As far as the owner of Paramount Builders, Papalii Laulii Alofa, is concerned he doesn’t need to obtain a variance from the Territorial Zoning Board for his new commercial building being constructed at the intersection of Airport Road and Fagaima Road.
He was commenting on a story on our noon bulletin saying the Chairman of the Zoning Board Ta’afano Joe Tavale is asking the Attorney General’s Office for a stop order to halt construction of the building until Paramount submits a variance application for the project and the board has reviewed and approved it.
Papalii said the area where his building is has been zoned for commercial purposes and all he needed was a land use permit from the Project Notification and Review System Committee, which he has already obtained.
He was adamant that he has already complied with the regulations for his commercial building.
He said the building will be available for lease and some of the occupants in his buildings across the road may want to move in to it.
As for concerns about parking, Papalii said after containers at the site are removed there will be ample parking for the building.
He also doesn’t think that the new structure will add to traffic congestion on the Fagaima road.
A staffer of the Department of Commerce said a construction project of this size needs to go through the Zoning Board, even if the area has already been zoned for commercial development.
He said there’s also opportunity for residents of the selected area to comment on the proposed project when it goes before the Zoning Board.
KHJ News made an attempt to obtain comment from the Zoning Board attorney, William Ledoux, however he could not be reached this afternoon.
