Committee tables House Local Bill 24-11 on auto-rental staging in Garapan pending zoning amendments

The SNLI Outstanding Committee on Zoning voted to table House Local Bill 24-11, a proposal to amend section 12-11 of the Saipan Zoning Act of 2013 governing nonconforming auto-rental offices with vehicles, until zoning completes a set of targeted amendments and offers a short-term accommodation for affected businesses.

The committee, chaired by Senator Corina L. Magofna, took the action at its meeting at the Commonwealth Legislature on Saipan. The vote to table carried after members heard public comment, testimony from the acting zoning administrator and a review of written comments from the zoning office and the Mayor of Saipan.

The bill as introduced would delete or alter section 12-11 to permit auto-rental offices with staging and vehicle service in parts of the Third Senatorial District, including Garapan East, and make related changes for industry clarity and infrastructure use. Hubert M. Alipuyu, acting zoning administrator, told the committee zoning does not support wholesale repeal of the provision and requested more time to prepare draft amendments that would allow staging and service only in Garapan East while continuing to restrict those activities in Garapan Core and the tourist-resort district.…