PUCHUNCAVÍ. Council members presented their observations on the project.
The developers of the Maratué urban project, by Inmobiliaria El Refugio, presented the master plan for the initiative, which involves an investment of US$2 billion, to the Puchuncaví Municipal Council yesterday. The project was approved last October by the Valparaíso Environmental Assessment Commission (COEVA) after seven years of processing. However, it is currently pending a decision from the Committee of Ministers regarding an appeal. The initiative covers an area of approximately 1,050 hectares and includes the construction of more than 14,000 homes, 2,000 of which will be subsidized. It was also reaffirmed that conservation areas will comprise more than 300 hectares, in addition to a similar amount that will be designated as green spaces incorporated into the project.
GRADUALLY. The meeting outlined the work being done on the project, which will progress gradually until the fourth decade. The project is spearheaded by architect Norman Foster and his Madrid-based foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life in cities. The master plan essentially includes two growth zones connected by a green corridor. These zones will feature the necessary infrastructure required for a project of this scale, while also considering the area’s environmental aspects. Following the presentation, council members offered their observations regarding factors such as job creation, the initiative’s sustainability, environmental protection, the need to maintain open spaces, and the inclusion of conservation areas within the project, among other points. Meanwhile, the mayor of the municipality, Marcos Morales, stated that the initiative represents a development opportunity. “There is a possibility that Puchuncaví could be attractive in every sense, (…) it is a development opportunity, I think the important thing is to do it well and for our neighbors to participate so that this type of initiative has a positive impact on the community,” Morales said.