How did this Watermark development ever get to build so close to the road?

smokythebear2

In most other countries in the world you'd never be able to build your buildings this close to main roads. The minimal setbacks here in Cayman are crazy to me. It really leaves zero room for any expansion of sidewalks, or the main road. West bay road should really be a 4 lane road to allow for two lanes of traffic in either direction. Whoever is in charge of planning here did not think things through!

flashynomad

That's just how things work here. A well known developer here in Cayman is responsible for building Watermark and I can tell you that from my knowledge of them all is above board and done correctly. I don't imagine there was any shenanigans in the planning here. I do agree however that with new construction setbacks should be far greater on the road and beach side in order to adjust for future problems. Traffic is a big problem in Cayman and now that they're allowing more buildings with bridges like the Ritz and Watermark it stifles any raised platform solutions for the future. Who knows maybe we'll get a mono-rail system along West Bay road at some point and the Ritz and Watermark will be forced to take their bridge ways down. Wouldn't be such a bad idea!

admin

I agree with @flashynomad I don't believe that there's been any funny business with planning here. What was odd to me during the construction of this project was that the government permitted the developer to essentially shut down / significantly impede the flow of traffic on West Bay road. Funny thing is that if it were Dart developing this they would have made him build an alternate road around.

The developer of Watermark from my understanding is trying to start a new development. This next one will be where Island Club is located on Seven Mile Beach. It's my understanding that the partner of the developer has already purchased the Grand Pavilion Commercial Center with the idea of doing the same thing as they've done with Watermark. This is why you're no longer seeing any units on the market and for sale at Island Club (granted any coming on the market was rare). They've been snatching these up whenever they can driving the price for these old units up to I've heard well over USD$5,000,0000.

mysticwitch

Recently my wife and I walked from Seafire to Island Naturals at the Grove and I'm very surprised at how close this development was built to the road. This and the new Hyatt both have measly setbacks.

This is yet another planning approval blunder!

It is certainly going to be interesting to see what happens when these two developments are populated. I really don't see how it's going to work with the Hyatt it's going to be a complete mess at the intersection before you get to Kirks.