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Saipan zoning office asks delegation for more funding as permit workload rises
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Summary
The Saipan zoning administrator told the House delegation the office is processing thousands of permits a year, is understaffed and seeks an increase to its $75,000 annual appropriation to sustain enforcement and proposed code amendments.
Theresa Gumrow, Saipan zoning administrator, told the House delegation in Saipan that the zoning office processed 3,552 permit applications in fiscal year 2024 and 2,055 applications in fiscal year 2025 through April, and that staff are averaging roughly 15 permits a day.
Gumrow said the office is organized into administration, permitting and enforcement sections and is responsible for reviewing applications against the Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 and the official zoning map, issuing zoning permits and drafting conditions. She said the permitting section aims to issue simple permits — such as home-business clearances and zoning clearances for business-license renewals — the same day an applicant appears at the office.
The zoning office also reported 60 single-family dwelling permits for fiscal year 2025, of which 38 were identified as part of a CDBG-DR home-buyer program administered with NMC. Gumrow said Gharapan (Garapan) is the island’s primary business center, with higher counts of new permits than other villages.
Nut graf: The zoning administrator emphasized that steady permit volume and growing enforcement work have stretched staff capacity. Gumrow asked the delegation to consider increasing the zoning office’s annual appropriation, currently $75,000, to cover staff and equipment the office says it needs to sustain permitting, enforcement and planned code work.
In the presentation, Gumrow outlined planned work this year including proposed amendments to the Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 and updates to the official zoning map. She said the zoning board and staff are preparing a package of amendments and expect to transmit those for public comment and to the delegation for consideration later this year; staff are targeting board review of amendments by July.
Gumrow also described ongoing technical work the office performs under the code: determining permitted, conditional or prohibited uses by district; applying bulk and dimensional standards such as setbacks and lot width; and reviewing site plans for parking, drive aisles, landscaping and ADA compliance. She said Article 9 of the zoning law addresses parking calculations and Article 12 covers nonconformities and public nuisance definitions.
Members of the delegation raised operational questions about customer service and physical location. Gumrow confirmed the zoning office has relocated from Dandan Jotun to the former IT&E building on Middle Road and asked members to allow staff time to finish their presentation before question-and-answer.
Gumrow closed by thanking property owners who have complied with abatement notices and asked the delegation to consider a larger annual appropriation so zoning can hire more permitting and enforcement staff and acquire vehicles and equipment.
Ending: The zoning office said it will follow up with an electronic or printed copy of the current code and map for members and will circulate proposed amendments for review before formal transmittal to the delegation.
