Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – The escalating tension between Vallarta developers and the Mexican environmental authorities reached a new peak following the closure of 22 real estate complexes. The developers are now seeking to elevate their concerns to María Luis Albores, the head of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
This decision emerged from a pivotal meeting on November 8, where builders convened with Puerto Vallarta’s Mayor, Luis “El Profe” Michel, and other municipal authorities. One of the critical outcomes was the agreement to draft a letter to the President, highlighting the jeopardy of a significant 6 billion peso investment, potentially affecting suppliers and indirect jobs.
Miguel Tejeda, a developer with a halted project in Conchas Chinas, voiced the collective frustration. “We aim to comply with the regulations. However, our efforts to adhere to the federal Environmental Impact Manifestation (MIA) have been consistently rejected,” Tejeda explained.
Furthermore, the developers pledged to support Mayor Michel in upcoming meetings with both the Semarnat head and the President of Mexico. Tejeda emphasized the miscommunication in these dealings. “There’s a misconception at the higher levels, suggesting we are extensively damaging the mountain ranges, which contradicts the reality of our operations in already consolidated areas,” he added.
The issue traces back to October 23, when this news outlet reported that Semarnat, through the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa), had halted the construction of 22 real estate complexes. The crackdown on real estate developments started in 2021 but intensified in April 2022 following Raúl Rodríguez’s appointment to Semarnat’s Jalisco delegation.
The developers’ move to involve the national government leaders signals a significant escalation in this ongoing environmental and economic conflict, underlining the complexities of balancing developmental aspirations with environmental responsibilities. The outcome of these high-level engagements could set a precedent for future real estate projects in environmentally sensitive regions.
Editor’s note: The government does not release the names of businesses or developments that have been closed, only the number of businesses. For this reason, PVDN cannot provide a complete list of closures that can be confirmed with the government agency.
Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - The escalating tension between Vallarta developers and the Mexican environmental authorities reached a new peak following the closure of 22 real . . .
