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The National Environment and Planning Agency
(NEPA) wishes to make the following statement with respect to
applications for a hotel development at Pear Tree Bottom.
The Hoteles Pinero Jamaica (HOJAPI) Limited
submitted an application to NEPA for the development of a hotel at
Pear Tree Bottom. In addition to this application, a further request
was made to do preliminary site clearance to obtain critical site
information. After careful review of this request, the Group was given
authorization to do preliminary land clearing in a defined area at the
site (with stipulated conditions). This excluded foundation work. It
must be noted that whereas sections of the area had been cleared by
the previous owner, permission was granted for clearance of the
footprint for phase one of this development.
In considering the request to clear the site and
in addition to information contained in the Environmental Impact
Assessment report, HOJAPI was asked for a botanical assessment
report. This was submitted but was found lacking and they were asked
for a more comprehensive report. This was received and accepted by
NEPA before they were given the authorization. A copy of the
Environmental Impact Assessment may be found on our website at:
http://www.nrca.org/eias/StAnn/PearTree/index.htm
Among the conditions stipulated by NEPA prior to
the authorization for clearance were the following:
- All ecologically important flora within the area should be
categorized as endemic, endangered or rare
- At least 50% of Red Birch, Burnwood, Maiden Plum and Black Lancewood
seedlings should be collected. These seedlings should be replanted
elsewhere, for example on the southern section of the property
- At least 95% of all Orchids, Bromeliads and Cacti found in the
footprint of the development should be collected and transferred to
the southern section of the property and/ or a plant nursery
- The names
of all species identified in the Botanical Assessment Report should be
indicated. The Report had highlighted the presence of three (3)
Bromeliads and two (2) Orchid species, but only two (2) Bromeliads and
one (1) Orchid had been named.
The revised botanical assessment of the area
conducted by the developers was reviewed by NEPA and it met the
conditions laid down.
Our local enforcement warden assigned to the parish of St. Ann and
several officers from the Applications Processing Branch visited the
site on May 11, May 30, June 2, June 6 and June 8. As a result of
these visits, NEPA is satisfied that the conditions for clearing were
met by the developers with the exception that on May 30 it was noticed
that marl was spread on a part of the property to facilitate the
erection of temporary buildings. This was ordered stopped by NEPA and
the activity was confirmed to have ceased on June 2.
HOJAPI Limited has also applied for planning
approval for the resort development at Pear Tree Bottom, St. Ann.
The area is zoned for resort developments and the
proposed development is within the density or number of habitable
rooms per acre requirement.
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