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Legislature ratifies Lime Out 2 coastal permit after questions on waste and moorings
Summary
After a full committee hearing, the Legislature ratified a major coastal zone permit allowing Lime Out 2 — a 53-by-20-foot floating takeout restaurant in Lindberg Bay — after DPNR and the company outlined mooring, waste-management and monitoring conditions.
The Legislature on Sept. 17 ratified a major coastal zone permit for Lime Out 2 LLC, authorizing a 53-foot-by-20-foot floating takeout restaurant to moor in Lindberg Bay under a 20-year permit. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ assistant director for coastal zone management, Gregory Richards, told the committee the permit (CZT08-21W) allows a floating restaurant attached to four helix anchors, ten moorings for visiting vessels and requires holding tanks for gray and black water. "If ratified, this permit allows for the permittee to moor a floating takeout restaurant in Lindberg Bay, St. Thomas," Richards said during the committee session.
Lime Out founders described systems they said will limit environmental impact: helix anchors installed with floating lines so anchoring chains do not scour the seafloor; a 200-gallon graywater holding tank that Lime Out plans to pump to an approved onshore facility; and a shore‑based prep kitchen to handle heavy dishwashing. "Most importantly, it will be located in an area that avoids benthic resources," Chelsea Baronowski said, describing experience running the Coral Bay operation on St. John.
Senators pressed testifiers on details. DPNR said an environmental assessment accompanied the permit and highlighted permit special conditions governing gray/blackwater disposal and quarterly reporting. Company representatives explained proposed contingency plans for pumpout service, described a specialized bag‑toilet system intended only for staff use, and estimated 25–30 direct employees (50–75 total direct and indirect jobs). On desalination brine, owners said discharge would be a slow, diluted trickle and that a consultant’s report judged the impact negligible.
Several senators pressed for written agreements with shore facilities to receive graywater and to supply staff access to onshore restrooms; testifiers said letters of support existed and operating agreements were in process. DPNR reiterated it can revoke permits for noncompliance and that special condition #9 requires disposal at approved pumpout facilities and quarterly proof of service.
The committee vote to ratify the permit was recorded on the floor and passed. The permit includes annual rent, CPI adjustments and monitoring requirements; DPNR said the permit term is 20 years.
