Surfrider Foundation: Rincón, Puerto Rico

THREATS to the Tres Palmas Area: Rincón and the Tres Palmas — Steps area has been continually threatened by the prospect of major hotel development. Listed below are development projects that threaten Rincón
Tres Palmas before development (now)	Tres Palmas after development (simulated)
Computer enhancement of photo by Casey Granger

Development Name:	Villa Ikaria
Case #:	2001-25-0128-JPU
Location:	Carretera 413; KM 2.2 Barrio Ensenada/Steps Beach, Rincón
Foot print:	9.9 cuerdas (1 cuerda = 3,939.9 sq. m)
Description:	- 5 four floor apartment buildings with multiple 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units - 152 Villas (16 1-bedroom condo/hotel units & 136 units for sale) - Reception Facility - Multipurpose Hall - Pool and Gazebos - Tennis Court - 226 Parking Spaces
Project Update:	On January 7, 2002 the developer submitted several documents and an EA for the project. As of March 2002, the EQB has not received the EA and therefore the evaluation process has not been initiated. On April 12, 2002, the Puerto Rico Planning Board completely denied the Villa Ikaria project. Read about the denial here. On July 10, 2002, the developer's appeal to the Puerto Rico Planning Board to reconsider the Villa Ikaria project was denied. Read about the denial here.

Development Name:	Tres Palmas Hotel and Villas
Case #:	1999-25-1253-JPU
Location:	Carretera 413; KM 2.0 Barrio Ensenada/Steps Beach, Rincón
Foot print:	25.357 cuerdas (1 cuerda = 3,939.9 sq. m)
Description:	- Hotel: 4 three and four story buildings with 264 guest rooms - Villas: 8 buildings with 114 units - Restaurant - Bars - Terraces - Tennis Courts - Swimming Pool
Project Update:	On February 10, 2000 the Planning Board requested information about the project from the developer. That information was never provided and for that reason on March 24, 2000 the Planning Board issued a ruling and declared the project suspended. This suspended status does not mean that the request for a permit was denied. It means that the evaluation process enters in a sort of coma and remains there until the developer provides the information and requests continuation of proceedings. This continuation may occur at any time and there will be no notice to the public. Therefore follow up requires periodic visits to Planning Board to check the status of the project.

Development Name:	Hotel Manihiki
Case #:	2000-25-0036-JPU
Location:	Carretera 413; KM 1.2 Barrio Ensenada/ between Steps Beach & Little Malibu, Rincón
Foot print:	9.3083 cuerdas (1 cuerda = 3,939.9 sq. m)
Description:	- 14 villas with 4 two bedroom / two bathroom apartments (112 bedrooms) - 21 bohios (private villas) - Lobby - Shops - Restaurant - Bar - Swimming Pool
Project Update:	This project has not been suspended, but there has been no activity since January 25, 2001. On that date the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) requested additional information from the developer about the Environmental Assessment (EA) submitted for the project. As of this March 2002, this information has not been provided and the environmental evaluation process has not been completed.