Xcalak Urban Landscape Design Manual

_____________________________________________________________________________ Xcalak Urban Landscape Design Manual _____________________________________________________________________________ Matt Hogan, Jessica Johnson, et al. 1998 Citation: Hogan, M., J. Johnson, et al. 1998. Xcalak Urban Landscape Design Manual. Syracuse, New York: State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Dept. of Landscape Architecture. 26pp. For more information contact: Pamela Rubinoff, Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882 Telephone: 401.874.6224 Fax: 401.789.4670 Email: [email protected] This five year project aims to conserve critical coastal resources in Mexico by building capacity of NGOs, Universities, communities and other key public and private stakeholders to promote an integrated approach to participatory coastal management and enhanced decision-making. This publication was made possible through support provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Environment and Natural Resources Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade under the terms of Cooperative Agreement No. PCE-A-00-95-0030-05. Xcalak Guidelines for Development by Matt Hogan, Jessica Johnson, Tim Schreiber, and the Residents of Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico December 23, 1998 Faculty of Landscape Architecture, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Table of Contents 2 Introduction 4 Community Planning Process 8 Development Districts 10 Centro District 14 Residential District 18 Coastal District 22 Recommendations 24 Next Steps Thank you to the people of Xcalak for your participation, enthusiasm, and making us feel a part of your community! Thanks, Dana Wusinich, for your dedication, Thanks, Professor Cheryl Doble, for the Thank you, Carlos Lopez, and Amigos de assistance, helping us fit in, and, of course, continuous advice, encouragement, Sian Ka’an, for supporting the Xcalak your friendship. and understanding. planning process. Introduction Xcalak is a small fishing village communities within the area. Accord- on the Caribbean Coast of the ing to the complicated zoning maps Yucatan Peninsula. Despite the ex- accompanying the plan, Xcalak is tensive tourism development along slated for commercial tourism devel- the Cancun-Tulum corridor to the opment, while the existing community north, Xcalak has experienced little is to be relocated to an area further tourism development due to its re- inland, near the newly constructed mote location. airport. Chetumal Recently, the government of the Amigos de Sian Ka’an, a non- Xcalak state of Quintana Roo has turned its profit group that coordinates environ- eye toward the coral reef and un- mental projects in and around the Sian The Yucatan Peninsula spoiled shoreline of the southern Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, has taken (map courtesy of Amigos de Sian Ka’an) coast as another potential tourist an interest in conserving both the destination on a scale with its north- unique ecosystems and the residential ern coast. In 1993, Governor Mario community of Xcalak. In an effort to Villanueva sanctioned a plan for the help residents take an active role in development of this area called The this region’s growing tourism indus- Costa Maya Plan. This plan lays out try, Amigos has established programs development zones along the coast to teach English and natural history to from the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Re- the residents. These programs are serve south to Xcalak. already proving beneficial to the community. Residents are working to While The Costa Maya Plan have their coral reef declared an offi- displays a degree of sensitivity to the cially protected area, are developing natural resources by calling for sus- programs and activities for tourists, tainable energy sources and limiting and are playing an active role in the size of construction, it overlooks the development of Xcalak. importance of preserving existing 2 This document, Guidelines for Development, is the result of a col- laborative effort between Amigos de Sian Ka’an and the Faculty of Land- scape Architecture at the State Uni- versity of New York College of Envi- ronmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York, USA. Three landscape architecture students worked with Amigos’ staff and the residents of Xcalak to develop a strategy for growth that protects the residents’ valued resources and reflects their future vision of the community. This document records the planning process and the community’s pre- ferred development plan. The text Meetings were held with and graphic images present the the residents and vistors community’s vision and illustrate to review progress and to design strategies that can be used to discuss revisions. manage development appropriate to that vision. It is intended that this document be used to guide future planning and to facilitate discussions with local, state, and federal officials. 3 Community Planning Process participatory process in which the and constraints that might influence students learned from the residents the way change occurs. These issues, and the residents in turn evaluated opportunities, and constraints then design proposals developed by the formed the framework for developing students. The findings and recom- a vision for the town. mendations are the result of several community-wide meetings, many Once the vision had been clearly individual conversations and an un- articulated, meetings focused on how derstanding of the community gained the community could move toward through the students’ three-month achieving this vision. Goals to meet residency in Xcalak. This document, the vision were established, as well as Guidelines for Development, is a preliminary objectives. The student summary of the planning process, design team then identified five alter- community vision, and proposed native development schemes and, design strategy. working with the residents, measured them against the community vision, The people of Xcalak were the cornerstone The first community-wide meet- goals, and objectives. Schemes that of this project. ings encouraged residents to look at did not meet the goals and objectives Working with the Amigos staff their town and to consider and iden- were removed from further consider- and the residents of Xcalak, the land- tify what they valued about the com- ation. The remaining schemes were scape architecture students facilitated munity, as well as what makes Xcalak further discussed and evaluated, and a community-based process to identify unique from any other place. Resi- ideas in those plans were integrated local resources, to articulate a commu- dents considered the physical, social, into a single plan that addressed com- nity vision for future growth, and to and historic character of the village, munity concerns and met their desires. identify a design strategy that would and described their images of the That plan is the basis of this booklet, fulfill that vision. community. Guidelines for Development. This community planning process With a clear understanding of the took place in Xcalak over a three- community, the residents then consid- month period from September-No- ered the issues associated with future vember of 1998. It was based on a change and listed the opportunities 4 IssueOpportunity Constraint Challenge Access remote location has preserved access to and from other towns is providing better access for visitors Xcalak’s unique, attractive character currently limited and laborious while retaining remote character Infrastructure existing infrastructure encourages existing infrastructure is unreliable to acquire assistance and funding to low-impact and self-sufficient and somewhat random organize and construct a reliable, development cohesive system Waste Management people realize it is a problem and none lack of organization, expertise, and want to fix it money Growth Area there is a substantial amount of some lands are ecologically sensitive, a large portion of the land is owned vacant and undeveloped land thus limiting development types by non-residents who may not be aware of the community vision Services opportunities to develop new none lack of trained personnel and opportu- busnesses nities for them to serve once they are trained Time new development is not imminent and however, time is limited to have a clearly thought out strategy there is time to prepare... in place which people are prepared to implement Support ongoing and strong relationships with none to take a stronger role and partner Amigos de Sian Ka’an, World more vigorously with government and Wildlife Federation, University of non-government organizations Quintana Roo, etc. Issues are matters of concern to A vision is a clear statement of The community’s vision for Xcalak the community as they think about the the community’s desired future--a is “to become a thriving town where the growth of Xcalak. Issues can be realistic dream of what it wants to be. needs of both long-term residents and opportunities, constraints, and chal- The community uses the vision to tourists happily coincide while retaining lenges. Opportunities are conditions guide ensuing growth, development, its character of a tranquil Caribbean that the community can capitalize on, and change. Goals are broad, action- fishing village.” Goals were defined to while constraints are circumstances oriented statements that describe what achieve this vision and are listed on the that limit

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