Environmental groups concerned at parkland plans
Environmental groups have claimed that a proposed development at Southlands is “a troubling example of overdevelopment, inadequate planning and disregard for public input”.
In a joint statement, the Bermuda National Trust, the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce said this week that the scheme to build a café and adjoining car park at the site was put forward without input from the National Parks Commission, which has oversight of any development on parkland.
The Government said this evening that the NPC was consulted and provided feedback, which was incorporated into the proposed plan.
The Department of Public Lands and Buildings submitted an application to the Department of Planning last month.
The main structure would be 5,238 sq ft and could seat more than 100 diners in a combination of indoor and outdoor arrangements.
It was proposed that the adjoining car park would have 51 car bays, 76 cycle parking spaces and nine minibus or taxi drop-off spots, a traffic impact study showed.
A spokesman for the public works and environment ministry said that the plan had been carefully considered and had undergone revisions after consultation with the three environmental charities, noting that the site had been “underutilised and largely neglected for more than a decade”.
He added: “These organisations were provided with the initial proposal and invited to participate in virtual meetings during which they shared feedback.
“Their input led to detailed follow-up correspondence and an on-site visit to clarify aspects of the proposed improvements.”
The spokesman said that the café’s footprint had been scaled back by almost 50 per cent and other “meaningful design changes” were made as a result of feedback from the organisations.
The planning application stated that on behalf of the parks department and the Government, the aim was to improve Southlands, which was designated as an amenity park in 2017 under the National Parks Act.
It noted a separate proposal for a “zip-line adventure experience”, which also involves the renovation and repurposing of one of the derelict buildings at Southlands.
The Bermuda Audubon Society has filed a formal objection to the development with the planning department.
The proposal has also been condemned by one restaurateur as excessive and not needed.
In a letter to the Department of Planning copied to The Royal Gazette, Delvin Bean, the owner of the Lost In The Triangle eatery nearby on South Shore, said: “It would essentially be the Government competing with private Bermudian businesses, as it will be built on government land, harm our businesses and potentially force us to close.”
In the joint statement, the three environmental charities said: “While investment in Bermuda’s public spaces is essential and a small car park for Southlands in this location is appropriate, this particular application represents a troubling example of overdevelopment, inadequate planning and disregard for public input.”
They added: “Moreover, this development stands in direct contradiction to feedback received during previous public consultations.
“At every opportunity, members of the public have emphasised their preference for light-touch, conservation-first approaches at Southlands, yet this application proposes substantial infrastructure.
“There is no publicly available business case or park visitation analysis justifying the need for such extensive development, nor any discussion of how these facilities will be maintained long-term.”
The groups said that the Government was required to “fulfil its legal and ethical obligation to present a comprehensive management plan for the entire park” before any new planning application is approved for Southlands.
The Bermuda Audubon Society said that the Bermuda National Parks Act requires an approved management plan for the site of the proposed development before anything is done that could damage the natural or historic features of the area.
In a letter of objection submitted to the planning department, the charity said: “We strongly support investment in our public parks, but only when it is guided by strategy, consultation and ecological responsibility.
“We request that nothing further happens in relation to Southlands Park until there is an approved management plan in place, one overarching planning application covering proposals for the whole park and the National Parks Commission has been convened and given the opportunity to thoroughly review the management plan and application.
“The Department of Planning and the Development Applications Board have a responsibility to ensure that all requirements under the National Parks Act 1986 legislation are satisfied before approval is given for any development in our national parks.
“This disjointed approach to developing such an exceptional area of green space, which contains unique natural and historical value, runs the risk of destroying this precious resource for current and future generations.”
The BAS said that “piecemeal” applications without an approved management plan could harm the park.
“The management plan for Southlands Park is still in its draft form and has not been made available to the public for review and comment,” the charity said.
The BAS also noted that a large area on the western side of the park had already been cleared.
“This work has not been conducted in a transparent way,” the charity said. “Why has this happened without an approved management plan?
“This is a public park and the public, therefore, deserves to know what is going on.”
• Additional reporting by Owain Johnston-Barnes
The groups said that more information about the proposal needed to be made public, including the total cost to taxpayers, the operational and maintenance model for the facilities and concession details and terms for private business use of the café and amenities.
They added: “Equally concerning is the absence of input from National Parks Commission, a statutory body that ensures that the voices of park users, the Bermuda Tourism Authority and environmental organisations are considered when making decisions about our parks.
“The commission has only just been reconvened after the February election and has not had the opportunity to review these plans.”
The groups said: “Many of Bermuda’s ‘priority’ beaches suffer from broken, unhygienic and frequently unusable facilities.
“Surely it makes sense to direct funding to improved and regularly maintained amenities at these sites rather than overdevelopment at Southlands.”
They also raised concerns about promoting increased use of the beach at Southlands, which they said was “frequently subject to rip currents” and had dangerous submerged rocks.
The statement added: “We support investment in public parks but only when it is guided by strategy, consultation and ecological responsibility.
“Southlands is an exceptional green space with unique natural and historical value. It should not be overbuilt to meet unclear or unfounded objectives.
“Bermuda does not need more underfunded, overbuilt public parks.
“What we need is responsible stewardship, transparency and meaningful investment in the natural spaces we all treasure.”
The ministry spokesman said that in addition to consultation with the charities, “the National Parks Commission was consulted and provided feedback, which was incorporated into the proposed plan”.
He added: “Their feedback, including requests to reduce the building footprint and relocate certain structures, has informed adjustments to the proposal that are now under review.
“A draft management plan for Southlands has been developed and will support long-term stewardship of the park.”
He noted that the proposed amenities represented “a modest intervention on a site where built development will account for less than 2.5 per cent of the total southern park area”.
The spokesman said: “The planning process is the appropriate statutory forum for reviewing and refining proposals. Only following that process can final costs, operational models and concession terms be established appropriately.
“The recently reconvened NPC will also be able to review the submission and provide input.
“The ministry believes this proposal marks a significant step towards transforming Southlands into a more vibrant, accessible space for residents and visitors.”
Objections to the application must be submitted by Friday.
• UPDATE: this article has been updated with comments from the public works and environment ministry
• To see the ministry’s response in full, see Related Media
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