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CULEBRA PREVAILS AGAINST MEGA-DEVELOPMENT

Posted on March 10, 2012

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COMUNICADO DE PRENSA:

PEQUEÑA COMUNIDAD ISLEÑA TRIUNFA SOBRE MEGA-PROYECTO
8 de marzo de 2012
Culebra, Puerto Rico
La pequeña y ecológicamente sensitiva Isla de Culebra celebra la noticia de la victoria ante el Tribunal de Apelaciones, el cual revocó la decisión administrativa mediante la cual la Junta de Planificación (JP) aprobó un mega-proyecto turístico que ya ha causado daño a las prístinas costas caribeñas protegidas por una zonificación especial de baja densidad. La decisión de la Junta fue retada en corte por CORALations, una organización para la conservación de los arrecifes de coral del Caribe, representada por la Asociación Nacional de Derecho Ambiental (ANDA) y la Clínica Ambiental de la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Puerto Rico a las cuales se unieron intereses privados vecinos del proyecto. La comunidad de Culebra ha estado luchando contra este proyecto, obviamente insostenible, desde el 2003.
Sentencia

El proyecto, irónicamente llamado Villa Mi Terruño, propuso la primera urbanización con acceso controlado para la isla con 110 residencias lujosas, dos hoteles y área comercial en poco menos de 94 cuerdas de terreno. El proyectista, Manuel H. Dubón de Culebra Resorts Associates y el Arquitecto Chris Young, disfrazaron el proyecto de “sostenible” y “verde”.
En síntesis, la corte determinó que la Junta de Planificación aprobó el proyecto sin cumplir con los parámetros de densidad establecidos para Culebra. Estos parámetros especiales de zonificación de baja densidad fueron establecidos para proteger la integridad ecológica de la isla y sus preciosos arrecifes de coral.
La Junta de Planificación no aprobó este proyecto en el 2005 porque Culebra no contaba con la infraestructura necesaria para sostener un proyecto de esta magnitud. En aquel entonces tampoco contaba con el indispensable endoso de la Autoridad de Conservación y Desarrollo de Culebra, la agencia local responsable de asegurarse que los proyectos propuestos para Culebra no comprometan la integridad ecológica de la isla. El Lic. Rafael Espasas García, representante de CORALations, señaló, “Resulta inverosímil que en tiempos de una crisis energética decretada por el Gobernador de Puerto Rico, la Junta de Planificación aprobara un proyecto que acapararía el 30% de la energía disponible para toda la isla de Culebra.”
En el 2007, cuando cambió el gobierno, los proponentes obtuvieron el endoso de la nueva junta de la Autoridad de Conservación y Desarrollo de Culebra (ACDEC) y con ella volvieron a someter el proyecto ante la Junta de Planificación. Mary Ann Lucking, Directora de CORALations declaró, “La determinación del Tribunal de Apelaciones valida las preocupaciones de la comunidad de que ACDEC emitió su endoso sin considerar las mismas leyes que la comunidad le encomendó que protegieran. La comunidad nunca debió de haber llevado el peso de la prueba en corte para combatir esta flagrante campaña de lavado ambiental.
El proyecto ya ha causado daño a los recursos marinos de Culebra por la crónica erosión causada por carreteras de tierra abiertas sin planificación. “Los arrecifes de coral y las praderas marinas cerca del proyecto tienen un pequeño vivero de peces que son de crítica importancia para la comunidad de Culebra,” dijo Lourdes Feliciano de la Asociación de Pescadores de la Isla de Culebra. La Asociación ha protegido a la comunidad y sus arrecifes de coral desde la exitosa lucha para terminar con las prácticas navales de los Estados Unidos y la OTAN en la isla, en los años setenta. La Asociación propuso la designación de la primera reserva natural en aguas puertorriqueñas. Añadió Lourdes, “La erosión causada por el proyecto también amenaza las aguas y los corales de la reserva.”
La ambientalista Rosarito Morales, activa oponente del proyecto, indicó, “Este es un gran triunfo para nuestra comunidad, el alivio es grande. Esta determinación es crucial para nuestro futuro como isla. Celebramos que el tribunal le haya recordado a la Junta de Planificación que esta ‘tiene la responsabilidad ineludible de preservar, conservar y proteger las escasas áreas naturales de Puerto Rico para el disfrute de la presente y futuras generaciones, como también tiene la responsabilidad de velar por la protección de los parajes de excepcional belleza y evitar desarrollos aislados que deterioren o destruyan esa belleza.”
Contactos:
Lcdo. Rafael Espasas:787.309.4723
Lourdes Feliciano: 787.742.3371, 787.742.3551
Rosarito Morales: 787.458.2425
Mary Ann Lucking: 787.556.6234
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English:
PRESS RELEASE
SMALL ISLAND COMMUNITY PREVAILS AGAINST MEGA-DEVELOPMENT
March 8, 2012
Culebra, Puerto Rico
The small, ecologically sensitive island of Culebra is celebrating news of a recent appellate court victory against the Puerto Rico Planning Board’s approval of a dense tourism mega-development, already impacting pristine Caribbean coastline currently protected by a special, low density zoning. The ruling was challenged in court by the Caribbean coral reef conservation organization, CORALations, represented by the National Association of Environmental Law (ANDA) and the University of Puerto Rico’s Environmental Clinic and joined by neighboring private interests. The community of Culebra has been fighting the obviously unsustainable project since 2003.
Sentence

The project, ironically called Villa Mi Terruño (“Villas of My Native Land”) proposed the first “access-controlled” urbanization for the island, and included 110 luxury residences, two hotels and commercial space on less than 94 cuerdas (1 cuerda appoximately = 1 acre). The developer, Manuel H. Dubón of Culebra Resorts Associates and architect Chris Young, camouflaged the project as “sustainable” and “green.”
In synthesis, the court resolved that the Planning Board approved the project without complying with the density parameters established for Culebra. These special, low-density zoning parameters were implemented to protect the ecological integrity of the island and her beautiful coral reefs.
The Planning Board had previously denied the project in 2005 because Culebra did not have the infrastructure to support a project of this magnitude. At that time it also did not have the indispensable endorsement from the Culebra Conservation and Development Authority, the local board responsible for ensuring that any projects moving on Culebra do not compromise the island’s ecological integrity. CORALations representative, Attorney Rafael Espasas García stated: “In times of an energy crisis decreed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, it is truly unbelievable that the Planning Board of Puerto Rico would approve a project that requires 30% of the total energy available to the entire small island of Culebra.”
In 2007, and after a change of administration, the proponents obtained an endorsement from the new ACDEC board, and with this, resubmitted the project to the Planning Board. Mary Ann Lucking, Director of CORALations: “The appellate court ruling validates community concerns that the ACDEC board issued that endorsement with no regard for the very laws they were entrusted by the community to protect. The local community should never have had to bear the burden of combating this approval in the courts based on a flagrant green-washing campaign.”
The project has already been causing harm to Culebra’s beautiful coastal resources from the chronic erosion of unplanned dirt roads. “Coral reefs and sea grass near the project area support a small reef fish nursery, critical to the Culebra community” said Lourdes Feliciano, of the Culebra Fishermen’s Association. The Fishermen’s Association of Culebra has been actively protecting the community and their coral reefs since fighting to successfully end the US and NATO target practice on the island in the mid seventies. The Culebra Fishermen’s Association also moved the designation of the first “No Take” Marine Protected Area in Puerto Rico’s waters. Lourdes continued: “The erosion from the project also threatens the waters and corals of this Reserve as well.”
Environmentalist and outspoken opponent of this project, Rosarito Morales indicated, “This is a big victory for our community, the relief is huge. This determination is crucial for our future as an island. We celebrate that the court reminded the Planning Board that, ‘It has the unavoidable responsibility to preserve, conserve and protect the scarce natural areas of Puerto Rico and the responsibility to watch over for the protection of the places of exceptional beauty and to avoid isolated developments that deteriorate or destroy this beauty.
Contacts:
Lcdo. Rafael Espasas:787.309.4723
Lourdes Feliciano: 787.742.3371, 787.742.3551
Rosarito Morales: 787.458.2425
Mary Ann Lucking: 787.556.6234

…

MAS INFORMACION
[1] Permisos Simples Villa Mi Terruño y ultimo permiso NOTE: although only one number on the sign, multiple simple permits were apparently issued for the poorly planned and constructed dirt roads now contaminating coastal waters of Culebra.

[2] DRNA Reglamentos de Permiso Simple Dec 2004 NOTE: The DRNA Regulations indicate that what they did is an abuse of a Simple Permit.

[3] Ponencia Dr. Edwin Hernandez Delgado 2009 NOTE: Dr. Edwin Hernandez utilized GIS technical program to determine 9km of roads were cleared on this property with endangered endemic species onsite and in coastal waters being contaminated.

[4] Various descriptions of Project submitted to agencies and previous consulta NOTE: The project is so dense and complicated that the official project descriptions often conflict with eachother……this will make agency oversight…should this ever become an option….virtually impossible in the construction process.

[5] Aerial images from project’s presentation documenting roads created that are consistent with the ubicacion over the past few years. NOTE: The project’s own presentation documents the illegal road construction.

[6] Violación Junta de Calidad Ambiental

[7] Terruño Plan CES Solicitación NOTE: This indicates they are not soliciting an erosion control plan for a mega development that has yet to pass through proper planning channels, but for work on an existing house…

[8] JCA carta a Ombudsman

[9] Intervención Ombudsman

[10] FEMA Land Use Maps NOTE: This project impacts area that the Land Use Management Plan implemented restricted development zoning to protect the coastal resources from erosion and siltation caused by impacts to steep sloping volcanic soils.

[11] Comunicación de DRNA 11 jun 2007 DRNA Concerned about project…no endorsement…public navy lands onsight

[12] Comunicación de DRNA 2009 DRNA project has fragmented ecology of area, concerned about project, no endorsement

[13] United States Fish and Wildlife Freedom of Information Act NOTE: USFWS over time has told developers..no silt ponds..this will cause more damage to habitat critical to endangered species and it did….they recommended no unsustainable plastic erosion control materials..which were used…bombs litter the area, …goes on and on until they make a DEAL to propogate the endangered endemic cactus and like PR Land and Fruits did at the muellecito on Mt. Resaca…and then the “deal” is twisted by developers to look like a permit or endorsement from the Agency…

[14] National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1)

[15] National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2)

NOTE: The NMFS FOIA revealed that there are intentions to build a marina at Cascajo.

[16] Playa Cascajo listed Resource Cat 1 Critical Habitat, considered irreparable if destroyed. NOTE: One would wonder what the point of such a designation is if it is not proactively defended by the agencies, how for example, could EPA “legalize” what has happened by issuing a minor fine and NPDES permit for lands that should never have been touched without proper permits?

[17] Critical Habitat Waters: Sea Turtles

[18] Critical Habitat Waters: Corals

[19] EPA Penalty Order

jp president