Office of the Commissioner 
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS 
--------0-------- 
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES
            4611 Tutu Park Mall  
 
              45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted 
            Suite 300, 2nd Floor 
                                       St. Croix, VI 00840 
            St. Thomas, VI  00802                                                       (340) 773-1082 
            (340) 774-3320   
 
                                                    dpnr.vi.gov 
April 24, 2024 
Honorable Justa E. Encarnacion 
Commissioner 
Department of Health 
Charles Harwood Complex 
3500 Est. Richmond 
Christiansted, VI 00820 
Attention: Paul Ferreras, Project Manager 
Via email: paul@pfpe.pro 
 
ZONING CERTIFICATION  - REMAINDER 11 ESTATE PENITENTIARY LAND 
Dear Commissioner Encarnacion, 
As per Title 29, Chapter 3, Subchapter 1, Section 228, Medical Laboratories are found in the 
Zoning Code under the category 
 Laboratory 
 and are permitted as a matter of 
right in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, C, and P zoning districts.     
Emergency Medical Services or Ambulance Service is found in the Zoning Code under the category 
 Service, Office & 
 and is permitted as a matter of right in the I-2 zoning 
district.    
Based on the above existing zoning categories, the R-3 zoned Plot No. Remainder 11 Estate 
Penitentiary Land would not be permitted for the uses Medical Laboratory or Emergency Medical 
Services.    
Temporary zoning approval was granted December 28, 2022 using the category 
 
 
so that the CZM Federal Consistency process would not be held up.  Coastal Zone Management, 
Earth Change, and Building Permits were issued; however, the Certificate of Occupancy cannot be 
issued until a zoning map amendment, as advised in the temporary approval, is granted by the 
Legislature.  It was noted as part of the temporary approval that it is advised a zoning map 
amendment to the P-Public zoning district be petitioned where the Medical Laboratory can be 
permitted as a matter of right and the Emergency Medical Services be permitted as an accessory 
use to the Medical Laboratory.  The uses cannot be permitted as an accessory use to 
 
 as the site will not be operating as a Medical Clinic and is not located upon the same lot 
(Zoning lot or Lot of record) as the principal use (i.e. Medical Clinic). 
 
DPNR has taken some liberties in granting a temporary approval but a rezoning to the P-Public 
zoning district is required to be consistent with the law. 
 
 
Penitentiary Land- temporary approval update
April 24, 2024
Page 2 of 2
If there are any further questions or concerns, please contact Leia LaPlace, Territorial Planner,
Division of Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning (CCZP) at 340-773-1082 extension 2215
or leia.laplace@dpnr.vi.gov.
Sincerely,
Jean-Pierre L. Oriol
Commissioner
cc:
Amanda Jackson-Acosta, Director, Division of Permits
CCZP file