Beeston Hill Rezoning Fight Heads to Senate Vote as Housing Push Collides With Neighborhood Opposition

A rezoning request for land in Estate Beeston Hill on St. Croix is now in the hands of lawmakers, who must decide within days whether to approve a measure that supporters frame as a needed housing solution and opponents describe as an unnecessary break from established residential zoning. The proposal has reopened a debate that blends housing demand, land-use policy, neighborhood opposition, and questions about whether existing law already provides a path for the planned development without changing the property’s classification.

Bill 36-0200 came before the Legislature on Monday and seeks to rezone a portion of the Remainder of Estate Beeston Hill (South Portion), Matricular No. 6a, Company Quarter, St. Croix, from R-1, or Residential–Low Density, to B-2, or Business–Secondary/Neighborhood.

It is not the first time property owner Atta Misbeh has pursued a rezoning for the site. Four years ago, he proposed building a commercial center there, a plan that quickly drew opposition from neighboring property owners.

This time, Mr. Misbeh says he has scaled back his plans and now wants to build 24 residential townhouses, but he is still asking for a B-2 rezoning. Under that zoning category, the development would be allowed as a matter of right. Public opposition has persisted, and that was evident during Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.