Three Cabarete community groups have sent legal notifications to Millennium Resort and Seawinds at Punta Goleta in Puerto Plata, both under construction, informing them that they have 7 days to comply with the zoning laws on construction in the Cabarete area. The Federation for a Sustainable Cabarete, the Sosua and Cabarete Association for the Protection of the Environment and Tourism (Asoprocaso) and the Cabarete Development Association (Adeca) are encouraging the developers to stick to the latest urban plan of the Ministry of Tourism. The organizations have copied the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment on the notifications.
The community organizations were instrumental in securing new urban rulings from the government that prevent high-rise development in the area in order to ensure constant wind flow. Cabarete is the Caribbean’s leading windsurfing, kiteboarding and Laser sailing destination.
The Federation for a Sustainable Cabarete says that the move seeks to attract new investors to Cabarete. They want assurance that all builders have to comply with the same zoning laws.
In November 2009, President Leonel Fernandez issued a decree to regulate construction in the area of the natural lagoon and the beaches that form Cabarete’s unique ecosystem.
Decree No. 847-09 regulates condominium and hotel construction to three floors at Punta Goleta, starting at a distance of 60 meters from the waterline.