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Public commenters urge caution on 99-year lease proposal, request broader hearings
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Summary
Multiple public speakers opposed a legislative initiative to extend private leasehold terms from 55 to 99 years and urged geographically distributed hearings; committee scheduled public hearings on related zoning and lease bills.
During the committee’s public‑comment period several residents urged the REDW committee to reject proposed changes that would extend private lease terms and to hold more hearings in Rota and Tinian. Commenters said a 99‑year lease would transfer long‑term land control beyond a generation and potentially exploit indigenous beneficiaries.
One commenter invoked historical federal guidance (trust‑territory era memos) and asked the committee to empanel a commission to review existing public and private lease provisions and to consider appraisal standardization before approving any extension of leasehold terms. Another speaker urged a 300‑foot coastal buffer standard (instead of 150 feet) and recommended annual budget set‑asides to pay land compensation rather than one‑time lump sums.
The committee did not resolve these public requests during the meeting, but later voted to hold public hearings on Senate Bill 24-39 (coastal/buffer matter) and a named legislative initiative concerning land/lease matters so the issues can be fleshed out with testimony from additional stakeholders.
