Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — Federal inspectors have shut down three real estate projects in costal Puerto Morelos for lack of authorization. In all three instances, the developers were granted municipal and/or state permits to build without submitting environmental impact statements to the federal government.
Without an environmental impact statement, real estate developers cannot obtain all the permits required to build, according to Article 28, Section IX of the General Law on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, which can nullify any municipal or state permits already granted.
From May 27 to 30, inspectors from the Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection visited sites along the coastal area of the town of Puerto Morelos. The visits were made in response to complaints received regarding the proliferation of real estate developments in coastal ecosystems without environmental impact authorization from the federal environmental authority.
During the visits, Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente) enforced the temporary total closure of the ongoing construction of a two-story house measuring approximately 1,000 square meters on the coastal area of Puerto Morelos on May 27.
An administrative file was opened because the person visited did not provide environmental impact authorization during the inspection.
On May 28, a temporary total closure was imposed on a construction project that had already been inspected in March 2024. At that time, the project was subject to an environmental impact closure and ordered, as a corrective measure, to refrain from continuing with the work.
They were also ordered to obtain an environmental impact authorization from Semarnat, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales).
During the verification visit, inspectors noted that the sanctioned project had not complied with the corrective measures by continuing with the project’s construction. The project had five levels built whereas the 2024 administrative resolution indicated only one.
The project also failed to submit authorization from the environmental authority, only the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) it had submitted. Even though the inspected project submitted an EIS, it could not resume construction because it had not been authorized.
On May 29, an environmental impact inspection visit was conducted at a real estate development under construction also in the town of Puerto Morelos. Upon arrival, the inspectors observed an area filled with stone material where concrete piles were being driven as well as construction materials and machinery.
The project displayed a Semarnat permit for the rehabilitation of a two-story house which had already been demolished. The activities noted during the inspection were different from those indicated in the document so inspectors imposed a temporary total closure of the ongoing project.
On May 30, Profepa inspectors conducted a new survey, collecting data from other developments under construction, which will be inspected in an upcoming operation.
“Profepa in Quintana Roo will continue to conduct inspection and surveillance operations to verify compliance with environmental regulations as well as to address complaints filed by citizens.
The town of Puerto Morelos is located between two protected natural areas, the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park and the Puerto Morelos Mangrove Flora and Fauna Protection Area, so its protection and conservation are essential,” stated Attorney General Mariana Boy Tamborrell.
