Businesses setting up shop in wrong places with poor zoning
Territorial At-Large Representative Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith has expressed concern at the relatively poor zoning laws that exist in the BVI.
“We have a lot of businesses around here that set up in the wrong places – zoning,” Smith said recently while legislators were debating the now-passed Business Licensing Act in the House of Assembly (HOA).
Smith further suggested that the Town and Country Planning Department may have to become associated with the new legislation in some way in order for proper change to be effected.
“We cannot afford to be having businesses set up shop in any area and everywhere. It is wrong,” Smith stated.
“There are a lot of times that I’m seeing certain businesses set up in zone areas that should not be. We have to start zoning so we know exactly where businesses should be and should not be,” he added.
According to Smith, it is wrong to see a garage shop set up in front of the House of Assembly.
“These are the kinds of things that we are seeing that we cannot encourage and we need to stop and all of that is part of doing business,” the legislator said.
Microscopic planning
Previously, Chief Planner Gregory Adams said his Town and Country Planning Department examined building plans in a very “microscopic” way instead of using a ‘global perspective’.
Adams noted at the time that it was now opportune to have relevant plans in place to guide how developments take place in the BVI over the next 20 years.
“I would say that it is better by far to think about it [now] and suggest what we want to become, than to let it happen and wonder how it happened,” Adams said.
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We are not all that lucky to set up business directly with government so we don’t need to build a store. Some of us could just bring in paper, store it in our house basement, put a huge mark up on it and then sell it to the same government that we are a part of. Then we come to the HOA 2 years later and ask for approval of the arrangement. The rest of us who are less fortunate have difficulties setting up our more legitimate businesses.
So,all of a sudden he notice that? Every Tom,Dick and Harry opening car wash in strange places.
“According to Smith, it is wrong to see a garage shop set up in front of the House of Assembly”.
I agree, the HoA brings down the tone of the area!
I do agree that garages need proper zoning.
They just turn immediate surrounding areas into makeshift vehicle dump sites.
Zoning is one of the ways politicians make money in other juristrictions.
An empty field is worth X, but once politicians and their civil servants zone it for housebuilding it becomes worth 10 x X.
The opportunity for corruption is massive.
Thats why they want it.
He is absolutely correct. The waterfront properties have been totally wasted by businesses that could be anywhere. Also look around the cruiseship dock and Village Cay area.
Let’s begin with these bars at Sea Cow’s Bay, make them relocate. thanks
What about the businesses that are setting up in the house of assembly, the word exemption sounds familiar to you?
Ain’t talking about how many contracts he got LOL …..BAHHH! BAHH! Just STFU!!
where is the home for the house of Assemble theses days, and where is the machinic shop, present location or old location?
He awake again? Oh good, and he learned a new word – Zoning. But read through my friends and you’ll see that he is not concerned about commercial businesses set up in residential neighbourhoods. He is not concerned about beach bars extending further and further along the shore and denying us access to the sand and the water – NO SAH – he is concerned about a garage in front of the House of Assembly. GO SIDDUNG!!! (and is that the REAL HOA – the one you never use, or the overpriced gymnasium that you continue to use so that the self-appointed Bishop can get a taste of the cookie).
All politicians are able to bring up real issues? Are they now also going to provide solutions for these issues are just continue to ‘play politician’…
BVI property law relies on covenants and adjacent land law not zoning. Land owners are responsible for enforcing property law in the BVI not the government. If you have issues with a garage opening up near the HOA building in RT then it’s the adjacent land owners responsibility to commence legal proceedings against the garage owner’s land.
Right. Let’s make lawyers richer by putting the onus on private land owners rather than on the government’s duty to create and enforce zoning.
You only have to take a look across the street, and in fact all around the Alexandrina Maduro Primary School. The whole area is becoming a dump site. It pains my very soul to pass that area every. What is the Representative for that district doing to clean up that mess. I know she didn’t create it, but it is her responsibility to address the issues, even if it means losing a few votes.
Yes, the area looks awful!!! The district won’t address it because it will affect family and friends, but in there looks like a ghetto.
Are you referring to the inside trading you were doing to me that sounds like setting up business/shop in the wrong place you selfish bitcxxx
Regionally?? Try stick to fixing the garbage heap of the BVI first, before you worry about other territories!
Mark build a warehouse in purcell on the road.who stop him?
Mr. Honorable… say what you really want to say. A garage in front of the house of assembly isn’t what’s on your mind. All these strips clubs and places of ill repute that are supposed to be illegal mind you, are all over the place. They are located next to School zones, churches,you name it.
A zoning plan to take us through the next 20 years is a great idea; our population will only continue to grow with limited space.
Just make sure the plan will benefit the entire community; a thing like this can be designed only to support the long term business goals of a chosen few landowners and business people.
This is happening right now in several US cities, towns and communities.
What about those business that are owned by relatives of Government officials. I saw the Premier going into Cutlass House today – has he seen the lease for that that Fahie signed? Or the Port Authority building?
Agreed for once.
I hope this is a introduction to a Zone Law that will be introduce in the HOA soon. It time to put an end to bars/night club in residential areas. Cant get in your yard because patrons to the bar next door park in it. Some right at your front door and have to heart to cuss you out when asked to not park in your yard or move their vehicles. One threaten to out my uncle once. Weekends are a nightmare for us. Talking to the owners is useless. Some don’t even live in the area.
It’s long overdue, this needs to be addressed immediately.
That large island named Britain determined property law in the Middle Ages and that system of covenants and adjacent property law continues on all their islands to this day. There is no government ‘zoning’ as in other countries like the USA.
BVI people are often influenced by some US laws with are completely inapplicable in the BVI. The British property law system has been in the BVI for hundreds of years and now it is too late to switch to a ‘zoning’ system like in the USA.
Also can someone please tell me how my bathing place at Gene Hill is now covered by old boats and cranes ?
My family been using that beach for decades and now some man cover it in junk.
Talk to the Hodge man who bailed out the Fahie cr**k in Miami.
Wid he drug money dem wife clean in deh bank, no less!! LOL
Been sleeping half a decade. After Irma there was a lot a golden opportunity to look at zoning and some people spoke up. The monstrosity of a government admin building on THE prime land could be tourist mall, restaurants, entertainment. The high school grounds would be perfect for a government quadrangle with sensible buildings and ample parking. Turn over Althea Scatcliffe to police, high court, magistrate court, HOA. Take the schools away from heavy traffic of the town centre. Even now isnt there a plan to use the prime tourist spot next to the pier park for a new SSB building? Government lost out and really needs to get its own houses/rented premises in order before picking in a small number of local businesses
Are you good in your head. Your comment take away all the school zone basically from in the town. May I asked where the kids will go to LEARN. Or you didn’t reach that far before you talk bull crap out your mouth
Sheep you would get my vote if you focus on zoning. Businesses such as bars/night clubs should not be in residential areas. This is totally unacceptable.
Help us sleep at nights and be at peace in our own homes that we are paying a high mortgage for.
Yep a garage right in the yard behind me in bywn several residential houses separated by wire fences. Engine revving etc etc not to mention fire hazard
EATING THE SPANIARDS FOOD WHICH CONTAINS SH*T AND THEIR COFFEE ☕ CONTAINS PI*S THAT WILL GET YOU HOOKED AND WHEN SOME GET SICK , THEY LOOKING FOR THE JOB TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND THATS WHEN THEY TAKE OVER FINISH YOU OFF AND TAKE OVER EVERYTHING ( SO WATCH OUT , DON’T MIND THE SWEET TALK )>,PAPPIE ? PAPPIE
The BVI us a big old junk yard, period.
Everyone needs a chance to survive and setting up shop is precisely the answer for some person’s. If you dont create specific market areas for small businesses they will find a area.