Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — The Secretariat of Ecology and Environment has started the process to revoke construction permits. The permits for what was to be a condo complex in residential Playacar are being cancelled.
The Quintana Roo Secretary of Ecology and Environment (Sema), Oscar Alberto Rebor Aguilera, said they have started to process to revoke the environmental authorization given to the developer Awa of its Playacar Phase 2 real estate project.
The environmental permits are being revoked after authorities inspected the site due to citizen complaints. On site, they learned the developer failed to abide by the issued permits, exceeding the allowed clearing limit by 3,000 meters, resulting in the deaths of three deer.
“The law is clear. Whoever obtains a permit must comply with it. This project violated the conditions of its permit, ignored wildlife protection measures and caused the death of three deer, one of which was a calf,” Rébora reported.
The Legacy condo project of approximately 230 units was widely criticized with residents holding protests after the developer failed to protect the area’s endemic fauna.
“If you don’t comply with the permits there are consequences, and in this case, those omissions cost the lives of three deer. That’s why this revocation process has begun,” he said, adding that he will continue to share details at a later date.
The Secretaría de Ecología y Medio Ambiente (Sema) did not say how long the process will take, but did confirm the definitive revoking of the environmental impact authorization for the Legacy real estate development in Playacar.
He also confirmed that the company responsible was formally notified of the decision August 19, after it was found to have failed to comply with the conditions of its environmental authorization.
In May, Profepa closed the Playacar real estate project due to unauthorized land use change. They said “in response to popular complaints about deer sightings in Playacar Phase 2, in the municipality of Playa del Carmen, on May 26 and 29, Profepa conducted an inspection visit and detected a property with a land use change on forest land without an environmental impact authorization, prompting its closure.”
