Saipan has zoning law but lacks manpower to enforce it

Now that the Saipan zoning law is in place, there’s not enough manpower to enforce it and inspect establishments to ensure compliance with requirements.

Henry S. Hofschneider, chairman of the Zoning Board, said the Zoning Office is “seriously understaffed,” and this is among the major challenges faced by the agency.

“Without new positions, we have just enough staff to man the office and process application paperwork. We will not be able to conduct field inspection and enforcement to ensure compliance with zoning requirements,” Hofschneider said in a Feb. 24 fiscal year 2008 annual report to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and legislative leaders about the Zoning Board.

The office has four staffers, including one who has been graciously loaned by the Office of the Governor since July to fill the role of clerk.

“She’s been invaluable to us. We need to hire this person on a permanent basis,” Hofschneider said.

The salary of three of them is 50 percent funded by a federal grant which expires in September.

“We need to keep these staff in lace and will submit a request for increased local funding for FY 2010 o replace the federal funding,” he added.

The Zoning Board is also looking for a new administrator after zoning administrator Steve Tilley announced he will be leaving the agency because he and his wife will be relocating to the mainland in April.

Tilley has been on Saipan for six years, and has been instrumental in the drafting and implementation of the zoning law, as well as in implementing the regulations.
[B] Progress[/B]

Hofschneider said in the short time that zoning has been in place, Saipan has seen a tangible improvement in the design and location of new development.

Among other things, new adult businesses are restricted to an adult business overlay zone on Middle Road and new poker and auto shops are being kept out of the villages, he said.

Hofschneider also cited as accomplishments the following: Parking lots and road accesses are safer and more attractive; new buildings are more attractive and pedestrian-friendly; signs are more durable, attractive and proportioned to the buildings; neighborhood and commercial and industrial development are being separated; and subdivisions are being designed with streets that are wide enough for cars to pass.

The Zoning Office also finalized the Saipan Zoning Law and submitted it to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for enactment and signing of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.

The office developed a zoning database and a geographic information system, prepared procedures and forms or processing zoning permit applications, and conducted many training workshops, and issued press releases and guidance to educate businesses and the public about the law.

It also logged and processed over 1,500 inquiries and permit applications.

Hofschneider said no funds were used for honorarium during FY 2008. “Zoning board members contributed many hours of their time in the spirit of working toward the betterment of our community,” he said.

Last week, he Zoning Office held training sessions about the Saipan Zoning Law for developers, the general public, surveyors, and others involved in subdividing property.