The Department of Planning and Natural Resources has executed a contract with Horsley Witten Group to develop a Comprehensive Land & Water Use Plan for the territory, according to DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol. The contract includes spatial planning, policy review and development, and public comment as part of the process.
“The purpose of a Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan is to strategically, sustainably, and responsibly distribute and balance the development of land across the Territory in order to maximize community and environmental benefits for Virgin Islanders today and protect those benefits for future generations,” said Oriol.
The project is planned for 16 months, with policy and geography experts from the Horsley Witten Group working closely with DPNR staff and local advisory groups from each island to develop a land and water use plan that can be proposed to the Legislature for approval and legal authority to enforce.
The contract commences with a review of historic and current materials related to zoning, natural resources, geography, and community development. Project kick-off meetings will be hosted on each island to explain the project intent, goals, timeline, and milestones. In addition, DPNR is committed to a transparent process with accessible public review periods, and a Public Participation Plan will be developed and followed throughout the project.
For more information, contact Assistant Commissioner Keith Richards at (340) 774-3320 or keith.richards@dpnr.vi.gov.
