(a) Creation. Within the Department there shall be a Division of Planning (hereinafter referred to as the “Planning Office”) which shall be headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Planning appointed by the Governor. The Assistant Commissioner of Planning shall be qualified by training, education and experience in the fields of planning, land use management, conservation and environmental protection.
(b) Power and Duties. The Planning Office shall:
(1) formulate a long-range comprehensive plan, to be submitted by the Governor to the Legislature for its consideration, as provided for in subsection (c) of this section;
(2) formulate, for approval by the Governor and the Legislature, long-range plans and policies for the orderly and coordinated growth of the United States Virgin Islands, including, but not limited to, functional plans as provided for in subsection (d) of this section;
(3) prepare special reports and make available the results of the Planning Office's research, studies and other activities, through publications, memoranda, briefings and expert testimony;
(4) analyze the quality and quantity of services required for the continued orderly and long-range growth of the United States Virgin Islands, taking into consideration the relationship of activities, capabilities and future plans of units of government, commissions, authorities, private enterprises and the United States Virgin Islands and United States Governments;
(5) coordinate the planning activities of all territorial departments, agencies and institutions with other public and private bodies within the United States Virgin Islands;
(6) work with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and other governmental departments, agencies and institutions to study and review plans and federal aid applications filed with the United States Government;
(7) survey, review and appraise the accomplishments of the Government of the Virgin Islands in achieving the goals and objectives set forth in the annual development program;
(8) borrow money and apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions and any other forms of assistance from the United States Government, the Government of the United States Virgin Islands or other public entities, or from any other source, public or private, for the purposes of this chapter, and give such security as may be required and enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection therewith; and include in any contract for financial assistance with the United States Government such conditions imposed pursuant to federal laws as it may deem reasonable and appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the purposes of this chapter;
(9) provide any department or other agency of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands with personnel, equipment, information or services on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis;
(10) review and comment on all local and area-wide applications for federal planning assistance; and
(11) exercise all other powers necessary and proper for the discharge of its duties.
(c) Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Office shall prepare, and upon legislative approval, issue and have in continuous process of revision, the long-range comprehensive plan based on studies, plans, needs and operations of every department, agency and institution of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands and the United States Government, taking into account the existing and prospective resources and capabilities of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. The comprehensive plan shall identify and stress islandwide goals, objectives and opportunities.
(1) The comprehensive plan shall provide long-range guidance for the physical, economic and social development of the United States Virgin Islands and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) population and economic analysis with projections for each island and major population area within the United States Virgin Islands;
(B) general land use policies for urban development, agriculture, industry, recreation, beaches and shorelines, sand removal, open space and other purposes;
(C) policy and goals for housing and urban renewal;
(D) policy for the balanced development of airport, highway and public transportation facilities;
(E) policy for health services, manpower planning, employment opportunities, education, elimination of poverty, law enforcement and other programs;
(F) projection of needs for public facilities including, but not limited to, headquarters and island office buildings, educational, medical, welfare and correctional institutions;
(G) recreation and open spaces for government facilities, major local facilities and federal recreation areas;
(H) inventory and appraisal of the United States Virgin Islands natural resources, setting forth policy for their prudent exploitation, conservation and replenishment; and
(I) policies for intragovernmental relations and governmental structure.
(2) The comprehensive plan and revisions thereof shall be transmitted to the Legislature for its consideration and action. The plan, and revisions thereof, when approved by the Governor and the Legislature, shall become effective as governmental policy.
(d) Long-range functional plans.
(1) The Planning Office shall issue a series of long-range functional development plans relating, but not necessarily limited to, outdoor recreation, water resources, transportation, housing, education, economic development, health services and facilities, employment, poverty, manpower planning and other broad areas of governmental responsibilities.
(2) Long-range functional plans, and revisions thereof, shall be transmitted to the Legislature for its consideration. The plans, and revisions thereof, when approved by the Governor and the Legislature, shall become effective as governmental policy and shall be consistent with United States Virgin Islands zoning law.
(e) Development program. The Planning Office shall prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a development program covering the forthcoming four years. The development program shall consist of the following:
(1) an analysis of the current posture of government development in terms of opportunities, together with a review of present factors and activities affecting development of the United States Virgin Islands. This analysis shall present accomplishments and the current status of programs and activities and review such factors as the overall economic posture of the United States Virgin Islands; the major problems confronting the United States Virgin Islands; the activities of the private sector, local and federal activities; and government operations designed to meet the responsibilities of overall territorial development and activities;
(2) a statement of specific policies, as prescribed in subsection (c) for at least each of the following general functional areas: economic development, social and human resources development, natural resource development, transportation and other areas;
(3) details of territorial programs and the quantified annual objectives of each program over the forthcoming four years. New programs, elimination or modification of existing programs and the anticipated performance or accomplishment of current, new or modified programs shall be described in detail;
(4) identification of the methods and requirements for implementing the proposed annual development program which shall describe, for each year, the fiscal resources, capital facilities, other resources and any administrative change or new legislation required; and
(5) a four-year schedule of proposed capital improvements, to be compiled from schedules of proposed capital improvements submitted to the Planning Office by each department, agency, authority, board and commission.