A matai representing the Iliili Village Council has presented a petition to the Territorial Zoning Board to rescind a variance that the Board granted for a two story commercial building to be added to an existing auto shop that’s in close proximity to Lupelele Elementary School. The two story building is to house a retail store on the first floor and office space on the top floor. The applicant is Theresa Chand.
The petition also objects to the issuance of a variance for a warehouse across from the school.
Leituala Morgan Suapilimai presented the petition after a village meeting on Wednesday where residents voiced objection to the two projects. The petition contained 25 signatures.
Leituala said their primary objection centers on the “profound inadequacy and inherent dangers of the existing access road, which is directly impacted by the variance” for the proposed building.
He said the access road was never intended to accommodate the increased traffic and larger vehicles associated with a commercial enterprise, especially one expanded by a variance. “The narrowness of the access road and close proximity to the Lupelele Elementary School create an undeniable hazard for pedestrians, schoolchildren, and traffic alike,” said Leituala.
“The safety of our children and the broader community must be paramount in any zoning consideration, and this variance regrettably compromises it severely.”
He also pointed out that the operations of the business owners have historically presented significant environmental and public health nuisances. “For years, residents have contended with issues such as accumulated debris, the pervasive odor of vehicle painting, and other contaminants stemming from the shop.”
Leituala said Iliili residents have consistently voiced their objections, submitting numerous letters to the Zoning Board regarding not only the auto shop variance but also the proposed warehouse project directly across from Lupelele Elementary School. “The perception that these legitimate concerns have been overlooked or deliberately misplaced undermines public trust and questions the transparency of the Board’s decision-making process,” he complained.
The petition urges the Zoning Board to reconsider its decision. “We, the law abiding residents of American Samoa in the village of Iliili, County of Tualauta, are closely observing these proceedings and are prepared to pursue all available legal and administrative remedies to ensure that our community’s safety and integrity are protected.”
