June 23, 2009 — Saying that he respects the Legislature's authority over rezoning requests, Gov. John deJongh Jr. nonetheless vetoed a rezoning bill Tuesday, saying that senators should be careful to avoid "jeopardizing the quality of life" for landowners affected by rezonings.
Last month, senators approved a bill changing the zoning designation for two St. Thomas developments from R-1 (residential-low density) and R-2 (residential-low density one and two family) to R-4 (residential-medium density). But Department of Planning and Natural Resources officials recommended that the Raphune Vistas and Green Hills developments be treated separately, with Raphune Vistas getting the R-4 designation and Green Hills getting an R-2 designation, the governor wrote in a letter to Senate President Louis P. Hill.
"The rationale for this differing treatment was borne out of concerns that the R-4 designation for the Green Hills project lacked access to the public sewer system, the potential effect of improper wastewater management on the properties laying downhill of the Green Hills development and that the R-4 designation would allow for changes to the group dwelling permit that DPNR found to be critical, such as height restrictions and limitations on the number of allowed dwellings," deJongh said.
The projects' developer agreed with DPNR's recommendations, he added, urging senators to revisit the matter and approve a bill that "comports with the recommendations of DPNR."
In his letter to Hill, deJongh said he had signed into law a bill granting a use variance for a little more than two acres on Constitution Hill on St. Croix for the operation of a nail and beauty salon and another bill rezoning about .31 acres in Estate Fortsberg on St. John from R-1 to B-3 (business scattered) to allow for the building of a coin-operated laundry and Internet café on the property.

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