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Delay in permit from USFW hinders construction of big hotel
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Posted on Apr 04 2000
A multi-million hotel project to be managed by Hilton International is facing rough sailing as a result of the delay it has encountered in acquiring a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
The Obyan Beach Resort project to be undertaken by San Francisco-based Haas & Haynie Corp. will include the construction of 500-room hotel and two 18-hole championship golf courses.
Investors of the project have met with Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio expressing their desire to continue with the planned development which has been stalled for four years now.
The utilities and infrastructure for the resort have been designed to meet critical resort utility and roadway requirements with a minimum effect on the vegetation, habitat and cultural resource areas.
Recently, the Coastal Resources Management has given Haas & Haynie an extension for the construction permit of the project. Haas & Haynie will undertake the project with I&F Corp. of Japan and Envotic Corp. of Hong Kong.
Haas & Haynie has been a developer builder since 1898 and has built over 20 world-class resorts and hotels. It even pioneered the early resort development of Hawaii in the 1960s which include the famed Mauna Kea Beach Resort, Kahala Hilton, Maui InterContinental and several Sheraton Hotels in Waikiki as well as Meridien Hotels and condominium projects.
The project would also consist of two retail centers, composed of shops and restaurants as well as a 300 full-size golf villa units.
As a result of the delay in several projects on the island due to the strict requirements imposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the governor has sought the assistance of Ferdinand Aranza, director of the Office of Insular Affairs.
With the delay in the project, the local chief executive has expressed concern that investors may just decide to finally abandon its development plans in the CNMI.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife has always raised concerns on the effect of the different projects on federal endangered species, namely the Nightingale-Reed Warbler and the Tinian Monarch.
Another project, the Bird Island Golf Course, has been delayed due to the position taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
