Emilio Wilson B.V. appeals
denial of planning permit
CUL DE SAC--An appeal will be filed against the Executive Council’s decision to deny a planning permit for a residential development on Emilio Wilson Estate by Dutch company Emilio Wilson B.V. and former deputy minister plenipotentiary Henri Brookson.
The council denied the permit request based on the estate’s archaeological and historical importance to the island and no clear line of ownership of the property.
The company and Brookson claimed in a press statement that government’s denial on June 23 had come despite the Executive Council’s earlier support for the project and even after the council previously had considered assigning the estate grounds as an industrial area.
The proposed development does not include Emilio Wilson Historical and Cultural Park and the master plan, unlike other projects on the island, includes restoration of historical buildings on the estate and environmental conservation measures, the developers said.
Emilio Wilson B.V. took government to court for fictitious denial of a planning permit after the legally stipulated six-week period had expired with no response from government.
When the development plan for the estate surfaced in September 2005, it was opposed by environmental and heritage groups. This sparked an archaeological survey of the estate compiled by resident archaeologist Jay Haviser. Based on his findings, documented in a report to the Executive Council and the Department of Environmental Policy VROM, a 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 present and future generations.
Environmental Development and Property Management Commissioner Roy Marlin sent the archaeological report to the island’s Monument Council so that the estate could be considered for the Monument List that is still being finalised.
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