Puerto Morelos wants sustainable development; send a message to Pres. Calderon

From the Coral-List listserve of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

Puerto Morelos Needs Your Help
Sustainable Development Proposal
Jan. 28th 2009

PUERTO MORELOS needs your help. We, the community, are asking for your support locally, nationally and internationally to stop an unreasonable development plan that has been proposed for our small town.

We understand the need for progress and development, however; the plan that was hurriedly approved without proper studies on January 22, 2009 at the Cabilido in Cancun by the regidores, wants to grow our community from the current population of less than 10,000 residents to over 150,000 people. The plan is to build 50,000 worker homes for over 150,000 people in an area that is a designated flood zone. During the hurricane and rainy season (September has an average rain fall of 230mm) these new homes will block the natural water holes that lead to the underground rivers. This will cause thousands of homes to flood. The new plan also has no mention of any infrastructure. No electricity, no water, no sewage, no schools, no churches, etc. It is a plan for real estate developers and land owners to make money fast.

We are extremely worried about the future of Puerto Morelos.

We, the community of Puerto Morelos, want a new development plan, a change, a fresh beginning. We want to be leaders in creating a community that embraces sustainable development along with tourism. We want to work together with developers, land owners, and the town to achieve this vision.

The people of Puerto Morelos have spent the last two years working with the government Urban Development group, IMPLAN creating a sustainable development plan for the town. We are also extremely fortunate to have UNAM (National University of Mexico, studies of marine biology) right here in Puerto Morelos. Several expert scientists, without cost, have helped us with studies on our area and eco systems. In coordination with these experts, our community has developed a plan that will not only respect our eco systems and community but generate money for real estate developers and land owners. Our goal is to become an eco friendly community and tourist area that will bring people to Puerto Morelos who are seeking this kind of vacation environment. One example of such a sustainable tourist hotel is the Hotel Mayakoba that has been built south of our town. It is a magnificently planned hotel respecting the surrounding eco systems.

We want our plan to be recognized by the government and incorporated into the future development of this area. Our plan for development is sustainability, a plan that will be of great benefit to our eco systems and our community. We do not want Puerto Morelos to become another Cancun or Playa del Carmen. We want Puerto Morelos to be a beautiful, restful town respectful of its natural surroundings.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We are asking for your opinion. If you live here, own properties or vacation here, we would like to hear from you.

1) Do you want PUERTO MORELOS to become another Playa del Carmen or Cancun? *
If so why?
If not, why not?

2) Will you continue to come back here?

3) What do you think people are now looking for when they go on vacation?

4) What is your opinion of the many all inclusive resorts that are being
built on the coast?

5) Do the all inclusive hotels benefit PUERTO MORELOS?

6) Will a Cruise ship port for PUERTO MORELOS benefit our community?


Please send your opinion and comments in English or Spanish to:

President of Mexico
Lic Felipe Calderon
presidencia@sectur.gob.mx

Governor of Quintana Roo
Lic, Felix Arturo Gonzales Cantos
gobernador@qroo.gob.mx

Presidente Municipal de Benito Juarez
Ing. Gregorio Sanchez
presidenciajemedinam@cancun.gob.mx

Directo de Turismo
C. Felix Enrique Zarate Nunez
turismo6@cancun.gob.mx

Please send a copy of your letter to pmletters@gmail.com so that we can track
the response. Gracias!