I am wondering if you could give us an update on the several miles of pedestrian and bike paths that in 2013 Dart had promised to build in conjunction with the Kimpton hotel? Also, I believe a nine-acre park was also promised that would include shade trees, children’s play areas, space for public camping, and a purpose-built car park with 100 spaces, in addition to volleyball, soccer, and other sports facilities. As far as I can tell, there is little sign of almost all of these improvements.
Auntie’s answer: Since I received this question one year ago, I have been trying to get the information you sought. To be fair, there was a lot of back and forth between the Ministry of Planning, Central Planning Authority (CPA), Dart and various objectors over that time. I was given an update in October advising that a revised plan had been sent to the CPA for consideration, but if more changes were needed it would have to go back for CPA approval post-amendments.
And that is where things have stood since, as I regularly checked in to see if there had been any movement.
To briefly recap, the improvements to Public Beach were included in the Third Amendment to the National Roads Agreement (which is in the CNS Library), signed by government and Dart in 2016. The planning ministry designed the plans and submitted them to the CPA, which suggested changes and improvements.
The revisions were made and the plans resubmitted, leading to the October update mentioned above. The elapsed time can be accounted for by “considerable dialogue” among all the parties involved before the plans were again submitted, a government spokesperson explained on behalf of the ministry.
However, I have now received another update. The CPA did require additional changes after the October submission and those amendments have since been made by Dart for the ministry and recently presented to the authority. At this point, I am told that a final go-ahead is pending.
Work on the site should be started by Dart “shortly after final approval is granted”, which is expected to be in the second quarter of this year and take about eight months. And in case anyone was concerned, “The construction timeline would take into account the Easter break, to ensure there are no interruptions to holiday festivities.”
The ministry has also confirmed that some of the features included in the proposed plan are new bathrooms, a sporting area, a vendor village and additional landscaping to provide more shade.
I will try to keep an eye on this to see if this newest timeline changes.
Send questions to auntie@caymannewsservice.com
Still waiting for the improved toilet block too – I knew we would never get all the cycling/walking trails. They are very badly needed.
cig changed the agreement mid contract….what do you expect?
storm in a teacup …it will get resolved by cayman planning dept.
dart has done more for cayman than any other developer in the history of the cayman islands. count yourself lucky…he saved cayman from bankruptcy….
WTF? He did NOT save Cayman from bankruptcy. Where do you people come up with this BS??
He has saved us from nothing.
Actually the fact of the matter is that dart built himself a 10 mile bike trail on Little Cayman. If you ask him nicely, he might let you use it.
I haven’t heard too much about this in the news, although it is a well-known, yet inconvenient fact.
It might be dependent on another case before the courts.
Basically Dart got he wanted in the deal so screw the locals.
See people he has started to treat the public just like the politicians, promise one thing on the campaign trail and when elected give you the opposite .
Should people be allowed to dump derelict trailers on public beaches?
I guess it really doesnt matter what they improve as the beach will be littered with illegal beach chair vendors forever apparently.
Uggghh. It is disgusting!!! Aunty, please implore the police to do some enforcement?? I went Public beach yesterday and there were two rows of beach chairs lined out 6 inches from the water. There was no space for locals to use. Almost all the chairs were unoccupied. I placed my items between two chairs and was given the stink eyes by the guys. Really. They need to be at least 15ft from the water’s edge !!!
I did the same and the vendor made lewd comments at me to try make me uncomfortable enough to leave….I stayed that day but have not been back since. It’s not a real public beach, it’s a vendor beach.
I think we’ll find that the timing on implementation of divisive agreements correspondents directly with the CIG file destruction date. #ollyollyoxenfree
What about the promised camp site?
Camping is illegal
Easter camping should be illegal. It just attracts riff raff and rubbish!
And it’s NOT “traditional”. When I came to the island forty years ago, there was hardly any, if not no, camping at Easter. Caymanians of a certain age will confirm this.
It is.
100% agree. It is an eyesore at peak tourist periods. Makes Cayman look like the third world place it tried to pretend that it isn’t. The litter and detritus left behind from these encampments is a disgrace.
Additional vendor slots? Is this going to be another Camana Bay? We just need a proper Park, with greenery ,shrubs, and places to walk, some wooded areas and a car park. I thought this was land he was giving back not land he was developing?
More vendor spots will be needed to accommodate all those not in compliance with T.B.L laws , so they can give the finger to CIG and all of us that have to comply with posted laws. Where else would you expect them to work?
Unbelievable.
Not really. Check the planning minutes.