The owner of Coral Bay Organic Gardens is growing quite a controversy.
Hugo Roller says he wants to build a campground “to sustain the geographical character of (Coral Bay) — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.”
Two Coral Bay residents beg to disagree.
“He’s building a major resort,” Pam Gaffin said after attending a Planning and Natural Resources meeting about the project. Loreli Monsanto told the St. John Source, “It looks like a resort.”
Roller is asking for a zoning change to construct 13 two-story structures, retail, residential units, 50 parking spaces, a health spa, and two restaurants, according to Gaffin.
Roller says he simply wants to build a campground on 2.5 acres of land adjacent to his farm.
After the PNR hearing, Roller was angry. He wrote a 1,500 rambling, unfocused letter to the Tradewinds complaining that at the hearing he was “attacked … vehemently … by a female pit bull” and “an unruly mob’s … cacophonous chorus”. He concluded that the hearing showed, “The needs of my family farm are of little value to those who equate money with virtue.”
Roller’s campground/resort is a long way from shovel ready. If rezoning is approved, the project still needs Costal Zone Management review and approval buy the Legislature.
