Senate To Hear Vessup Bay Development Plan Tuesday

The Senate may decide Tuesday to approve or sink a plan to redevelop the former Latitude 18 site opposite Red Hook’s Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal on St. Thomas.

Backers of the plan said the hurricane-ravaged area is both dangerous and an eyesore. At least one nearby resident, however, worried building on the Vessup Bay point could lead to runaway development that destroys green space and would ultimately block access to the beach and National Park land.

The area is currently zoned W-1 — waterfront, pleasure. The Senate will consider a bill to allow for a 10,000-square-foot restaurant, retail space, and marina services building, 23,119 square feet of dock, 68 mooring balls, a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, dredging of 7,200 cubic yards, use of 45.8 acres of underwater land and more. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. approved the plan in November after Coastal Zone Management approval.