The Guam Association of Realtors is calling on lawmakers to debate two bills that it believes will help solve “stalled development,” and is specifically criticizing Oversight Chair Sen. Sabina Perez for failing to report the measures out of committee.
Sen. Chris Duenas has been publicly lobbying to place bills 175-37 and 51-37 on the agenda for the current legislative session, but that effort failed on Tuesday.
Guam Association of Realtors President Neet Muna said in a statement that “the Guam Association of Realtors watched with disappointment” as Sen. Perez “promised to report Bill 175-37 in time for this month’s session, but then voted against including it under pressure from the bill’s authors.”
Perez also responded with a statement of his own.
“Rushing a bill out of committee without proper scrutiny undermines good faith efforts at legislative debate intended to promote transparency and accountability as elected leaders,” Perez said.
Bill 175-37 would authorize the use of a Guam Environmental Protection Agency-certified Advanced Nitrogen Reduction On-Site Disposal System in the Northern Lens Aquifer.
Meanwhile, Bill 51-37 would allow accessory dwelling units to be built on the same lot as a single-family home in a residential district.
Perez said Bill 175-37 “is intended to significantly increase the density of septic tanks above aquifers.”
He said agency officials testified at hearings on the bill that “no scientific evidence has been presented that shows the proposals in the bill are safe, beneficial or practical.”
“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated, the Guam Association of Realtors fully supports and approves bills 175-37 and 51-37, with the understanding that amendments may be adopted by the Legislature,” Muna said in a statement.
“Putting these measures in place this session is critical because, frankly, under current laws and regulations, development is stalled. Meanwhile, families looking to realize their dreams of homeownership are being left behind,” Muna said.
Perez said the Guam Waterworks Authority testified at the hearing that “no data has been provided by proponents of Bill 175 to show that increased development density will not adversely affect the aquifer, which is our only source of water.”
Perez said the Guam EPA also testified that “the public should not bear the risks associated with high-density, unsewered development on our aquifer.”
Muna said the GAR urges lawmakers to “embrace technology to ensure Guam’s cleanliness and listen to landowners who are unable to build on their land due to outdated laws.”
“The committee process must continue to move at its scheduled pace and we should all be paying close attention to this issue,” Perez said.
