The planned “convenience center” for waste and recycling would located behind a buffer off King’s Hill Road, above.
Once considered a potential site for a sprawling territorial park, a section of Parcel 7 Remainder, Estate Carolina in Coral Bay — a 170 acre tract of land which comprises most of the Carolina Valley — could be the home of a new solid waste, recycling center and more.
Three years ago, Senator at Large Craig Barshinger and Heirs of Egbert Marsh Trust — which own the land — identified a federal grant which, if obtained, would have paved the way for the government to purchase the entire 170 acres that comprise Parcel 7 Remainder in Estate Carolina.
Plans at the time were for the government to purchase the land with funds from the grant and some matching funds from the local government. The land would have only been allowed to be used as a park with bicycle and walking paths.
While the V.I. Senate passed a bill at the time, Act No. 7233, providing legislation for the Department of Property and Procurement to purchase the land and create the park, the grant was never obtained.
Now, part of that land is being eyed as a potential site for a solid waste and recycling center, as an alternative to the current main dumpster area near the mangroves; with another area being set aside for preservation.
Recently, the Senate passed an Omnibus Bill which included an amendment to Act No. 7233, calling for the Department of Property and Procurement to purchase 20 of those 170 acres for $1 million.
While the territorial park remains a part of the overall vision for the area, the first phase of the project identifies non-flooding flat land where V.I. Waste Management Authority could build a “Convenience Center” on King’s Hill Road for solid waste and recycling.
The 20-acre portion of the land also includes historic ruins of the Carolina Plantation which will be preserved separately as the beginnings of a future park area. An adjacent roughly two-and-half-acre site would be set aside for VIWMA’s new solid waste and recycling center.
Section 8 of Bill 30-0249 amends Act No. 7233 to allow the V.I. Waste Management Authority to construct a Convenience Center for recycling wastes, preservation of the ruins on the property, and the establishment of the Coral Bay Parcel 7 Remainder Marsh Land Trust.
“The existing language, as amended by this section is designated as subsection (a), and subsections (b) and (c) are added and read as follows: ‘(b) The Department of Property and Procurement shall purchase the property identified in subsection (a) in phases in accordance with the availability and allocation of funds,” according to the bill. “(c) The Department of Property and Procurement shall use $1,000,000 of the funds appropriated in subsection (1) to purchase no less than 20 contiguous acres in the flatter land portion of Parcel Remainder, Estate Carolina, Coral Bay Quarter, St. John, including the historic Carolina plantation ruins and a minimum of 300 feet of road frontage on King’s Hill Road, Route, to accommodate the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority Convenience Center and other public infrastructure purposes.”
The bill, which is still awaiting a signature by Governor John deJongh, is consistent with community goals and would allow for the relocation of the Coral Bay dumpsters, explained Coral Bay Community Council President Sharon Coldren.
“As part of our series of planning discussions with the community, we realized that the flat part of that land which is adjacent to King’s Hill Road is some of the highest in terms of elevation and flattest land around,” said Coldren. “This is some of the best land for public infrastructure that is on a public road.”
The area where VIWMA plans to construct the new convenience center starts at the intersection of King’s Hill Road and William Marsh Road and runs about 300 feet along King’s Hill Road to the detention pond. The center would not be located right one the road, but be set back behind a buffer, Coldren added.
The main Coral Bay dumpsters, now located near sensitive mangrove habitat in a highly visible area, would move to the VIWMA’s new convenience center, Coldren explained.
“The dumpsters would move there, but not as the dumpsters are now,” she said. “The center will be a better facility and would sort trash and recyclables so there would be less trash flow out of Coral Bay.”
The actual center would be built by VIWMA, but CBCC officials are in a position to help as well, Coldren explained.
“CBCC has a Department of Agriculture grant to do solid waste management planning,” said Coldren. “It’s a planning grant, but if we can get a site lined up and the land owner committed to selling, the planning can be site-specific.”
The two and a half acres set aside for the “Convenience Center” would also include enough land for future uses, Coldren added.
“The amendment calls for enough land to be purchased that there would be a buffer for the center so it would not be directly on the road and space for future public infrastructure,” said the CBCC President. “It will be aesthetically attractive and, hopefully, will be the site of future public infrastructure items like government offices and a community center.”
Most of the flat land near the water in the Coral Bay area is wetlands or flood area, limiting how much usable land is available for community infrastructure needs, Coldren explained.
“For the most part, flat land near the water is actually wetlands that can’t be built on,” she said. “Even if some of the landowners were willing to sell, the land itself is not suitable. There are really few choices.”
While the section of Parcel 7 Remainder, Estate Carolina is actually included in the flood plain, according to Coldren the land does not flood and could easily get a different designation.
“This particular land is higher in elevation and there shouldn’t be flooding issues if the right kind of measures are taken,” Coldren said. “It is in the flood plain, but could, with simply filing some paperwork, be designated differently.”
VIWMA officials have seen and okayed the site, Coldren added.
While the route from territorial park to “convenience center” seems twisty, the new plans for the land present better options, according to Coldren.
“The grant for the territorial park, which didn’t happen, would have preserved all of that land and we couldn’t have done anything with it,” she said. “That includes some of the best land we have in Coral Bay for future public infrastructure including the waste management infrastructure that we all know we need so much. And Public Works needs some infrastructure and we certainly need a community center.”
Coldren envisions VIWMA’s “convenience center” to include a solar panel covered roof with little noise pollution, she explained.
“If I dream of the perfect VIWMA location it would have a covered roof structure that was topped with solar panels, which do not glare because they absorb light,” said the CBCC President. “That would reduce any noise coming from the area and it would be a win-win for everyone.”
The Omnibus Bill passed by the VI Senate on September 30 also allows for the government to purchase additional sections of Parcel 7 Remainder with the idea of realizing that once planning territorial park, Coldren added.
“What this does is allow for the purchase of 20 acres for $1 million which includes the most important parts of the land; the flat land for infrastructure and the historic ruins of Carolina Plantation,” said Coldren. “This is a great first step and leaves things open for the next right steps for what the land will be used for.”
The public will still have a chance to share their ideas about uses for Parcel 7, Remainder Estate Carolina, Coldren added.
Before any construction or preservation work begins, the bill first has to be approved by Governor John deJongh, then there will be a series of zoning and Coastal Zone Management hearings, she explained.
“But the first step is to acquire the land and then the government and the community can work together for good things in the future,” said Coldren. “CBCC, with the solid waste management planning grant, has money to assist in the planning effort and will be able to help acquire future federal funds to build the waste management structure.”
