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Wildlife

Urban Development Project
in Curime is Halted Due to the
Possibility of Contamination

• Engineering Department declared that the project could expose water source to sewage leaks
• Property owner argues that the process of dividing the property will not harm the water.

By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo

Nicoya's Municipalidad has halted progress on an urban development project in Curime. The main reason is the property's location, as it is adjacent to a stream that flows into the Potrero River.

According to engineer Gustavo Orozco, an Engineering Department official at Nicoya's Municipalidad, the construction of an urban development project so close to a groundwater body would jeopardize the quality of drinking water, since a large part of Nicoya's water supply comes from the Potrero River wells.

However, Jose Badilla, the property's owner explains "what we plan on doing is diving the property into lots. At no time have we ever thought about harming the groundwater. We know about the stream's proximity and therefore we will comply with the regulations established by law and keep a proper distance."

The project will have 30 houses and, according to Badilla, each lot would have approximately 500 square meters.

Meanwhile, Orozco explained that although Badilla did present the necessary land use permits, these documents are not valid as they correspond to the former mayor's term and therefore have already expired.

"He (Badilla) plans to go on constructing because he has land use permits; however, these are not building permits and are no longer valid," Orozco explained.


Recently, the property owner submitted formal documentation to the Municipalidad in order to continue building the wall that will surround the property, but according to Badilla, his request has received no response from town hall officials.

According to the Municipalidad's Engineering Department, they have no intention of approving this construction project as it threatens the groundwater's vulnerability, especially during the rainy season.

 
   
 
   
 
   
 

"The construction area's location is extremely close to the stream that flows into the Potrero River and we know that during the rainy season the soil becomes saturated with water, with the risk of having the septic tanks overflow. If this happens, sewage could reach the stream and the Potrero River," said Orozco.

Moreover, Curime's residents do not have a favorable opinion in regards to the construction of a project that threatens water quality. One of them, who preferred to remain anonymous, affirmed that "a project such as this one will pollute the water because, during the winter months, the stream's bed grows a lot, dragging everything into the Potrero River."

* The Voice of Nosara would like to clarify that Jose Badilla Vargas, from Nosara and Sag Harbor, NY, it's not the same Jose Badilla mentioned in this article. We regret any confusion.

Correction – In the April issue of Voice of Nosara, it was reported that the land use permits for a possible urbanization project in Curime had expired and are no longer valid. Municipal Engineer Gustavo Orozco clarified that land use permits do not expire but that they are very preliminary and are not the same as a construction permit.

 

More Regional News

Presidency Asks Representatives to Revise Law of Coastal Territories

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San Jose – Nicoya Bus Fare to Increase 1335 colones

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Finishing the Montaña River Bridge is in the Controller’s hands

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Security Vehicle Carrying More than $100,000 Flipped

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Mel Gibson Has Not Paid Off Debt With Nicoya's Municipality

Although one of Mel Gibson's representatives visited the Municipality of Nicoya on March 30th in order to pay off property taxes, he still owes 27 million colones in unpaid taxes.

Samara Pays Homage to a Great Surfer and Friend

After burying his body in Carrillo in the morning on Thursday, April 12th, hundreds gathered on the beach in Samara in front of Choco’s Surf School at about 4:30 p.m. to pay their respects to surf instructor Jose Angel Lopez Castillo, known as “Shaggy.”

Police Apprehend Thieves with Help from Courageous Neighbor

On the evening of Tuesday, April 3rd, two thieves were detained by the tourist police of Guiones, thanks to the collaboration of a neighbor. Although a denunciation was filed with the Organism of Judicial Investigation of Nicoya, the next day the criminals were released pending trial since the 12 hours that someone can be legally held without a formal denunciation had expired. 

Traffic Accidents Increase During “Dust Season” in Nosara

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Former Police Officer Imprisoned 16 Years After Trial

On Thursday, March 8th, Olman Perez Acevedo was arrested during a routine roadblock by the public force in Samara. A warrant was out for his arrest for a “simple homicide” that happened way back when Olman himself was working for the public force, but the case is far from simple.

New Waste Management Plan Offers a Solution to Trash Problems

A responsible and adequate waste management process continues to be an unresolved issue for Nicoya. This is evidenced by the closing of the landfill, on three different occasions, and the lack of a comprehensive vision as to how to deal with waste management in the future.

A New Home for the Healthiest Elderly in the World

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More Time Granted for Analyzing Proposed Regulatory Plan

Many voiced opposition to how little time was given for community members to review the proposed regulatory plan for the Canton of Nicoya and submit observations, just 10 working days after the plan was presented on Saturday, February 25th, and the municipal council on Monday, March 26th agreed to allow those who submitted comments during those ten days to have an additional 45 working days to continue reviewing the plan, beginning April 9th.

Efforts to Protect Samara’s Water Source

The need to protect Samara and El Torito’s main water source, the Mala Noche water table located between Samara and El Torito, was one issue raised in response to the canton’s proposed regulatory plan (see article), which had the area zoned for tourism, although a technical report by the SENARA (National Service of Subterranean Waters, Irrigation and Drainage) specified that a zone of protection of natural resources should be implemented in the Municipality’s regulatory plan.


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