Senators Reject Permit Revival for Summer’s End Marina

A legislative hearing and subsequent vote Thursday on Bill No. 36-0145 reignited longstanding debate over the proposed Summer’s End Marina in Coral Bay, St. John — not just over the project itself, but over the legitimacy of the permits that support it.

The bill, introduced by Senate President Milton Potter at the request of Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., sought to ratify the governor’s approval of a modification and extension to two Consolidated Major Coastal Zone Management (CZM) permits tied to the development. But in a decisive 9-3 vote, senators rejected the measure — halting its progress for now and signaling strong resistance to reviving expired permits through legislative intervention.

Voting in favor of the bill were Sens. Marvin Blyden, Avery Lewis, and Novelle Francis. Opposed were Sens. Dwayne DeGraff, Ray Fonseca, Alma Francis Heyliger, Kenneth Gittens, Franklin Johnson, Carla Joseph, Clifford Joseph, Milton Potter, and Kurt Vialet. Sens. Angel Bolques Jr. and Marise James were absent.

While many lawmakers said they support economic development on St. John and agreed that a marina could benefit the island, they stood firm that proper procedure must be followed. The primary concern, they emphasized, was not the project itself but the precedent of bypassing the established CZM process.