Of the approximately 30 businesses that comprised the so-called “Cocktail Bar” area on the “Nelson Barrera Romellón” Coastal Boardwalk, the complete recovery of the public beach should be finished by the end of January as part of the reorganization process initiated last year in Playa Norte. None of these establishments had a concession granted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).
Risk of collapse in electrical towers in Ciudad del Carmen: Civil Protection warns of CFE’s negligence
The Director of Urban Development in Carmen, Eli García Basto, explained that so far, nine of the nearly 30 businesses that occupied this coastal strip have been relocated, prioritizing those with the longest history, mainly those established since the end of 2011, when the encroachment on this area, considered a sea turtle nesting ground, began.
He specified that none of the businesses operating on Playa Norte had federal permits or legal documentation, a situation that worsened during the 2018–2021 period, taking advantage of the pandemic. The lack of regulation allowed the number of establishments to grow uncontrollably, increasing from an initial group of approximately seven businesses between 2011 and 2012, to 14 later, and eventually reaching almost 29.
García Basto noted that a general cleanup and gradual recovery of the occupied areas on Playa Norte were carried out last year, resulting in the area now being practically free of restaurants and bars that were improperly using the public beach. He indicated that only a few businesses remain to be relocated, and they must do so by the end of this month.
He explained that many of the businesses have been regulated or are in the process of being regulated and relocated in coordination with the Directorate of Commercial and Regulatory Affairs, headed by Miriam Bernal Colomé, with the goal of offering them alternative spaces while simultaneously ensuring unobstructed beaches and proper urban planning along the entire coastline.
The official acknowledged that there is not enough space to relocate all the vendors, so only nine will be integrated into new areas, giving priority to those who demonstrated long-standing presence and direct activity in the area. He explained that it was discovered that some of the original spaces were no longer being operated by the original vendors but were being rented to third parties, which influenced the decision not to include them in the relocation process.
Finally, he reiterated that the recovery of Playa Norte aims to preserve the public nature of the beach, protect the coastal ecosystem, and put an end to years of irregular occupation, making it clear that urban planning will continue to prevent further encroachment in this area.
Source: poresto
