South Ocean Village residents raise concerns about development

While residents of South Ocean Village are not opposed to Albany’s proposed development of the former South Ocean property, President of the South Ocean Village Association Ronald Jones said area residents “feel disrespected” by the lack of consultation by the developers and are concerned about a proposed diversion of the road they use to access their homes.

The residents, who held a press conference at the entrance to their community yesterday, said they are also concerned that they will lose the access to the beach they now enjoy and are asking for beach access to remain available.

Jones said the residents, whose homes share thoroughfares and golf course boundaries with Albany’s newly acquired property, simply want to be included in the discussions regarding the development.

He said residents who occupy about 10 to 15 homes in the area were alerted to Albany’s intention to carry out permanent road diversions when an ad published by the Ministry of Public Works, announcing a virtual meeting to discuss Albany’s plans for the road, appeared in the newspapers.

“This is a tranquil and safe community and we wish to preserve that and expect the relevant authorities to protect us from all potential, irresponsible and unscrupulous impacts to our residents,” said Jones. 

“We are not against the development; we are desirous of being inclusive. If they have purchased the property, we would expect that they would come to us in some way and say “we are doing the project here” and how it would impact us. 

“We just want to know that we are included in anything that will impact us. We just want our voices to be heard. We have written to the various authorities about our concerns because we keep hearing rumors of certain things being done and we have never gotten any concrete response. So, we just want to let the public know that we are here in this community and we wish to have our concerns be heard and something be done with it.”

Other concerns in addition to beach access and the road diversion include the disruption of a Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) fuel line during construction, noise pollution, security in the area during construction, the aesthetics of the area, traffic and drainage, the connection of the sewer system to the property to be developed, concerns related to electricity poles and street lights and a proposed golf cart tunnel under the road.

Albany executives have not spoken publicly of their plans for the former South Ocean property, but its environmental management plan (EMP) submitted to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection gives insight into the project.

In terms of the residents’ concern about their road, the EMP states: “The realignment of South West Bay Road is proposed for phase 1A of the project and will entail redirecting the current road alignment into the disturbed forests north of its current location.

“The areas slated for the redirected road have been previously impacted by clearing and public dumping of trash and partially serves as a parking area for Stuart Cove’s facility. The realignment of the road will involve the removal of the BPL switch located at the entrance to South Ocean Estates (South Ocean Village), as well as the relocation of above ground power infrastructure to below ground for safety and aesthetics.”

During the press conference, Jones also raised concerns about a proposed subterranean thoroughfare for golf carts.

Albany’s EMP states of that aspect of the project: “A golf cart path will be constructed to provide access from the current Albany West gate to the newly developed Albany West residential area and condos. The path will follow the perimeter of the South Ocean Estates residential community bordering the existing Blue Shark Golf course and lead to the entrance gate and security booth for Albany West. The golf cart path will enter the Albany West property through a subterranean path which will run beneath the newly directed road.”

Another concern raised by Jones was that of noise pollution during the construction and demolition phase, which Albany’s EMP explains will be a temporary nuisance. 

“Noise generated from demolition and construction activities during phase one development are likely to have a negative impact on ambient sound levels in the local areas surrounding the project site,” the EMP states.

“Mechanical demolition of structures, removal of solid waste from site, land clearing, road grading and general construction activities all are noise-generating activities. It is likely that impacts to ambient noise levels will be short-term for the duration of demolition and construction activities.”

South Ocean Village residents said in a joint statement that they are concerned that Albany has progressed its development this far with no public consultation with the local community.

“There has been no public consultation with the residents of the South Ocean community by the developer, as has been the proper, usual and customary practice,” the statement said.

“We were not afforded this courtesy by the developer.”

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/south-ocean-village-residents-raise-concerns-about-development/