Another new hotel in El Cotillo?

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Translated:

The construction of a new waterfront hotel in El Cotillo threatens El Cotillo's cargo capacity, increasing the population by 50 percent overnight and overflowing with the basic services of the town. At present a modification of the planning of the municipality of La Oliva is in process because the intention of the promoters is that the tourist complex occupies totally a public street. A project that, warns its critics, is a serious threat of destruction of the delighted of this fishing village of the northwest majorer, as has happened in Corralejo.

This summer, while Fuerteventura appeared in the international media as the island of the world with the largest number of tourists in relation to its resident population, the City of La Oliva processed a modification of its Subsidiary Rules to facilitate the construction in El Cotillo complex tourist, a hotel on the waterfront. The intention of the promoters, the companies Jandía Esmeralda and Arcor Plan, is to join two plots, which are separated by the street Punta Aguda, to get a farm of more than 11,600 square meters of surface. Its objective is to build a hotel and apartments with a height of 7.5 meters above the street level.

The new tourist complex would generate a significant impact in El Cotillo, with only 1,200 inhabitants. Thus, an estimated 500 more tourists a day in addition to the staff employed in the hotel establishment. The modification of the municipal planning that tries to facilitate the construction of the hotel is subject to a strategic environmental evaluation. The Town Council of La Oliva continues to be governed by Subsidiary Regulations from the beginning of the democratic era, without ever being able to consolidate a General Plan of Urban Planning (PGOU), which would have impeded these fluctuations in the cataloging of soils. Neither during the 24 consecutive years in the mayoralty of Domingo González Arroyo, nor in his intermittent periods of command later, neither in the stages of Claudina Morales, Rosa Fernández or the most recent of Pedro Amador, has settled the approval of a General Plan in La Oliva.

The modification of the subsidiary rules of La Oliva is driven by the aforementioned companies Jandía Esmeralda and Arcor Plan, linked to the housing and casinos sector, and has been assumed by the City Council with the purpose of adapting the municipal ordinances to the new hotel project and allowing absorb a public street within the resort. The local Government Board took note of the documents submitted by the companies on 12 July and forwarded it to the Regional Ministry of Territorial Policy to be forwarded to the Commission for Territorial Planning and the Environment of the Canary Islands (Cotmac). submitted to the environmental assessment process.

For Pedro Hernández, professor of the School of Tourism attached to the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and expert in spatial planning, projects such as the new hotel in El Cotillo are a blow that ends with the charm and tourist attraction under the parameters that defended the artist César Manrique. "It is to turn away from the common good to enrich a few, because the transformation of the coastal edge is irreversible," he warns. In addition, he emphasizes that "the situation of speculation that Fuerteventura lives should make to reflect the managers and responsible of the planning and to present a moratorium before the terrible speculation that suffers the Island". The increase in beds, says the professor, may put at risk the consideration of a territory as a Biosphere Reserve.

Critical voices have begun to emerge in El Cotillo. Silvia Valiente, a neighbor of the town and spokesperson of the Tarek Taca Association, highlights the "nonsense" that the project involves in the face of increased wastewater, cars circulating and energy expenditure, as well as problems that would arise in health, education and housing for the population that has to come to serve the half thousand tourists that would be staying in the establishment, practically half of the current population of El Cotillo.

One of the main problems that the town has is the water supply, which would be enlarged with the increase of tourist beds. Some of the residents of El Cotillo consulted by Diario de Fuerteventura, who prefer not to be named by their name, did not give possibility of building the hotel. "But if in August we have been three days without water by the amount of people," says a neighbor. Another resident stresses that "the new water treatment plant no longer supplies, tankers have had to help throughout the summer and you go to know where they have been spilling." A young third that "the massification entails killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," and criticizes that "that does not matter to the politicians that are now". "The generations that come behind to be annoyed, bread for today, hunger for tomorrow", sentence. There are also those who think that with projects like this El Cotillo is driven to the "destruction" of the charm of the "last fishing village". In a moment, the debate passes from a pair of people to a row of eight, sitting in front of the beach of El Muellito. Of the whole group there was only one discordant voice: a middle-aged man wanted more hotels, claiming that the town was like Corralejo. The young woman stopped him: "Well, go and live there and you'll soon get tired of so much fighting and so much noise."

Original link which shows artists impression superimposed on aerial photo:
https://www.diariodefuerteventura.es/noticia/un-nuevo-hotel-amenaza-la-capacidad-de-carga-de-el-cotillo

[Ivemovedon]

Progress is such a wonderful thing. Sad to see one of the last places on the island that still had that element of 'the way it was' is fast disappearing. Get down there quick and grab a slice of tranquility. it will soon be gone never to return.

Still I suppose some people are happy with the direction its going.

[duncolm]

We were commenting last month that the space there would be better with some improvement. I think landscaping was what we had in mind though....

This is the photo from the news item. Strangely they've used a photo from when what would be the neighbouring block was still under construction...

[Tamkid]

I hope they consider upgrading the Sewerage Treatment works to process the increased load, if memory serves me correctly they are struggling already.

[Banjo]

Is that next to the Denebola complex?

[Tamkid]

Sounds like a disease you would catch in Africa

[Charlie dont surf]

Is that next to the Denebola complex?

Yes, between Denebola and Marfolin. Let's hope the public road running through the middle of the planned Hotel saves the day!

[Banjo]

Those apartments are quite smart, I stayed in one in June....and would again in November if I could find one available. It will be a shame if some of them lose part of their view, not to mention the disruption during construction.

[Banjo]

Sounds like a disease you would catch in Africa

Always reminds me of a certain centre-forward who played for us (Brum) back in the '90s.

Dele Denebola.....or something like that.

[Dave Diggler]

I hope they consider upgrading the Sewerage Treatment works to process the increased load, if memory serves me correctly they are struggling already.

The sewage works has gone & been replaced by a pumping station, not sure where it pumps to though

[erik_tonny]

I hope they consider upgrading the Sewerage Treatment works to process the increased load, if memory serves me correctly they are struggling already.

The sewage works has gone & been replaced by a pumping station, not sure where it pumps to though

Guess !

[Banjo]

If I had to guess I'd say Tropical Brewery.

[Tamkid]

 Very funny Banjo,I like it. How can you have a pumping station that acts as a treatment works? Could explain a lot of that dodgy stuff washed up in heaps next to the lighthouse,hope not.

[Gone Fishing]

Yes, between Denebola and Marfolin. Let's hope the public road running through the middle of the planned Hotel saves the day!

I don't think a one-way street will stand in the way of a thick brown envelope or two

[Gone Fishing]

Those apartments are quite smart, I stayed in one in June....and would again in November if I could find one available.

Free for Nov according to the website:
https://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/accommodation/p8014654#calendar

I have no connection whatsoever with the apartment or owner but was searching a few evenings ago and spotted it.

[Charlie dont surf]

Very funny Banjo,I like it. How can you have a pumping station that acts as a treatment works? Could explain a lot of that dodgy stuff washed up in heaps next to the lighthouse,hope not.

Er....since when has there been anything dodgy about seaweed?

[Charlie dont surf]

[/quote]
The sewage works has gone & been replaced by a pumping station, not sure where it pumps to though
[/quote]

Pumped up to a treatment site just outside El Roque

[Dave Diggler]

The sewage works has gone & been replaced by a pumping station, not sure where it pumps to though
[/quote]

Pumped up to a treatment site just outside El Roque
[/quote]

👍 that's the normal M.O. Replace small defunct treatment works with an interceptor chamber that in turn pumps to a larger works.  The systems works great as long as the pumps are maintained at the interceptor, if these fail or block, the sewage will overflow into the sea.  Judging by the general state of infrastructure maintenance on the island, it ain't looking good

[woe10]

Sounds like a disease you would catch in Africa

Always reminds me of a certain centre-forward who played for us (Brum) back in the '90s.

Dele Denebola.....or something like that.

Why do some people have to go off topic and write something stupid, when discussing a serious subject which could adversely  impact one of the last remaing nice places in Fuerteventura.
Yes. somebody in the Cabildo is on a right back-hander here. They don't give a damn, and won't be happy until the Island is like Tenerife.

[Banjo]

Those apartments are quite smart, I stayed in one in June....and would again in November if I could find one available.

Free for Nov according to the website:
https://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/accommodation/p8014654#calendar

I have no connection whatsoever with the apartment or owner but was searching a few evenings ago and spotted it.

Thanks very much for that GF but I'd already seen it a few days ago. When I tried to book it they told me that there had been a mistake on their calendar and it wasn't available until the day after I needed it. I emailed them back and said that's fine I could take it the following day as my dates were flexible. Then they replied saying that they were very sorry but they'd made another mistake and it wasn't available until the following day. The dates I originally  wanted are still down as available  on that site.I guess either  the owners just made the same mistake twice or Brexit is really starting to bite. We're booked up elsewhere now.

[Tamkid]

Its a nice place to you WOE, I don't get it. But your right, it is best to be sensible, I have never known you ever go off topic, MUCH. And the last thing I would want is for untreated sewerage to hit the beaches of El Cotilo, thanks to a couple of intelligent people on here, I have once again learnt a great deal about the reason for the pumping station, debating isn't all bad and I'm sure it will enlighten a few more people on here. And the mountains of stuff that used to be cleared by bulldozers from the beaches next to the lighthouse a few years back certainly wasn't seaweed, not according to the locals at the time.

Have a wonderful day WOE.

[Banjo]

Sounds like a disease you would catch in Africa

Always reminds me of a certain centre-forward who played for us (Brum) back in the '90s.

Dele Denebola.....or something like that.

Why do some people have to go off topic and write something stupid, when discussing a serious subject which could adversely  impact one of the last remaing nice places in Fuerteventura.

Lol, ok officer woe.

[Ivemovedon]

If the rate of change in Cotillo is as rapid over the next 15 years as it has been over the last it's going to be quite some transition.

Anyone remember there was nothing from Puerto Nuevo to the cliffs except open land and the house flying the jolly roger ?. Even the Spanish old boys who used to congregate on the bench are not there any more. Well maybe they still are but I never saw them when we stayed last time. Perhaps there's too many noisy Italians even for them.

On a good note the restaurant and bar scene should move along with the change if that's what you are after. And should be no shortage of Italian ice cream.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I read a report today that La Oliva Ayuntamiento have requested help from the Cabildo to improve/increase the waste treatment plant at El Roque as it can't cope with the present levels and lorries are having to be used at peak times to move the sewage elsewhere. They also requested help with increasing the water supply and help with dispersal of rain water.
Not looking hopeful if the new place gets the go ahead before any of these improvements are made!

Personally I hope the new hotel doesn't take off but then I think El Cotillo is already spoiled from old (but still lovely!).

[Ivemovedon]

I doubt all the new hotels and apartments customers think it's spoiled, mainly because they've never seen it any other way. It would have been too basic for most of them 15 years ago.It was always going to go this way when they announced 5 or 6 years ago they were looking for a more upmarket tourist clientele. Low spending over 60 naturist's in below par accommodation are not on the radar. Free spending young holidaymakers who keep their kit on most certainly are.

Maybe they haven't heard the one about the 4 Italians with one drink and 4 straws.   

[erik_tonny]

Maybe they haven't heard the one about the 4 Italians with one drink and 4 straws.   

You sure have moved on, that was yesterday.
Nowaday they share the one straw, makes them more flexible as their numbers increase.

[Logitechtom]

I understand that there is to be a public meeting to discuss the hotel proposal TODAY (Monday 23rd October 2017) starting at 7pm (19:00hr) in the cultural center in Cotillo.

Sorry, no idea who is organising the meeting, what the format will be or if it will be in Spanish only or multiple languages, however, if you want to know more, you know where to go the evening.

TT.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Report on the meeting, translated from RTV AguaCabra:

"There is no hotel approved in El Cotillo, the people will participate in that decision," moved yesterday the mayor of La Oliva, Isaí Blanco

The government group last night explained to neighbors the state of the proposal to modify urban land planning, presented by landowners in March, and approved by the City Council in April. "The documents are in environmental assessment."

The Government group of the City of La Oliva yesterday convened the residents of El Cotillo to a meeting to clarify the situation of planning in the locality, and inform them about the status of the proposal submitted by the owners of three lots in the urban area from town.

Before the confusion and the expectation generated, the mayor of La Oliva first clarified that "there is no hotel approved in El Cotillo, nor has the planning been modified, nor is there even a construction project presented at the City Hall yet. a lot for that, and before making such a decision, this government is committed to having the opinion of all the neighbors, activating citizen participation tools if necessary. "

In this sense, said Isaán Blanco, "as mayor and as a neighbor of La Oliva, I am committed to promoting sustainable growth and protecting the territory, because we are very concerned about repeating the mistakes of the past and that there is a tourist massification difficult to control ". He also stated with regard to El Cotillo, that "we will do everything possible to preserve its identity as a fishing village".

Regarding the proposal presented to modify the planning, said Blanco, was presented in March and was given the go-ahead with the previous mayor in the month of April. "Since then, the record has continued its path and the only thing that has done this government is to send the documentation to the Government of the Canary Islands."

Modification of Urban Land Planning

The Councilor for Town Planning in the City of La Oliva, Omaira Saavedra, detailed the situation of the land in which the owners have requested to modify the planning with respect to a public road, joining two plots overlooking a future hotel.

"Among the four proposals being evaluated, three offer to compensate the Town Hall with public land for public uses in the third plot, with an area equivalent to or greater than the suppressed public road. both are edificable since 1990, according to the current planning. There is a fourth option, the alternative "0", in which the three plots do not change and maintain their building situation, as they are now.

"This is a proposal that a priori does not violate any rule, which is in consolidated urban land, and does not increase the general buildability of the town," said the councilor. Nevertheless, he added, "this group of government has done nothing more than refer the file to the Government of the Canary Islands, since it will be the Ministry of Territorial Policy to tell us if the proposal is or is not viable from an environmental point of view" .

"When the record comes back, which could take months, it will be time to estimate the environmental assessment before making any decisions."

Anyway, in the possible scenario of continuing with the procedures, it would be with the involvement and the debate of all the political forces, because to modify the planning has to go to the plenary three times. In addition, the participation of citizens would be guaranteed through public exposure, taking into account the opinions of people and through the allegations. "And all this, he concluded," even before no one has submitted any project or has request a license ".

Citizen participation

During the debate with the neighbors about the feasibility or not of favoring the construction of a hotel in El Cotillo, some of them explained that they have presented arguments during the period of public exposure of the Government of the Canary Islands, arguing that the urban area under evaluation could be affected by the Law of Costs, prior to the Subsidiary Regulations of La Oliva, and that would therefore rule over the current planning. The government group invited this group to present these allegations also in the City Council, in order to be able to incorporate all relevant information available.

During the neighbors' speech, there was a majority of speeches protesting against a new hotel in El Cotillo. However, there was also who was in favor of this type of equipment above the apartments, claiming that these can be built at present without the need to modify the planning.

The Councilor for Town Planning and also the area of ​​Citizen Participation, explained that a few days ago has come into force the new Regulation of Citizen Participation approved by the City, "which includes as a novelty the possibility of conducting citizen consultations." Where appropriate, we could ask the neighbors what they want, using a legal and transparent tool to assess, with real data, the opinions of all.


General plan

Omaira Saavedra informed that the drafting of the General Plan of Ordination is about to begin, and that this will be the key document to order the future growth of La Oliva. "In addition to this hypothetical hotel in the urban area of ​​El Cotillo, the municipality has multiple problems at urban level, in protected areas, partial plans not implemented, in the disseminated, and a long list of issues that need to be addressed."

The subsidiary regulations currently in force date back to the year 2000, being a document approved for the first time in 1989. "The municipality can not continue like this, we need a General Plan, apply sustainability criteria, defend the architectural heritage, natural environment, promote renewable energies , and also development, but always under criteria of quality.What is done should raise the level of the municipality, not destroy it, but for that we also want to have the citizenship to support and participate in the writing of this document, and to be able to move forward together towards the municipality we all want. "

The proposal in Environmental Assessment

After approving the City Council of La Oliva in last April to begin the process of Modification of its Subsidiary Rules at the proposal of the owners of the land, with registration of entry in the month of March, the current group of Government forwarded in the month of July all the documentation presented to the Territorial Policy area of ​​the Government of the Canary Islands, which is in public exhibition from the month of August until this same week.

Once the allegations submitted have been estimated, Territorial Policy will be the one to evaluate the documents, which consist of a proposal for Modification of the Subsidiary Standards of La Oliva, and a Strategic Environmental Document (DEA). Once the evaluation is completed, it will communicate to the City Council the result, concluding if the proposal is viable, not feasible or if it needs modifications.

The entities that request to modify the NNSS are Arcor Plan SL and Jandía Esmeralda SL. The proposal focuses on three parcels of its property, located within the urbanized area of ​​El Cotillo, where the territorial qualification is of "consolidated urban land".

The proposal of the owners is to unify two of the three plots to make a single construction project, eliminating the vial that separates them, and allocating the third lot to open equipment. In addition, part of the site, with a surface above the street suppressed, would be ceded to La Oliva City Council so that the institution could provide public services there, such as parks, gardens, sanitary, sports, educational, etc.

[malabu]

I wonder if this law applies to your next door neighbor putting up some monstrosity,?

[erik_tonny]

I wonder if this law applies to your next door neighbor putting up some monstrosity,?

As long as he pays; why not?
I can show you things you will not believe.
Building houses on higher ground, thus turning the existing gardens into a 3-4 meter pit, robbing all the (sun) light of their villas