Vega Alta updates its land use plan after governor’s signature

The Vega Alta Land Use Plan was originally adopted in 2011, and its comprehensive review was developed through a collaborative agreement between the municipality and the Puerto Rico Planning Board, in order to address current challenges and align the municipality’s growth with community priorities. (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Monday signed the executive order that formalizes the Comprehensive Review of the Vega Alta Municipal Land Use Plan, a document that updates the municipal planning framework and establishes the basis for the urban and territorial development of the municipality.

“We are promoting a clear public policy: to strengthen municipal planning as a tool to attract investment, improve essential services, and raise the quality of life of our people,” González Colón said in a written statement.

The Vega Alta Land Use Plan was originally adopted in 2011, and its comprehensive review was developed through a collaborative agreement between the municipality and the Puerto Rico Planning Board, in order to address current challenges and align the municipality’s growth with community priorities. Vega Alta Mayor María Vega Pagán stated that the plan’s revision will allow for the protection of the municipality’s natural resources and pave the way for strategic infrastructure and economic development projects.

“This plan reflects our collective aspirations and allows us to promote projects that strengthen our infrastructure and open new opportunities for investment, culture, sports, and tourism,” the mayor said.

The Comprehensive Revision of the Land Use Plan incorporates guidelines for investment in housing, mobility and transportation, essential services, solid waste management, and environmental protection, in addition to reinforcing the conservation of areas such as the La Vega Forest, the Northern Karst Zone, the Cibuco River basin, wetlands, and agricultural areas.

Among the projects included in the plan are a multifunctional recreational and gastronomic park, a municipal resilience center, improvements to roadways and sports facilities, as well as initiatives such as the conversion of the old city hall into a public theater, a technology center, and an agritourism and educational park.

Planning Board Chairman Héctor Morales Martínez said the plan’s revision provides the municipality with an updated guide to align strategic projects and foster orderly and sustainable development.

As part of the municipal goals, the revision strengthens the objective of establishing a permits office in Vega Alta, with the purpose of streamlining processes, facilitating private investment, and improving the provision of services related to development and construction.