The future development of vertical housing in the lakeside area is unavoidable, Chapala Mayor Javier Degollado declared during a December 12 meeting with concerned citizens.
This is despite the fact the Chapala government has intervened to halt further construction of twin apartment towers in the lower section of La Floresta.
A group of 20 Mexican and foreign residents representing different local homeowner associations, the real estate sector and the population at large attended the dialogue at the mayor’s office to voice worries that the municipality’s infrastructure cannot support growth that allows building multi-story structures and other high density housing complexes.
“We’re in favor of economic development, but not in this form,” stated a local lawyer speaking on behalf of the budding citizen coalition named Ajijic Horizontal. Other speakers stressed that high-rise buildings in particular will spoil the landscape and forever alter the area’s small town atmosphere, with adverse effects on its appeal to tourists and retiree settlers.
Degollado announced that those issues will be fully addressed next year when his government undertakes a complete revision of existing zoning plans that will be subject to a process of public consultation. He said other key matters of public interest will be tackled through the implementation of new regulations governing topics such as commerce, parking and urban image.