Lawmakers get update on marina proposed for Coral Bay

Senators expressed concern about the status of the controversial Summer’s End marina development planned for Coral Bay on St. John during a hearing of the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture on Wednesday.

Managing member of the Summer’s End Group, Chaliese Summers, said investors have been working on the project since 2008, and she and other testifiers detailed years of permit applications, as well as litigation with landowners and community groups opposed to the marina. Summers spoke at length about the anticipated economic benefits of the $112 million, 115 wet slip marina, which is expected to hire 80 full time employees, and is planned to include a local fish and farmer’s market, waste pump-out services, Customs and Border Protection, and slips for enforcement vessels from local and federal law enforcement agencies.

“It is because of the resilience of generational St. Johnians, our Legislature’s commitment to sustainable economic development, and Governor Bryan’s leadership and actions that we are here before you today, advancing the project so we can bring to St. John and the Virgin Islands the first marina ever for the island of St. John and let the world know that the USVI is a great place to do business,” Summers said. Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger said she’s concerned that there may be unresolved issues with local families who own property in Coral Bay, and Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory read a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Army Corps of Engineers in August, detailing concern for seagrass in the area.