(CMR) The Department of Environment said it does not support approval of an application by Invicta Construction Limited for an 184-lot subdivision on Austin Connolly Drive, East End, due to several possible environmental consequences.
The application for the development of the 38 acres of land is expected to be heard on Wednesday, 24 April, after being adjourned in February and referred to the National Conservation Council pursuant to Section 41(3) of the NCA as there may be potential adverse effects.
The DoE said should the Central Planning Authority or Planning Department be minded to grant
planning permission for the proposed subdivision, it recommends the inclusion of some conditions in the Planning approval to minimize impacts on Protected Species and this important primary habitat.
It recommended that there shall be no land clearing, excavation, filling or development of the resultant parcels without planning permission for such works being granted.
The DoE also suggested that any future development, clearing, filling, or excavation of the resultant subdivided parcel shall be subject to a separate consultation with the National Conservation Council.
According to the meeting's agenda, the DoE said the subject parcels fall within the natural distribution range of the Blue Iguanas that have been released into the Colliers Wilderness Reserve and their presence has been confirmed on Colliers Wilderness Reserve Rd. and to the south.
The DoE stated that Blue Iguanas are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and they are a Part 1 protected species under the National Conservation Act (2013) making them a species ‘protected at all times’.
Blue Iguanas are endemic to Grand Cayman meaning they are unique to Cayman and found nowhere else on Earth. They are an iconic Caymanian flagship species, and their presence serves as a valuable tourism asset.
The department stated that as they recover from the brink of extinction, reproduce, and seek to establish territory, the urbanization of valuable primary habitat continues to be a concern for the future of our wild population that rely on this habitat to forage, shelter, and nest.
The DoE noted that heavy machinery can crush or bury iguanas and their nests. Therefore, it is crucial that no mechanical clearing, excavation, or filling takes place prior to DoE consultation.
Should minor clearing be required, mechanical clearing must not take place during the Blue Iguana nesting season (1 June—30 September yearly) without DoE consultation. Blue Iguanas can be easily startled and retreat to areas where they would remain unseen, putting them at risk.
The DoE further noted that there are environmental consequences from the continued approval of large-scale subdivisions similar to this, including a direct loss of habitat, loss of biodiversity due to road construction, and easier access for invasive species such as rats, cats and dogs.
There are ‘edge effects’ where the area directly next to the road is degraded by the presence of the roads. There are barriers to moving between fragments of habitat, changes to the community composition, and changes to aspects such as climate, sunlight, nutrients, and microclimate, the DoE explained.
Are these large subdivisions needed?
The DoE said that although it can appreciate the need for affordable housing, there has not been a demonstrated need for a subdivision of this density in this area.
It pointed out that the Government is actively working on an updated Development Plan for the country, which will consider population growth and sustainable development. Without an updated plan, a rezone of this scale is not justifiable, the DoE empasized.
In the absence of an updated Development Plan providing a strategic framework for development, particularly large-scale proposals, the DoE strongly recommends that before determining this planning application, a comprehensive review of the ‘need’ for the subdivision of more parcels is undertaken.
The impact of a further residential subdivision on existing infrastructure and the island's environment should be properly considered and evaluated. The overall impact on the infrastructure and population of East End should also be considered, given that if the subdivision were built out, there would be significant pressure on the infrastructure and amenities in the area.
The DoE also stated that it does not support the Central Planning Authority’s position of clearing and filling all lots regardless of imminent development when granting permission for a subdivision.
Natural habitat and native vegetation can be incorporated into parks, play areas, and amenity spaces to provide multiple benefits to a community, but that opportunity is lost when the area is
prematurely cleared, the Department explained.
In the meantime, an objector to the application said this development could result in 360 or more vehicles “dumping traffic” onto Austin Conolly Drive.”
“I don’t think this road could support this kind of an increase in traffic without creating other problems. We don’t like the idea of having high-density housing in the area. This is too many houses in such a small space,” the objector stated.
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