Riddell’s Bay Special Development Order
The Riddell’s Bay Special Development Order “will grant subdivision approval for the purposes of residential development and also to create new conservation lands,” Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban said
Speaking in the House of Assembly today [July 3] the Minister said, “Earlier today I laid before the House the Special Development Order titled: the Riddell’s Bay [Warwick Parish] Special Development Order 2020 [SDO]. This SDO comes at a time when the Island is reeling from an unprecedented economic downturn due to COVID-19.
“The Order will grant subdivision approval for the purposes of residential development and also to create new conservation lands. Specifically, a total of 18 vacant lots will be approved; each to be developed with a detached house, and additionally, two significantly sized vacant conservation lots will be approved to be comprehensively planted and restored which will provide a number of environmental and public benefits. Such benefits are to include the re- establishment of diverse native and endemic ecosystems as well as opportunities for passive recreational use.
“To specify the details of the scheme, the developer proposes to convert approximately 25% or 23 acres of the total acreage of Riddell’s Bay to residential lots while, at the same time, converting the remaining 75% of the total acreage, 64 acres, to publicly accessible conservation areas.
“Against the backdrop of the current challenges being faced by our community, I am certainly proud to introduce such a scheme that represents a significant ecological and social gain for the island.
“Further, this is one of the largest single luxury developments proposed in some time. It has, undoubtedly, tremendous potential to inject an estimated $75 million capital investment into the economy; provide a much needed stimulus to various business sectors including construction and landscaping, real estate and other retail and service industries; and most importantly, provide jobs for Bermudians.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker, earlier today I laid before the House the Special Development Order titled: the Riddell’s Bay [Warwick Parish] Special Development Order 2020 [SDO]. This SDO comes at a time when the Island is reeling from an unprecedented economic downturn due to COVID-19.
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Section 15 of the Development and Planning Act 1974, the Order will grant subdivision approval for the purposes of residential development and also to create new conservation lands. Specifically, a total of eighteen [18] vacant lots will be approved; each to be developed with a detached house, and additionally, two [2] significantly sized vacant conservation lots will be approved to be comprehensively planted and restored which will provide a number of environmental and public benefits. Such benefits are to include the re- establishment of diverse native and endemic ecosystems as well as opportunities for passive recreational use.
Mr. Speaker, I am acutely aware of the developer’s enthusiasm to proceed with this project and to this end, I am pleased to confirm that remediation and initial planting works have already begun on the site for the conservation areas.
Mr. Speaker, the preparation of this Order was preceded by the subdivision application process by the Department of Planning. This project has undergone an exhaustive environmental analysis and scrutiny.
The application submission included an Environmental Impact Statement and Conservation Management Plan. By virtue of the statutory objection process defined in the Development and Planning Act 1974, this application was afforded public scrutiny.
“The submission details were comprehensively reviewed by technical officers of the Departments of Planning and Environment & Natural Resources as well as Non- Government Organizations and members of the community.
Mr. Speaker, to specify the details of the scheme, the developer proposes to convert approximately twenty-five percent [25%] [or twenty-three [23] acres] of the total acreage of Riddell’s Bay to residential lots while, at the same time, converting the remaining seventy-five percent [75%] of the total acreage, sixty-four [64] acres, to publicly accessible conservation areas.
Mr. Speaker, the addition of 64 acres of conservation land is a significant contributing element of the scheme. The two conservation lots are split into four categories including Nature Reserve, Open Space, Recreation and Woodland. Notably, the overall size of this conservation area exceeds the size of the majority of Government Nature Reserves and/or National Parks on the island.
Mr. Speaker, the creation of such conservation lands will be achieved by way of conditions appended to the Order requiring the implementation of a Conservation Management Plan, a plan which details the necessary restorative works and planting works together with the financial plan for delivery and subsequent maintenance thereof.
Mr. Speaker, against the backdrop of the current challenges being faced by our community, I am certainly proud to introduce such a scheme that represents a significant ecological and social gain for the island. Further, this is one of the largest single luxury developments proposed in some time. It has, undoubtedly, tremendous potential to inject an estimated $75 million capital investment into the economy; provide a much needed stimulus to various business sectors including construction and landscaping, real estate and other retail and service industries; and most importantly, provide jobs for Bermudians.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the opportunity at this time to thank the developers for undertaking such a significant venture to create a luxury development while creating valuable conservation land for the benefit of the community. We applaud the developers for continuing to believe in Bermuda as a sound and promising jurisdiction in which to invest.
Thank You, Mr. Speaker.
the nature reserve remains privately owned – what protections will be given to stop any development? Why is the DAB being over-ruled? who will buy these homes? How much profit is Castile making? why not develop caroline bay?
As a Bermudian I have a glimmer of hope in this latest proposal set forth in the house today, I am praying it will come to fruition.
As a Registered Bermudian charted Land Surveyor with over 20+ years at a very reputable Land Surveying company, I am skeptical.
Over the years I have worked on many and I say many, of the ‘Luxury Developments’ that Grace our beautiful Island. From Somerset to St.George’s…Tucker’s Town to back of town I have left my mark, be it on a hard copy (plan) or boundary capped marker (red pegs and steel re-bar.) I have seen most of this island that the average Bermudian will never see in their lifetime.
Having said that,it pains me to see projects that I had worked on just sitting idle as the powers that be (i.e. the developers, planning officials and Government) slowly grind gears thru bureaucratic red tape that halts the deepest of pockets to a screeching stop.Don’t dare to mention if it turns into a political football. Two projects come to mind as I was at the starting line for both, Southlands and Morgan’s Point. Both trying to restart their massive mechanics in a pandemic led environment.
This newest of gears are hopefully greased to perfection as I truly wish them luck as they move forward. ..#nopoliticalfootballs #please #thesurveyor #voters #arewatching #undertheeye #ofscrutiny #postpendamic #maybe
Sounds like Andrew you are only for this project because its in your best interest. There won’t be much open space left if you keep building on these beautiful untouched pieces of land. Just look at Tuckers Point, they destroyed that land and that was supposed to be for tourism only. Sold it off to build houses. Stop building on vacant untouched land, period.
Just the opposite Rasta…..It truly burns me when I traverse this island to see jobs that I have worked on from the get-go not get finished by either mismanagement, lack of funds or political red tape.
I HAVE surveyed this property from the get-go many moons ago when the board/members redid the club house and they wished a full site plan(boundaries) and partial topographic survey for the re-route of the cart path thru the south-west mangrove area. Good times they were and the course was in top shape and to see the state it is in now with all that overgrown brush and zoysia grass, I shake my head.
No, I don’t have any affiliation with this possible sub-division, SDO nor it’s re-zoning pertaining to the latest Bermuda Plan as of late. I put my full support behind this project though and wish the backers good luck.
Sincerely,
Andrew Paul Scaife.
Oh, by the way Cutty I WAS on the starting line for Tucker’s Point Club Development from the old Castle Harbour Hotel to the beauty it is today. Know every square inch of the property.
Ships Hill lots at the peak of the property and partial sud-division of the golf course on the Harbour waterside frontage led to some Luxury Houses at Shell point and much needed injections of capital into our Economy. Much needed now sir
Truly,
A.P.S
Planning Department has gotten better but is still easily one of the least efficient and consistent departments run by government.
There is no way that it should longer to get a set of plans approved than it does to have them drawn. However it is even worse here as it actually takes longer to get a set of plans approved then it does the BUILD a project.
If the Planning Department would streamline the process, cut the red tape and stop with the “not my job” approach we might get some small construction projects going and get some more people back to work. The danger in dragging your feet in a bad economy is that developers and home owner get frustrated and postpone or cancel projects.
Get some plans approved people!
Whoever wrote the HOA statement deserves an award! The fact this project was TURNED DOWN by planning last year due to its failure to meet the 2018 Bermuda Plan on several different points has been ignored. Bermuda, as a whole, and not just PLP supporters, should be questioning why the PLP are supporting such a project that will only line the pockets of the very people they claim to stand against. White privilege is in full effect with this one and Team Riddells will be the only ones that benefit.
“It has, undoubtedly, tremendous potential to inject an estimated $75 million capital investment into the economy; provide a much needed stimulus to various business sectors including construction and landscaping, real estate and other retail and service industries; and most importantly, provide jobs for Bermudians.”
The above is clearly an overestimation which we know full well the PLP are very good at as their budgeting skills for any project always seems go over by significant margin. Those palm trees must be expansive. Landscaping? Does the Minister know that Team Riddells have created their very own Horticultural company to maintain the property, that line of business is sown up!
The developers have identified 18, one acre plots, considering there is currently a 0.44 acre plot for sale for north of $900,000, by my rough calculations that would make the prime waterfront plots, of which there are 7 or 8, in the region of $2,000,000, just for the land! With construction costs at $350 a square foot and a 4,000 square foot home being a reasonably sized property for a one acre plot you are looking at around $3,400,000 all in, a reasonable price for the average Bermudian I would say. Notwithstanding the fact that the waterfront is protected and its thriving marine life consists of turtles, parrot fish, mussels and snails in addition to the plethora of fish that enjoy the peaceful waters, I am sure the Minister will overlook all that though when applications are submitted for the multiple docks that each property owner will want and expect.
Have we not learnt from Caroline Bay? High net worth individuals are not interested in buying property in Bermuda, look on all the realty websites and take note of the number of properties and land for sale in excess of $2,000,000.
A point is very well made though, and we must tip our hats to Team Riddells, they have been busy this last week, even working in the rain, to ensure they comply with exactly as the Minister explained in his statement. Well done, very well done.
Wow. Congratulations, Castile Holdings, et. al., the sun was certainly shining on you today. Thousands sign an online petition, original plans get denied, so what do you do? Sit tight, wait for the government of the day to tread water until they’re just about to drown, and go after an SDO! Touché.
I’m surprised the fire department wasn’t called in to clean up the oil spill that has clearly occurred with the greasing
How underhanded to use a worldwide pandemic and the PLP’s ineptitude to come up with an “economic plan” to coerce the government into thinking the rezoning of recreational land for a few very wealthy people to build on, is actually a good idea.
To all Bermudian voters – the PLP has LIED. Their call to “challenge the status quo” was nothing more than race baiting. This SDO proves the PLP has no plans whatsoever to help the economy and instead, would rather make the unprecedented move to turn scarce, open land into residential plots. Who will have the financial means to afford these plots? Certainly not “Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda”. That is, unless “Mr. and Mrs. Bermuda” speak with foreign accents and are as white as they come.
This is an absolute travesty for Bermuda. We hardly have any open space left and these guys want to build on all the vacant land that are on the waters edge of Riddells. We do not need more houses built in Bermuda that just sit vacant. No one is gonna buy them. Please save this open space. Its an absolute joke that you are letting them get this SDO.
The hypocrites in the PLP are continuing to sell off Bermuda to foreigners by granting all these SDOs. They are the first to complain about foreigners owning land, but are complicit to let undeveloped woodland and green space be sub divided and sold off. Bermuda for Bermudians? What a joke. This should jolt the BLM marchers to march against this behavior to save their future.
Right now it’s just a big useless ‘green’ space littered with PRIVATE PROPERTY- NO TRESPASSING signs…I’m sure the Bermudians who are employed there and all the local businesses that benefit will be thankful for the economic lifeline this project can provide…
The interesting thing about one dwelling in the the confines of Riddell’s Is that they don’t want anybody to drive past the gates of the road next to the defunct Club House that used to be the Beacon of their privilege. You’re going to get side eyed every time you go there to visit this Public Nature Reserve from any of those entitled neighbors. I can assure you, like Tucker’s, the Foreign element of Riddells do not like Bermudians to come see Bermuda. As a previous writer wrote, there are Private Property and No Trespassing signs everywhere. All the best y’all.