Planning permit denied
for Emilio Wilson Estate
PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council has denied a planning permit for a residential development on Emilio Wilson Estate in Cul de Sac based on the property’s archaeological and historical importance to the island and lack of a clear title to the land.
Environmental Development and Property Management Commissioner Roy Marlin told The Daily Herald Sunday evening the decision had been made by the Executive Council Thursday and forwarded to government’s attorney Bert Hofman of Bermon Law Office and attorneys for Emilio Wilson B.V. Rik Bergman and Mauritsz de Kort of Bergman, Bloem and Bergman on Friday.
Emilio Wilson B.V. started litigation against the Island Government for fictitious denial of its planning permit request after the legally stipulated six-week period expired with no response from government.
The court case was put on hold last week, as a decision from the Executive Council was said to be in the offing.
The ownership of the property came into question, as legal papers could not establish a clear line of inheritance after the death of the former owner Emilio Wilson in 2001 and his heir, his brother Granville Wilson who died shortly after.
When news of the plans to develop the estate surfaced in September 2005, it was met with outcry from environmental and heritage groups that were vehemently against any development of the estate.
This sparked an archaeological survey of the estate carried out by resident archaeologist Jay Haviser. His findings were documented in a report to the Executive Council and the Department of Environmental Policy VROM before the decision to deny the permit was made.
Government is still pursuing the idea of buying the estate, referred to as Golden Rock/Industry Estate in the Kadaster records, and preserving it as a national park for the present and future generations, Marlin said. However, this is a long term plan, as funding for such a venture has to be found. (Alita Singh)
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