THE Bermuda National Trust yesterday expressed "grave concerns" about the number of Special Development Orders (SDOs) that have been given to large tourism developments this year.

The environmental/cultural group's comments came in the wake of two massive developments now being considered for SDOs by the Department of Planning. The Grand Atlantic Resort and Residences is a 13.1 acre luxury facility planned by Atlantic Development. Southlands Resort Development is a 37-acre, five-star project spearheaded by chartered accountant Craig Christensen and a group of businessmen we could not identify by press time.

Reached on holiday abroad, Mr. Christensen said details about the proposed Warwick development would be announced shortly.

According to the Trust, SDOs were created with the specific aim of safeguarding Bermuda's environment, but can also be used to override the island's stringent development restrictions and should therefore be granted "only for major developments in the national interest or in emergencies" as "an option of last resort and after a public inquiry".

A dangerous precedent has been set whereby SDOs are used to enable large tourism developments to opt out of Bermuda's planning process," warned the Trust's environmental conservation officer Dorcas Roberts. "This process was specifically created with the aim of safeguarding Bermuda's environment, and as a consequence, the economic, cultural, social and general welfare of the people of Bermuda. Large-scale developments have the greatest potential to cause environmental damage and therefore it is vital that such developments be addressed in a rigorous, scientific and transparent manner."

She said that of specific concern was that the majority of the applications for SDOs involved land that would have been protected if developers had gone through the normal Planning process.

"Recent major tourism developments granted permission by SDO's include the former Wyndham Resort in Southampton and the new Ritz-Carlton development in the City of Hamilton. At present there are four additional major proposed hotel developments, three of which we know have requested an SDO from the Minister of the Environment, including a nine-storey hotel at the Coco Reef Resort, 91 villas on the golf course of the Fairmount Southampton Hotel, a nine-storey hotel and fractional/condo development at the (former Ritz-Carlton) property west of Astwood Walk and finally, a mammoth resort and residential development proposed for the Southland's Property in Warwick.

"All four properties all have developable areas, yet all four also seek additional development on land that is protected by the current planning policy, designated as conservation areas where development is prohibited. However, SDOs can serve to override these restrictions. The Southlands' application proposes to realign South Shore Road through a tunnel in addition to developing extensively on the foreshore, on protected woodland and open/green space. A previous application for tourism development at this site made in 1993, although never built, warranted the Development Applications Board to grant permission with the condition that a large portion of the site be placed in a Section 34 Agreement meaning that the woodland, agricultural and open spaces be permanently preserved. The current application seeks to develop a large proportion of this land."

Ms Roberts added the Trust understands there are times when an SDO is necessary, but urged they be granted as "an option of last resort and not applied for reasons of expediency".

"Often justification provided for requesting an SDO is that the scale of a development is beyond the scope of the Planning process. If this is indeed the case then the Planning Department should be enlarged and adequate resources provided.

"Large developments should also be considered in relation to Bermuda's infrastructure as a whole, ensuring that the island can sustain them. Due to the size of all SIX of these pending developments, their collective impact on the island will be substantial and must be accurately established."

Ms Roberts added that the Trust wrote to the Environment Ministry in March, asking what criteria was applied in determining the need for an SDO, but has received no response.