‘MEMBERS ONLY’ Q&A: ‘Vallarta Development 101’

by | May 11, 2018 | AIM Higher, Development, Events, Featured, News | Noticias, Uncategorized

Over 40 ANA members filled the auditorium at Incanto for an informative presentation followed by a lively question and answer session on April 11.
Real estate broker and AMPI PresidentHarriet Murray, City Hall veteran Ing. Oscar Hernandez (ably assisted by ANA Administrator Viviana Testón), university professor of Urban Planning Alfonso Banos, and local hotelier and developerOscar Moran presented a short course on the history of urban planning (or the lack thereof) in Vallarta, Jalisco and Mexico – essentially, how we got where we are today – the ins and outs (COS and CUS) of permitted construction, and current economic and social pressures affecting Vallarta’s recent growth spurt.
Hot topics were the recent ‘Manhattanization’ of the Romantic Zone, the protections offered Amapas by our Plan Parcial, or not, depending on the willingness of City Hall to respect the rules, and whether Vallarta’s infrastructure is keeping up with the new water and sewer demands resulting from the construction boom.

Some differences between areas with a Plan Parcial, like Amapas, and areas without, like Emiliano Zapata and most of the Romantic Zone, were discussed.  Among them: under the Amapas Plan Parcial, developers cannot ask for an exception to the rules just because some other building exceeded them; also, under the recently passed Article 35, the Planning Department has more discretion in applying zoning rules in areas without a Plan Parcial.

Panelists and ANA members alike expressed frustration at the lack of a coherent Urban or Growth Plan for Vallarta, the lack of transparency in the permitting process, and the sense that unplanned or poorly regulated development is eating away at Vallarta’s authentic charms and threatening to replace its vibrant core with highrise ‘dormitories’ that add to the local tax-base, but subtract from our town’s livability and long term sustainability.

Inspired by questions raised at our Annual General Meeting, this is the second in a series of special ANA ‘Members Only’ informational presentations, which are generously hosted by popular local entertainment venue Incanto.

Now that we better understand the basic rules, ANA plans to have a follow-up Q&A in the fall, and will invite representatives of the Planning Department and SEAPAL to attend.  Stay tuned.

SIGN THE PETITION: Save the Pilitas Stairs!

by | May 3, 2018 | Development, Featured, News | Noticias, Street, Uncategorized

A proposed new seven-story condo tower at the end of Calle Pilitas, where it intersects with Pino Suarez (on paper, anyway) threatens the location of the stairway that historically connected Amapas residents near the highway with neighbors on Pilitas and provided pedestrian access to the beach.

 

The stairs were destroyed during the construction of 212 Pilitas several years ago and, despite the developer’s promises to neighbors, never rebuilt.

Now, ANA is working with neighbors, including the San Franciscan, Escondido and Canada Romantica condominiums, to get City permission to rebuild the Pilitas Stairs.  We need neighborhood residents’ signatures as proof that we care about the stairs and support their reconstruction.

Stop by the ANA office at 111/3 Rodolfo Gomez, in the Hotel San Marino – across from Barra Light and The Coffee Cup – and sign the petition!  
Call 322-223-8312 for more information.  Do it today!

Neighbors, residents tourists of Puerto Vallarta : Save our Calle Pilitas Stairway! Salvemos nuestro andador

Sign the petition!

‘MEMBERS ONLY’ Q&A ON NEW CONSTRUCTION SET FOR APRIL 11

by | Mar 27, 2018 | Development, Events, Featured, News | Noticias

For the 411 on zoning rules, from City Hall to the Amapas Plan Parcial to what can and can’t be built on that vacant lot down the street, you’ve got questions, and our panel of local experts has answers.

Join us at Incanto (Insurgentes, at the bridge) on Wednesday, April 11, at 11 AM, when we present a short course in Vallarta zoning rules and regulations:

“VALLARTA URBAN PLANNING 101”
Inspired by questions raised at our Annual General Meeting, this is the second in a series of special ANA ‘Members Only’ informational presentations.  Seating is limited.  To make a reservation, call our office, 322-223-8312.

ANA’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

by | Mar 15, 2018 | Events

On February 16, Act II Stages hosted ANA’s Annual General Meeting, and it ran, if you don’t mind us saying so, like a well-oiled machine.  About 40 members were present, with proxies getting us to quorum.  President Tom Swale reviewed ANA’s 2017 accomplishments, including the completion of our Hortensias Repaving Project and Phase One of our new Highway Sidewalk, not to mention inaugurating the new ‘emergency-only’ Amapas-Police Whatsapp channel and a new ANA-sponsored and run (first of its kind) Basic English For Police class that should improve interactions between Vallarta police and English-speaking residents and visitors.

Tom then looked ahead to 2018, focusing on ANA’s core mission of improving life in Amapas by targeting Security, Responsible Development, Streets and Infrastructure, and Building Community.  That means continuing to develop the Basic English for Police program, continuing Highway Sidewalk fundraising and construction, repainting our Highway crosswalks (and adding a new one at Macuaz), advancing the Pulpito Street Executive Plan, devoting $100,000 pesos to updating and improving the Amapas Plan Parcial, and aggressively monitoring building permit requests and construction in and around Amapas.

Tom stated that the recent hiring of Diego Villalobos as our Office Manager will help significantly in all these areas, as well as improving our response to member requests, membership and sponsorship outreach, and our social media presence – getting the word out on ANA activities and events.

Treasurer Don Pickens reported that we started 2017 with $193,787 pesos carried over from the previous year, with income (including Hortensias Repaving and Highway Sidewalk contributions, Dinner Dance proceeds and $300,000 pesos in ANAnual Giving) of $1,119,307 pesos, and expenses of $1,096,288, ANA ended 2017 with a cash balance of $220,289 to carry over into 2018.

Thanks to membership renewals, contributions and our new ANAual Giving Drive, ANA’s finances are strong for 2018, with projected income and expenses, not including fundraising for the Highway Sidewalk, which will be accounted for separately.  The Board hopes to raise additional funds from Mariachi, Margaritas & More, the Pulpito Drag Derby, and outreach to new members and sponsors, as well as contributions targeted to specific projects through the year.

Don also announced that he’ll be leaving the Board some time in the coming year, once a replacement Treasurer can be appointed and a smooth transition of responsibility accomplished.  After five years of managing amazing ANA growth and accomplishments while keeping us solvent and transparent, Don’s shoes will be hard to fill.

The 2018 Budget of $1,047,000 pesos, maintaining annual dues at current levels, was approved unanimously, and the current Board was re-elected: Tom Swale, President; Don Pickens, Treasurer, Sylvia Toy, Secretary (with Membership responsibilities); Gene Mendoza, Vocal (Security); Harris Spiridonidis, Vocal (Responsible Development); Michael Lindner, Vocal (Development, Fundraising); and Yasmin Todd, Vocal (Volunteers).  Viviana Testón was also unanimously confirmed as Administrator.

Welcome, Diego!

by | Feb 9, 2018 | Featured, News | Noticias, Uncategorized

Your ANA is pleased to welcome Diego Villalobos Ramirez as our new Office Manager.

Diego is smart, helpful, agreeable and experienced.  Not to mention bilingual.  Most recently, he worked as Management Assistant and handled Front Desk responsibilities at Tropicasa Realty.  Prior to that, Diego served four years as Front Desk Supervisor-Concierge at Vidanta Mayan Palace, winning Employee of the Year in 2014, and Employee of the Month on six other occasions.

 

Diro 3Diego will be working with Administrator Viviana Teston to respond to ANA member requests, connect with City Hall, oversee ANA projects and social media, help with New Member and Sponsor Outreach, and handle other administrative matters.

The addition of a second full-time employee to our ANA staff means that there will almost always be someone in the office M-F, 9-6, to address your concerns, or answer a call or email.  It also means that we can do more than one thing at a time, and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.

Come by and meet Viviana and Diego in our office at 111/3 Rodolfo Gomez, across from The Coffee Cup and Barra Light, in Hotel San Marino.

ANA’s growth, new office, great staff, accomplishments, and ability to get things done for Amapas are all thanks to the annual dues and generous contributions of Individual and Full Building Members like you.