By The Star Staff
Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Thursday signed, along with Juncos Mayor Alfredo Alejandro Carrión and Planning Board (JP by its initials in Spanish) Chairman Julio Lassús Ruiz, the first revised land use plan for the eastern central town of Juncos.
In a written statement, the governor called the signing of the “Comprehensive Review of the Territorial Plan of Juncos” (RIPOT by its initials in Spanish) “an essential step for the organized and sustainable development of the community.”
“With this signature, we ensure multiple benefits for the people of Juncos, such as the improvement of infrastructure with new roads and public services, the protection of green areas and natural resources, the boost to the local economy with new investments and jobs, the promotion of affordable housing and the creation of more public spaces for the enjoyment of all,” Pierluisi said.
He noted that the Juncos RIPOT includes several key projects for the strategic development of the municipality, including the construction and operation of the El Valenciano reservoir, which is essential for the supply of drinking water in the eastern and central region. In addition, the plan includes a 100-megawatt solar farm and the construction of a solar panel factory, both aimed at promoting the development of renewable energy on the island.
In the tourism area, the document establishes the construction of a new hotel, increasing the availability of accommodations and promoting the growth of the tourism sector in Juncos. Pierluisi also highlighted the value of Juncos in the pharmaceutical industry, with the presence of companies such as Medtronic and Amgen, which export products worldwide, as well as the importance of the municipality’s agricultural lands for Puerto Rico’s food security.
Lassús Ruiz said the original Juncos Land Use Plan was approved in 2007, and the new review guarantees that the document is updated to respond to the current and future conditions and needs of the community.
“The JP staff has been providing technical support to the municipalities so that they can have this critical planning instrument, and so that those who have the document can update it,” he said. “This has been achieved with additional resources that the agency has received as part of the FEMA grant to reinforce compliance with codes and regulations after Hurricane Maria. The planning of a territory is a broad and comprehensive matter, so the POTs are comprehensive documents that integrate the different aspects that must be reconciled for the economic development of a community in harmony with its environment.”
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