🚫 Planning tribunal supports refusal of offshore columbarium project

The Planning Appeals Tribunal (PAT) on the Sister Islands has upheld a decision by the Cayman Brac and Little Cayman Development Control Board (DCB) to refuse planning permission for a columbarium. The columbarium, proposed by Jonathan D’Urban Palmer and Diane Palmer, was intended to store the ashes of wealthy foreigners looking to relocate their tax domicile to avoid death taxes. The DCB rejected the project on several grounds, including its incompatibility with the residential neighborhood and potential to introduce noise and nuisance. They also cited the design's inconsistency with the islands' historic architectural tradition and lack of evidence for a pressing need for a cemetery at the site. 🏡

While the PAT agreed with the DCB's decision, it raised concerns about the board's decision-making process. The tribunal noted that the DCB had not clearly identified the adverse impacts and benefits of the project or explained their weighting. The PAT urged the DCB to be more transparent about their decision-making process to avoid potential ambiguity or lack of reasons. Despite disagreements on some points, the tribunal found that the DCB was justified in its decision and there had been no breach of natural justice. The tribunal agreed that the project's inconsistency with the nature of the surrounding residential properties was reasonable grounds for refusing the application. ⚖️