DPNR outlines implementation push for comprehensive land and water use plan; announces large parkland acquisitions
October 16, 2025 | 2025 Legislature, Virgin Islands
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Jean Pierre Oriel, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), told the Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning that the department is moving from plan adoption to implementation of the territory’s Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan.
Oriel told senators the department has finalized two professional‑services contracts to review and amend the zoning code (Title 29, chapter 3) and the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Act (Title 12, chapter 21). He said DPNR expects to release proposed amendments for public comment in January 2026. "We are estimating that some of these amendments will be shared for public comment early in January in the January 2026 time frame," he said.
The commissioner highlighted several immediate implementation items: expanding the territorial park system through property acquisitions; collaborating with other agencies on transportation, water and fair‑housing planning; and seeking federal and local funding to support implementation. In August the department closed on 100 acres in Annalee Bay (commonly referred to as Maroon Ridge) on St. Croix, Oriel said, and the department expected to close on about 150 acres in Perseverance Bay on St. Thomas shortly. He described additional planned purchases over the next six months.
Oriel also said DPNR is contracting an implementation coordinator — a staffer with planning and GIS skills who will lead the coordination of code changes, public engagement and funding proposals. He described the department’s approach to funding as a mix of local funding and federal grants. In particular he highlighted work with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority on a CDBG‑MIT planning application and said that the territorial parks program has secured federal award funds to expand operations and acquisition efforts.
On zoning, Oriel said the goal is to modernize the code and make categories more flexible to encourage mixed use and affordable housing in growth areas. He said one priority is to explore a "height waiver" for affordable housing to allow taller buildings in selected locations, since construction costs make horizontal expansion more costly. The department is also drafting a definition and permitting category for small‑scale distilleries and microbreweries to reflect growing local craft production.
Oriel described active collaborations with the Department of Public Works on the 2050 transportation master plan, with WAPA on water and resilience plans, with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority on fair‑housing implementation, and with the U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority on waterfront master planning. He said the department will participate in an academic studio at the University of Pennsylvania focused on St. Thomas land‑use planning.
Why it matters: the comp plan sets long‑range goals for conservation, land use and economic development; implementing the plan requires code changes, interagency coordination, funding and property management. Commissioners told senators they will return with draft code amendments and public‑comment dates; committee members signaled urgency to move zoning and CZM updates through before the legislative term ends.
What to watch next: DPNR expects to publish proposed zoning and CZM amendments for public comment starting January 2026, to complete the implementation‑coordinator procurement in the coming months, and to advance targeted parkland acquisitions.
Oriel told senators the department has finalized two professional‑services contracts to review and amend the zoning code (Title 29, chapter 3) and the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Act (Title 12, chapter 21). He said DPNR expects to release proposed amendments for public comment in January 2026. "We are estimating that some of these amendments will be shared for public comment early in January in the January 2026 time frame," he said.
The commissioner highlighted several immediate implementation items: expanding the territorial park system through property acquisitions; collaborating with other agencies on transportation, water and fair‑housing planning; and seeking federal and local funding to support implementation. In August the department closed on 100 acres in Annalee Bay (commonly referred to as Maroon Ridge) on St. Croix, Oriel said, and the department expected to close on about 150 acres in Perseverance Bay on St. Thomas shortly. He described additional planned purchases over the next six months.
Oriel also said DPNR is contracting an implementation coordinator — a staffer with planning and GIS skills who will lead the coordination of code changes, public engagement and funding proposals. He described the department’s approach to funding as a mix of local funding and federal grants. In particular he highlighted work with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority on a CDBG‑MIT planning application and said that the territorial parks program has secured federal award funds to expand operations and acquisition efforts.
On zoning, Oriel said the goal is to modernize the code and make categories more flexible to encourage mixed use and affordable housing in growth areas. He said one priority is to explore a "height waiver" for affordable housing to allow taller buildings in selected locations, since construction costs make horizontal expansion more costly. The department is also drafting a definition and permitting category for small‑scale distilleries and microbreweries to reflect growing local craft production.
Oriel described active collaborations with the Department of Public Works on the 2050 transportation master plan, with WAPA on water and resilience plans, with the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority on fair‑housing implementation, and with the U.S. Virgin Islands Port Authority on waterfront master planning. He said the department will participate in an academic studio at the University of Pennsylvania focused on St. Thomas land‑use planning.
Why it matters: the comp plan sets long‑range goals for conservation, land use and economic development; implementing the plan requires code changes, interagency coordination, funding and property management. Commissioners told senators they will return with draft code amendments and public‑comment dates; committee members signaled urgency to move zoning and CZM updates through before the legislative term ends.
What to watch next: DPNR expects to publish proposed zoning and CZM amendments for public comment starting January 2026, to complete the implementation‑coordinator procurement in the coming months, and to advance targeted parkland acquisitions.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting