ALL of the proper site planning standards were adopted when permission was granted to build beachfront property on Enterprise Coast Road.
Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins said that building application was transparent for the construction of a mini beach house on the cliff edge of Enterprise Coast Road.
Recently, several businessmen, including Charlie Blades and Gordon Seale, were among a group of residents protesting the building of the south coast beach house by high-end developers. A two-storeyed building is soon to be built adjacent to the beach house.
Cummins told the DAILY NATION neither the Chief Town Planner nor the minister responsible could guarantee the public a view but could ensure that the proper planning standards were observed.
“The land may have been vacant for a long time, but importantly we must remember that while the Crown (Government) owns the land in Barbados, some of us have a freehold of that land, and in this case the owners of lots 1 and 2, they have freehold rights of the land.
“Therefore, if an application is made and we go through all of the processes and they meet the planning requirement, we cannot deny them planning permission because if you built a house there it will block someone’s view.
“The Chief Town Planner cannot guarantee anybody a view from his or her patio, bedroom, or living room.
“What we guarantee is that we will make sure that proper site planning standards are followed to make sure that buildings are built in accordance with the rules and regulations.”
The Town Planning Department has given permission for the construction of the beach house, which is near completion. It is part of a property deal that involves the building of 16 luxury three-bedroom town houses.
According to Cummins, to prevent construction, Government would have had to acquire the land.
“Government would have had to acquire those two lots, but the question is, can Government acquire all of the vacant land on the beachfront or clifftop? I don’t think so.”
Cummins said the focus of the Physical Development Plan was to ensure Barbadians had proper access to the beach.
“[The plan] states that where persons acquire one, two or three parcels of land on the coastline, by condition we always make provision for a public access to the beach and that has worked well.”
Cummins said his department had ensured that people traversing the West Coast still had a good view to the sea where the new development had taken place along the intersection of Highway 1 and Cemetery Road.
“When Chefette and Regent Hotel were there, that was not possible but, given the new development, we have opened that area. That is very significant when you look at the amenity value that will add.
“Maybe it’s our fault that we don’t get out there and speak to these things, but this is just one of the things that we have done in those general areas to open up some view.
“We can’t run and hide and bury our heads in the sand. We do agree that there is clutter on the West Coast and it would have been good to have more open areas.”
Cummins said anyone could come to Town and Country Planning headquarters at the Garrison and do an inspection of the process.
“This application here [for Enterprise Coast Road] is transparent, and anyone can come have a look at the statutory register.”
