Surfrider Foundation: Rincón, Puerto Rico

THREATS to Sandy Beach:
Updates | More Info | Media Links | Slideshow and Videos of Project

Sandy Beach Apartments

Local residents and the Surfrider Foundation have joined forces to fight the Sandy Beach Apartments. The Sandy Beach Apartments complex received a number of variances that allowed for three additional stories, making it a six-story structure, and for the structure to be built in the Zona Marítimo Terrestre (ZMT).

The community was denied its right to public participation when this project was approved without the required public notification or public hearings. Furthermore, this project should not have been approved because it is built in an inappropriate location; the construction site is extremely close to the beach and within the proper ZMT. The project is also adjacent to a quebrada. In fact, this site is known to have been completely inundated during heavy seas. As a result of the scale and location of the project, SBA threatens the character of the neighborhood, is not consistent with the zoning in the area, threatens the water quality of the quebrada, beach access, threatens the condition of the beach, and could alter the recreational surfing areas immediately offshore.

The inappropriate siting of the project creates a serious public risk that will likely result in a request for coastal armoring that will have deleterious effects of the local beach system and could perpetuate further erosion and armoring along Sandy Beach. The beach is an important public and economic resource for the people of Puerto Rico and also a critical sea turtle nesting habitat for Leatherback turtles, which are an endangered species.

SBA Proyecto Original: The plans for the project at the time of settlement. Note that there are no seawalls shown.

SBA Proyecto Final: Plans revised post-settlement that include the inappropriate gabion walls and use of adjacent property for parking in violation of existing zoning.

The links below provide additional information. The project further demonstrates the need for a sustainable development strategy for Rincón.

Links: Updates/History
   - July 3, 2008: Army Corps Responds
   - June 16, 2008: SBA dumps in the Maritime Zone
   - June 8, 2008: Surfrider Files Querella at DRNA
   - June 3, 2008: Surfrider Follows Up on Clean Water Act Violation
   - Sept. 12, 2006: Sandy Beach Apartments, Clean Water Act Violator, Seeks Sea Wall to Protect Building Built in Maritime Zone
   - Mar. 29, 2006: Sandy Beach Apartments Violate Clean Water Act
   - Feb. 21, 2006: Commission Looks for Ways to Avoid Another Sandy Beach Apartments
   - Feb. 7, 2006: Planning Board Washes Hands during Second Public Hearing on Sandy Beach Apartments
   - Jan. 24, 2006: PR House of Reps Holds Hearing on Sandy Beach Apartments
   - Nov. 22, 2005: Rincoeños File Complaints Against Developer Vilá for Illegal Construction at Sandy Beach
   - Sept. 19, 2005: Court Allows Developer Vilá to Back Out Of Sandy Beach Agreement; Developer Cites New and Unspecified DRNA Policy as Reason for Relief
   - Sept. 17, 2005: PR House of Reps Investigates Dubious Permits for Sandy Beach Apartments
   - June 15, 2005: SBA Permits Under Investigation
   - Feb. 8, 2005: SURFRIDER FOUNDATION SETTLES LAWSUIT AND GAINS PUBLIC ACCESS AND BEACH PROTECTION IN PUERTO RICO
   - Jan. 15, 2005: Sandy Beach Gets Clean
   - Nov. 29, 2004: Surfrider Foundation Halts Illegally Permitted Development in Puerto Rico
   - Aug. 25, 2004: Sandy Beach Apartments Preliminary Hearing Held in Aguada Court
   - Aug. 17, 2004: Surfrider Sues Over Land Use Regulations
   - April 7, 2004: Sandy Beach Apartments Update
   - Opposition Letter

Links: More Info
   - Click here to read Surfrider's testimony
   - Click here to read Dr. Ruperto Chaparro's testimony
   - Click here to read Dr. Aurelio Mercado's testimony
   - Click here for the Planning Board information and history of the project
   - Click here to see the DRNA letter

Links: Media
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 9/13/06, Ante el jefe del DRNA el pleito de Buyé
   - El Vocero article, 9/13/06, Alegan desarrollador viola ley en Rincón
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 3/31/06, Enfrenta Sandy Beach orden de cese federal
   - Puerto Rico WOW, 3/30/06, Cease-and-Desist order issued against Sandy Beach Apartments
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 2/22/06, Coro contra agencias de gobierno
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 2/08/06, Evade Planificación pleito por zonificación
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 1/25/06, Dejadez del DRNA con Sandy Beach
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 11/28/05, Querella por extensión de Sandy Beach Apartments
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 6/15/05, Una construcción contra todas las reglas ambientales
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 2/15/04, Acuerdo tras pleito por una construcción
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 12/1/04, Cero cambios a una construcción en Rincón
   - El Vocero article, 11/30/04, Paralizan desarrollo in la playa de Rincón
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 11/30/04, Freno a construcción de un condominio
   - San Juan Star, 11/30/2004, Judge Halts Destruction of Building in Rincón
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 8/18/2004, Apoyo a demanda contra Sandy Beach
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 8/17/2004, "Petición de freno al Sandy Beach"
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 8/10/2004, Pugna Por Sandy Beach
   - El Nuevo Dia article, 8/9/2004, Sube de tono una pugna en Rincón
   - ENDI_COM En orden los permisos de Sandy Beach
   - ENDI_COM Retan los rincoeños a la JP
   - Click here to read the El Vocero article from 5/13/2004.

See a slideshow and videos of the project.

Donate to the Sandy Beach Development Legal Fund