Despite many in the community objecting to Vista Del Mar, on Friday, the Guam Hybrid Land Use Commission approved tentative development plans for the $700 million dollar project near The Two Lovers Point planning zone. Vista del Mar representative Dan Swavely presented the most recent submitted application, which he says, "has evolved due to public input." Some of the changes include: avoiding any development within the territorial seashore reserve, establishes a 100' diameter buffer zone around important host plants and endangered tree snails, and donates land for overflow parking at Two Lovers Leap Park

"It establishes the 3 1/4 acre cliff face as a natural set-aside, including relocation of structures away from the cliff's upper crest line, in order to establish a flyaway corridor, between TLP and and NCS for migratory birds......and lastly will comply with all cultural preservation and mitigation meaures imposed by the Historic Preservation Office as a result of our archaeological surveys," he said.

Swavely included support that the project received including former GVB Chairman and businessman Mark Baldyga, Guam Vistors Bureau President and CEO Carl Gutierrez, Leonard Calvo from Two Lovers Point, and the Tamuning Municipal Planning Council.

Providing testimony opposing the development included Save Southern Guam's Lasia Casil and Prutehi Litekyan's Monaeka Flores. Casil, said about 2,587 signatures have been collected by residents against Vista del Mar.

"Mr. swavely has stated that that most of these signers of this petition are not residents of Tatuha, how this project is adjacent to the shoreline and beach, which belongs to al' the people of Guam," Casil said.

"I wanted to say to the GLUC, you have a huge responsibility on your hands," Flores said. "If you do move forward, this is like blood on your hands. You will be responsible for the destruction of a very significant sacred area for our community."

Throughout the four hearings held for this project, Swavely mentioned how the term "responsible development" was being used and found the term to be elusive. He wanted to provide what he called a credible definition.

"Develop entirely on private property, within the current zone, with only allowable uses and zero variances," he said. "After four legally public notice hearings, after four legally noticed public hearings, with changes made to the proposed development in response to each public hearing. And with the unanimous resolution of support from the planning council of the municipality in which the development is proposed, that is responsible development and that is Vista del Mar."