2nd Public Meeting Simpson Bay - Government of Sint Maarten

From Starting Points to Development Plan Simpson Bay, September 2012

2nd Public Meeting Simpson Bay

From Starting Points to Development Plan

September 2012


Welcome by the initiator of this meeting

Dep. Prime Minister

William V. Marlin:

Ministry of Public Housing,

Spatial Planning, Environment

and Infrastructure

On behalf of Mr. William V.

Marlin we welcome you at this

meeting to discuss the outline

of the preliminary draft

development plan of the

Simpson Bay area


Welcome by the hosts of this meeting

o Louis Brown: Secretary General VROMI

o Cedric Peterson: Moderator

o Hans Sellink: Dept. Head VROM

o Thijs Sommers: Project Leader

o Gerard Willemsen: Process Manager


Tonight’s meeting

o Purpose of the Development Plan

o How does the Development Plan work

o Back to the first public meeting March 2012

o From Starting Points to the Development Plan


o Legal framework for possible future development

o To designate and/or reserve land for desired use

o To prevent undisered development

o To offer legal security to residents about future development

It’s not an ‘Action Plan’; it’s a framework plan

And, we will make it in consultation with you

Purpose of the Development Plan


How does it work

a ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzone - 1’ mag de bouwhoogte niet meer dan 47 m bedragen;

b ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzone - 2’ mag de bouwhoogte niet meer dan 43 m bedragen;

c ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzone - 3’ mag de bouwhoogte niet meer dan 39 m bedragen;

d ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzone - 4’ mag de bouwhoogte niet meer dan 35 m bedragen;

e ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzoen - 5’ mag de bouwhoogte niet meer dan 31 m bedragen;

ter plaatse van de aanduiding ‘luchtvaartverkeerzone - 6’ is bouwen niet toegestaan

The Development Plan contains:

A map: What’s allowed where ?

Regulations: Size ? Height ?

Elucidation: What, Why and How


How it is made

The plan was drawn up in steps:

Present situation

What’s going on

What problems

Your and our starting points

On tonight’s agenda:

o What solutions

o How to implement in Development

Plan: Reserve space and set rules

From Starting Points to Development Plan Simpson Bay, September 2012 Sentry Hill seen from L van Beethoven Road

The first meeting in March 2012

1st public meeting: March 2012

2nd public meeting: tonight

PPT Available on website


Some issues and ideas mentioned:

o Tackle the congestion on Airport Road

o Forget the Causeway, it won’t work

o Take care of the Lagoon

o Space for small boats in the Lagoon

o Focus on nature and water quality

o Keep Simpson Bay Village as it is

What did we do with it?

During this presentation we will provide

the answers

The first meeting in March 2012


o Traffic

o Princess Juliana International Airport

o Tourism and Recreation

o Commercial, Industrial and Public Functions

o Residential neighborhoods

o Nature and Landscape

o Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

Themes


o Present situation

- Congestion on main roads

- No space for pedestrians / cycling / jogging

- Water on the roads / bad pavement and sidewalks

o What’s going on?

- Traffic keeps on growing

- Lejuez Drawbridge needs replacement

Traffic


o What solution for the congestion?

- Make more main roads: reserve space for new roads: links 8 + 9

- Why link 9/‘Causeway’: part of the entire road network

Traffic


o Solutions for the Airport Road (congestion, lack of walking

space):

- Set rules for reprofiling Airport Road: space for:

- Sidewalk / cycling

- Parking

- Landscaping

- Separation of traffic in transit and service road(s)

- Gutter for run-off water

Traffic


Traffic

Present situation Airport Road:


Traffic

Suggestion for the Airport Road:

o Main road for trough traffic

o Space for landscaping

o Parking on parallel road (1 or 2 sides, if space if available)

o Space for sidewalks


Traffic

Another suggestion for the

Airport Road:

Create extra center lane in the

middle for left turning traffic

only


o What solution for Lejuez bridge?

- Reserve space for improvement of bridge or tunnel

Traffic


o Present situation

- Airport is vital for SXM economy

- Need for space for future growth

- Unsafe: buildings in obstacle-free zone

- Unsafe: too tall buildings + masts in zone with height regulation

Princess Juliana International Airport



- Extension plan for the airport (taxi way)

- Enforcement of international regulations for obstacle-free

zone and zone with height regulation

- Need for airport-related commercial space close to the Airport



o What solution for extension?

- Implement extension area (e.g. for a taxi way)



o What solutions for need for Airport-related commercial space?

- Reserve space for (Airport-related) commercial activities

close to the airport



o What solutions for (too tall) buildings in obstacle-free zone?

- Short term + for new development: strictly follow the regulations

- Long term (20 – 30 years): Clearance of obstacle-free zone



o What solutions for (too tall) buildings in zone with height regulations?

- Short term + for new development: strictly follow the regulations

- Long term (20 – 30 years): reconstruction of relevant areas



o Present situation -

- Appeal of SXM: pristine and accessible beaches

- Appeal of Simpson Bay Lagoon

- The Caribbean Sea: cruises

- Hotels and resorts in attractive locations

- Pleasant atmosphere Simpson Bay Village

Tourism and Recreation



- Urban development, particularly along the coastal zone

- Growth of Marinas in the Lagoon

- Increasing number of large yachts in the Lagoon

- Poor accessibility of the Lagoon

- No mooring for cruise ships



o What solution for the development pressure along the beach?

- Limit the location, height, width and size of the new buildings

along the beach



o What solutions for the vast increase of Marinas?

- Existing Marinas: Maintain present size

- New Marinas: limit in number and size: they can only be

developed within certain designated areas



o What solutions for the lack of mooring space for small boats?

- Reserve space for public jetties

- Mooring regulations not regulated in the Development Plan, but

monitored by the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority



o What solutions for the accessibility of the Lagoon?

- Reserve space for a boardwalk next to the Lagoon

- Make footpaths from the Airport Road towards the new

Boardwalk and beach



o What solutions for the growing demand for mooring space for mega

yachts / small cruise ships?

- Reserve space for an additional pier, outside the Lagoon

- Set extra rules for height, size and quality of architecture on the

pier?



o Present situation

- Important commercial areas:

- PJIA, Commercial / Restaurant strip along Airport Road and

Marina’s

- Airport Road important entrance of SXM

- Cluster of public functions in Simpson Bay Village


- Limited space for growth along Airport Road

Commercial, Industrial, and Public Functions

PM foto restaurantjes Airport Road, Frank / Urban


o What solution for the limited space for development along the Airport

Road?

- Together with the Boardwalk, create space for (re) development

of the area between Airport Road and the Lagoon

Commercial, Industrial, and Public Functions


o Present situation

- Character of Simpson Bay Village

- But already some larger scale apartment buildings along the

beach


- Development pressure might pose a threat to Simpson Bay

Village

- Nuisance from nightlife

Residential neighbourhoods


o Zoning solutions Simpson Bay and Beacon Hill:

- Maintain housing as the primary function

- Cluster commercial and tourist functions along the Airport Road

and the existing resort in Beacon Hill

Residential neighborhoods


o How to maintain the character of Simpson Bay Village:

- Set regulations for the architecture of new buildings:

- height,

- width,

- slope of roof,

- alignment

- ….



o What solution for nuisance of tourist resorts and bars/discos?

- Limit the area of tourist resorts to the present locations

- Limit the opening hours of the discos (not in the Development

plan, but in operational permits)

Residential neighbourhoods


o Maintain the cluster of public facilities

- Reserve space for public facilities such as schools, cemetery,

playground etc.



o Present situation -

- Nature value focus in Lagoon, Mullet Pond and on Little Key

- Special features:

- Beach + Caribbean Sea

- Lagoon

Green Hills of SXM in the

background

Nature and Landscape


o What is going on?

- More Marinas conflict with nature value of the Lagoon shores

- Bad water quality in the Lagoon, especially in the southern point



o What solutions to preserve nature in Mullet Pond and on Little

key?

- Reduce human activities by designating these areas as

‘nature’ and/ or minimal use only



o What solutions for the bad water quality of the Lagoon and the

reduction of mangroves?

- Reserve space for sewage treatment plant in the southern

point of the Lagoon

- Stimulate water circulation, e.g. by installing windmills

- Increase mangrove area


Present situation: Suggestion:


o What solutions to maintain the beach?

- Designate the setback line of the beach on the development

plan map

- No buildings or structures allowed

- Recreational and nature function



o Present situation

- Perceived authentic atmosphere in Simpson Bay Village

because of:

- the many monuments

- drives


- Degradation of (some) monuments

- Threat of drives being overbuilt

Cultural Heritage and Archaeology


o What solutions for maintaining the monuments?

- Protect the monuments via the Monument Ordinance

- Use them, so revenue can be generated to finance the

maintenance

- Possible functions: home, small shop, cafe, depends on

location / situation



o What solution for maintaining the drives?

- Keep them open by designating them as ‘traffic zone’



suggestion


What is next?

o Public hearing Preliminary draft

development plan (art 4 EROP):

o Map / ‘Plankaart’

o Regulations / ‘Voorschriften’

o Elucidation / ‘Toelichting’


Thank you for your attention This presentation is also open to discussion via our e-mail: [email protected]

2nd Public Meeting Simpson Bay - Government of Sint Maarten

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