Bermuda businesses appear to be cashing in on the Island's new Development Plan.

Law firms, architects, surveyors, planning consultants, and real estate agencies have been inviting clients to call or come in for help in understanding the new plan and in filing objections.

Already the Planning Department has ordered a reprint of objection forms, after its stock of 2,000 has just about disappeared.

Assistant Director of Planning, Mr. Brian Rowlinson said that while the department is not surprised by what one source called an "objection frenzy'', it is concerned with the role that law firms appear to have taken in the objection process.

Mr. Rowlinson urged landowners not to panic about any changes between the new plan and the old 1983 plan. And he invited them to visit the Planning Department and sit down with a planner, free of charge, to discuss changes and if necessary file an objection.

"Landowners should not look upon this as a period of confrontation,'' Mr.

Rowlinson said. "There are going to be some mistakes in the plan.

"It worries me that it may become confrontational with lawyers becoming actively involved.'' One source suggested the new plan is being seen as a chance for lawyers, architects, surveyors, and realtors to generate fees, which could amount to well over $100 per hour. Another called the objection period "bonanza time'' for those who can make money out of the objection process.

At least one law firm, Appleby, Spurling & Kempe sent out a news brief to clients summarising the aim of the new plan, and pointing out that some parts of the Island had been declared conservation areas and protection areas.

"Basically, any development within those areas will be difficult to achieve in the future and will only be permitted subject to strict guidelines set out in detail in the Planning Statement.

"This could adversely affect you and we would advise you to check the position with regard to your land in light of the new Plan.'' Lawyer Mr. John Barritt said the law firm had had "a fair number'' of calls about the new plan.

Planning Minister the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto has already said she expects large numbers of individual objections, and added that most of them are likely to be accepted.

She said that out of 541 objections lodged after the release of the 1983 plan, 60 percent were resolved without going before a tribunal.

Mr. David Summers, president of Bermuda-Caribbean Engineering Consultants, said he did not think the cost to the public this time around would be as great as it was with the 1983 plan, when drastic changes were made to zonings.

"I anticipate having more objections this time, but 90 percent of the objections will merely be landowners trying to retain the ability to develop that they had before,'' he said.

"As professionals in this field, our role is not to invite alarm and anxiety.

Our role is to instil awareness. So many people have vigorously pursued this business in quite an aggressive manner, and it's caused alarm.

"I think business-wise this plan is a very welcome thing. For me and my clients, it's something of a deja vu. I feel that I've been here before. In a lot of cases I'll be arguing the same case as I did after the 1983 plan came out.'' Mr. Brain Rowlinson.