So as you know, the proposed Coral Bay marina has been a pretty hot topic both on and off island lately. Well today we wanted to share some information with you that leads us to believe that this marina is facing an uphill battle due to environmental concerns. Just to recap, the Coastal Zone Management committee has 30 days following last Wednesday’s meeting to either approve or deny the permit. Here’s the latest…
Jean-Pierre Oriel, Director of CZM, contacted both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service and asked for their comments on the Summer’s End Marina proposal. Here’s a few items taken directly from their responses:
From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association…
“… as we expressed after reviewing the previous version of the marina, which consisted only of a marina for smaller vessels … we continue to have concerns regarding the potential project impacts to seagrass beds and water quality in the bay. In response to the past permit application for a smaller marina, we had recommended that the applicant explore avoidance and minimization of project impacts to seagrass, including through alternatives such as the construction of a marina at an alternate location. Instead, when Summer’s End acquired the property, they proposed a larger project that includes the currently proposed marina for small vessels and vessels up to 120 feet in the South Club and up to 80 feet in the North Club based on notes in our project file.”
“ … the project has gotten larger rather than smaller, resulting in greater impacts to benthic habitat that is used by sea turtles as well as creating the potential for greater water quality impacts in the bay, which contains habitat for ESA-listed and proposed corals in addition to sea turtles. For this reason, we continue to have concerns regarding this project. As part of the federal permit process, a Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will be required.”
“… the project may require an essential fish habitat (EFH) consultation with NMFS Habitat Conservation Division (HCD) as part of the federal permit process. By letter dated June 2, 2006, NMFS HCD provided comments to the USACE in response to a previous major land and water application for a small boat marina only in the same location. At the time, NMFS HCD had significant concerns regarding the proposed marina and associated impacts to the dense seagrass beds in the area, as well as potential impacts to water quality.”
Click the following link to read NOAA’s entire response: NOAA Response
From the Fish and Wildlife Service…
“While the applicant states that there are not wetlands in the project site, there are special aquatic sites such as seagrass beds which are regulated by the Clean Water Act.”
“A total of 2500 square feet of marine bottom will be directly impacted by the placements of piles; however the entire footprint of the project should be considered for impacts.”
Regarding the Summer’s End Group’s proposed mitigation plans, the Fish and Wildlife Service does not think think the plans are adequate.
Lastly, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that the permit should not be issued until its concerns and recommendations are adequately addressed.
Click the following link to read the Fish and Wildlife Service’s entire response: Fish and Wildlife Service Response
Of all the discussion thus far this seems to be most promising. And does any one know if the Army Corp of Engineers would have to be involved and what they may say?
Yet, “Fish and Wildlife” gave $1.2 million for the project…
What were they thinking AND… why and how did these two (Summers End prognosticators), get them to fork over that amount of money for a project that was smaller???
There are questions that need to be addressed!!!
Here’s some “input” from Ron Morrisette, familiar with the machinations that have and will continue to occur regarding the Summer’s End development.
Whoops, forgot the link: https://www.facebook.com/ron.morrisette.9?fref=tl_fr_box
Your statement: Regarding the Summer’s End group’s proposed mitigation plans, the Fish and Wildlife Service does think think the plans are adequate. Contains typographical errors. FWS memo states the opposite. Please correct. Thank you
Please correct the typo in the sentence below. This information is being widely viewed. Clarity is of utmost importance.
” Regarding the Summer’s End group’s proposed mitigation plans, the Fish and Wildlife Service does think think the plans are adequate.”
Thanks for your good work!
MY COMMENT ON MY DISHONEST LAWYER BROTHER’S ATTEMPT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF ST JOHN, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CORAL BAY..
Those of you who actually believe the words from my brother about reasonable dialogue are doing so at your own risk and that of the future of st john, especially Coral Bay……. Just 10 years ago, he told me that he was managing our mother’s property above Cruz Bay for all three of us, but the fact is as i was to find out within the year after that, he was managing it solely for himself… I gradually found out as i discovered paperwork that he had been plotting to betray me, his only brother, since he graduated from law school at ole miss around 1984… He returned to St John and in short order got our mother’s acre and 1/4 subdivided into two parts. and he got the legislature to raise the zoning on it… Then he got our mother to virtually give($100K) him the upper part which he was supposed to inherit… Then furthering his “divide and conquer” strategy he went after the lower part where ASOLARE is today……. Not only did he get “mother” to sign a quit claim deed in oct 2002 to make sure, but he had had her create a new wiill 7 months after i moved to Sarasota in july 1991…. He talks a good game about honesty and openness but it’s no more than a sociopathic means to gain his final objective… He broke his fiduciary duty to our mother and she told me in the last years of her life( I saw that she was cared for properly those last 8 years of her life as she declined due to residual malarial damage) that she regretted letting him have so much influence on her… It’s too late for me but not for Coral Bay…. He will twist anything and everything… I took him to court in Ms. in 2005 ,where our mother’s residence was, and he tried to say he took me to court… He even got my small town lawyer to not do what he could have for me, because BM , who i call “the devil”, had Mississippi’s most powerful divorce lawyer helping him as my brother pulled the strings from behind , just as he’s doing now……… I recognize some out there will give me a hard time but the truth is the truth and i have hand written letters from “the devil” to our mother back in 1993 when he was trying to get her to go ahead and sell him THE ASOLARE building for a net price of less than $100k….She didn’t go for that then, but eventually he did realize his nefarious goal of owning 100% of our family St. John property …………That’s who the atty is for this development duo…………..My brother is what i call an “unconvicted felon”………………………..You all should be aware of who you’re dealing with because i can prove it……..I even contacted the DR. PHIL SHOW and several other shows… When contacted, he refused to appear on a show which would administer a lie detector test……….I’m not an atty and i could only do so much and no lawyer will step forward and say , “Ron, i’ll help you, show me what you have.” You see, lawyers don’t work like that…. I could go on but i think you get the idea……. DON’T BELIEVE A WORD HE SAYS..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well, my goodness! More than risk to sanctity of beautiful Coral Bay going on here . . .
Wow. Brion Morrisette seems like a real scumbag.
Part of St. John’s charm is because the island doesn’t have an airstrip and doesn’t have a cruise ship dock. Build either one of those and it’s all over.
Why must every piece of nature be developed?