Late word from St. Thomas is that there will be a second public hearing on the request by Atlantic Northstar LLC to build condominiums overlooking Rendezvous and Fish Bays. A representative of the developer told a Coral Bay Community Council Monday night that the project has been scaled down from 44 to 36 units.
The land is currently zoned to permit about 24 single family homes. Word of the new hearing came on the heels of a petition drive by neighborhood residents and business owners protesting the project’s likely impact on the environment, runoff into the bays, and residential density. One source reported 600 anti-signatures were collected while supporters of the developer were said to produce some 300 names.
Atlantic Northstar LLC is based in St Croix, where its interests include the gaming business and slot machines. The company owns several properties on St. John, including a residence at Peter Bay, the Palm Plaza shopping center near the Westin resort, and a half-acre site on Lavender Hill overlooking Cruz Bay where it is developing 15 condominiums. The $7 million condo project, to be known as The Lantern, will include a health spa, fitness center, motion studio and below-grade parking, according to a news release from the design company, William M. Karr and Associates.