An application to build a 50-foot-deep commercial quarry across 29 acres in Bodden Town has led the Central Planning Authority to call for a review of a 19-year-old policy.
Barrington Bennett and Amelia De Wood submitted plans to excavate 2.3 million cubic yards of aggregate over three years at a site next to the protected Meagre Bay Pond.
But the matter has been adjourned to allow for reassessment of a 2004 policy which limits the amount of aggregate that the Cayman Islands can hold in reserve.
In the recently published minutes of the 21 June meeting when the plan was discussed, the planning board said the policy is “out of date and needs to be revisited”.
It questioned “the accuracy and realistic application of the current aggregate reserve thresholds” and said the quarry application should not be refused based solely on that.
According to the planning authority’s Aggregate Policy, approved in Cabinet in July 2004, quarry approvals should be based on the principle of supply and demand.
It states that no new quarries can be built until aggregate reserves are reduced to 5 million cubic yards – the equivalent of a five-year supply.
The last review in 2021, however, determined that the aggregate reserve was well above the threshold, at 32 million cubic yards.
But, during the meeting, the applicants argued that the policy is flawed as the reserve indicates how much aggregate is allowed to be excavated and not what is immediately available.
Operators are not forced to produce a certain amount so aggregate is limited, allowing them to keep prices high, the applicants said, adding that the policy-mandated bi-annual surveys are not carried out.
Advisory committee’s review
In its review of the applicants’ $30 million plans, the Aggregate Advisory Committee said it did not find an exceptional need to disregard the Aggregate Policy.
“The policy has served Cayman very well over the past 20 years to facilitate development while minimising its impact on the environment,” it wrote.
The committee said when a new source of aggregate is needed to supply the demand, all previous applications should be considered and the most suitable proposal accepted.
It said it intends to update the Aggregate Policy over the next year to ensure that it continues to provide guidance to meet its objectives.
The committee also brought up other concerns such as the quarry’s potential impact on the Meagre Bay protected area – “a wetland of national significance”.
“There is empirical evidence that the mangroves in the protected area have been declining over recent years, and it is hypothesised this is due to impacts of quarrying,” it said.
“If there is a link between quarry activities and the decline of this protected area, then it is essential that an effective solution is implemented to mitigate further damage.”
The planning authority said the applicant is required to conduct an environmental impact assessment to allow for further consideration of the application.
Adjourned again
At the same meeting, Cayman Enterprise City’s application for modifications to an ‘urban city’ in South Sound was adjourned at the request of the attorney of one of the objectors.
“They advised they had just been retained and needed sufficient time to take proper instruction from their client,” the authority said.
Kirk Marine was granted retrospective planning permission to turn part of a warehouse on Boilers Road in George Town into a boating and water-sports shop.
Stacey Clark was granted permission for a $500,000 plan to turn a yoga studio at Marquee Plaza on West Bay Road into a veterinary clinic.
The authority also approved $140,000 plans for a bandstand and canopy at Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town.
The bandstand will consist of a 160-square-foot canopy in the passenger arrivals building; the 1,590-square-foot canopy with restroom will be at the taxi stand staging area.
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