed, Sometime ago I was informed by the CPA that I could not remove two trees which I had planted, yet they are giving developers approval to destroyed what all of us came on this earth and found. Are the developers more important than the nautral vegetation, which forms a protection from storm surge and a replenishment zone.
Do we need a rocket scientist to drum some sense into the CPA's heads, or they are still asleep from Ivan. This is why the good ship CAYMAN has sunk, because their is no one, not even one soul at the wheel.