March 5, 2008 — The Concordia condominium and eco-tent complex on St. John will add another type of accommodation to its roster, thanks to approval of a modification to its major Coastal Zone Management permit.
The St. John CZM Committee unanimously approved the permit change Wednesday, which essentially gives Concordia permission to build 15 hard-sided studio units instead of the high-tech fabric eco-tents used for the other 25 units at the property. The studio units will have cedar shingles on the outside, with galvanized metal roofs.
Each studio will have a kitchen and bathroom, with the bathrooms having low-flush toilets instead of the composting toilets used with the eco-tents.
The modification allows the eco-structures to be clustered closer together than the tents, which is feasible because they'll be made of prefabricated sound-resistant panels. They'll also be two stories tall, with the 15 studios spread over eight buildings.
"We wanted to build the most site-sensitive as possible, while keeping construction costs low," said Concordia Vice President Maggie Day.
Clustering the units closer together will allow more green space to remain, she said. The hard-sided units will also be in a different location than originally planned. The new location is hot, which will require air conditioning, Day said. However, she said Concordia is exploring environmentally friendly air-conditioning methods.
"We hope we won't have to use air conditioning most of the year," she said.
The permit modification doesn't include using a planned solar grid and wind system, but Day said Concordia plans to install these types of power-generation systems. Concordia will request another CZM permit modification for that project.
The solar and wind-generation system is possible because Concordia can now hook up to the V.I. Water and Power Authority's net-metering program, Day said. This will eliminate the expense of storage batteries, as well as disposal concerns.
The existing eco-tents have individual solar systems.
This is the fourth modification to Concordia's permit issued May 5, 1998.
"These techniques were not available in the original application," said Concordia attorney Boyd Sprain.
Concordia owner Stanley Selengut, who also owns Maho Bay Camps, tried various techniques for his eco-friendly resorts, according to architect Glen Speer.
"Some work, some fail," Speer said, noting that Selengut was open to innovation.
The permit expires in 2011, but Day said she expected the construction of the 15 units — the final ones allowed under the permit — to take place in 2009. If Concordia wants additional units, she said, it will apply for a separate major CZM permit.
Attending the meeting were CZM Committee members Andrew Penn, Gerry Hills and Edmond Roberts.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.