April 12, 2002: Puerto Rico Planning Board Denies Villa Ikaria

Rincón, PR - Surfrider won a major battle to "Save Tres Palmas" when in a letter signed by its Chairman, Dr. Hermenegildo Ortiz Quiñones, on April 12, 2002, the Puerto Rico Planning Board completely denied the Villa Ikaria project that was proposed on the land in front of Tres Palmas.

The decision was delivered shortly after a March 8 visit by a Planning Board delegation to Rincón which included a tour of the Steps/Tres Palmas beaches.

The Planning Board denied the projects because:

1. The proposed projects do not comply with the Puerto Rico Land Use Plan (October 31, 1995) in that they would cause damage or destruction to natural systems that require protection under the Land Use Plan- in this case, the reef. Furthermore, construction would unnecessarily preclude options for future use of the natural resources of this coastal zone.

2. The proposed construction area is "ecologically sensitive."

3. The developers did not fully comply with the Planning Board's April 4 and November 13, 2001 requests to provide a detailed Environmental Assessment.

The Planning Board clearly acknowledged Surfrider's lobbying efforts during the past two years by incorporating Surfrider's comments into the final decision.
The denial will now allow the Coalition to focus on the next step of the campaign - creation of the Maritime Reserve.