{
  "id": "nexus-ext-1-0007-62238",
  "citation": "Res. 01168-2004 Sala Constitucional",
  "section": "nexus_decisions",
  "doc_type": "constitutional_decision",
  "title_es": "Ámbito del Plan Regulador de Playa Tamarindo y protección ambiental de obra constructiva",
  "title_en": "Scope of the Tamarindo Beach Regulatory Plan and environmental protection of a construction project",
  "summary_es": "La Sala Constitucional declaró sin lugar un recurso de amparo interpuesto contra la construcción de un proyecto de condominios en Playa Tamarindo, ubicado dentro de la zona marítimo terrestre. El recurrente alegaba violación al derecho a un ambiente sano por falta de uso de suelo conforme al plan regulador, ausencia de viabilidad ambiental, impacto lumínico sobre el Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, y contaminación por aguas negras. La Sala determinó que el inmueble, inscrito bajo el sistema de Folio Real, se encontraba excluido de la aplicación de la Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre por haber sido adquirido mediante información posesoria anterior a la legislación restrictiva, con fundamento en el artículo 6 de la Ley 6043 y el Transitorio III de la Ley 4558. Asimismo, se acreditó que el proyecto contaba con estudio de impacto ambiental aprobado por SETENA, viabilidad ambiental y permisos municipales vigentes. En cuanto al temor de afectación a la anidación de tortugas Baula, la Sala constató que el desarrollador asumió compromisos de gestión ambiental para mitigar la iluminación artificial. Sobre las aguas residuales, un informe de la Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano confirmó que las aguas eran tratadas y no se descargaban en la playa. Por tanto, no se demostró lesión alguna al ambiente. La Sala también desestimó el alegato de desobediencia debido a que el Alcalde giró las órdenes requeridas.",
  "summary_en": "The Constitutional Chamber dismissed an amparo action filed against the construction of a condominium project in Playa Tamarindo, located within the maritime-terrestrial zone. The petitioner alleged a violation of the right to a healthy environment due to lack of land use approval under the regulatory plan, absence of environmental viability, light pollution affecting Las Baulas National Marine Park, and blackwater contamination. The Court found that the property, registered under the Folio Real system, was excluded from the scope of the Maritime-Terrestrial Zone Law because it had been acquired through possessory proceedings prior to the restrictive legislation, based on Article 6 of Law 6043 and Transitory III of Law 4558. It also confirmed that the project had an Environmental Impact Assessment approved by SETENA, environmental viability, and valid municipal permits. Regarding concerns about impacts on Leatherback turtle nesting, the Court noted that the developer had adopted environmental management commitments to mitigate artificial lighting. Concerning wastewater, a report from the Human Environment Protection Unit confirmed that blackwaters were treated and not discharged onto the beach. Therefore, no environmental harm was demonstrated. The Court also rejected the disobedience claim because the Mayor had issued the necessary orders.",
  "court_or_agency": "Sala Constitucional",
  "date": "2004",
  "year": "2004",
  "topic_ids": [
    "environmental-law-7554",
    "property-and-titling"
  ],
  "primary_topic_id": "environmental-law-7554",
  "es_concept_hints": [
    "amparo ambiental",
    "información posesoria",
    "zona marítimo terrestre",
    "desafectación del dominio público",
    "viabilidad ambiental",
    "impacto lumínico",
    "efecto reflejo",
    "tanque séptico",
    "condominios Sunrise Tamarindo"
  ],
  "concept_anchors": [
    {
      "article": "Transitorio III",
      "law": "Ley 4558"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 6",
      "law": "Ley 6043"
    },
    {
      "article": "Transitorio",
      "law": "Ley 4847"
    },
    {
      "article": "Art. 2 inciso b",
      "law": "Decreto Ejecutivo 29307-MPJ-MIVAH-MEIC-TUR"
    }
  ],
  "keywords_es": [
    "amparo ambiental",
    "Plan Regulador Playa Tamarindo",
    "propiedad inscrita",
    "información posesoria",
    "zona marítimo terrestre",
    "Ley 6043",
    "Transitorio III Ley 4558",
    "desafectación",
    "uso de suelo",
    "viabilidad ambiental",
    "impacto lumínico",
    "Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas",
    "tortugas Baula",
    "aguas negras",
    "prueba documental"
  ],
  "keywords_en": [
    "environmental amparo",
    "Tamarindo Beach Regulatory Plan",
    "registered property",
    "possessory proceeding",
    "maritime-terrestrial zone",
    "Law 6043",
    "Transitory III Law 4558",
    "exemption from public domain",
    "land use",
    "environmental viability",
    "light pollution",
    "Las Baulas National Marine Park",
    "Leatherback turtles",
    "blackwaters",
    "documentary evidence"
  ],
  "excerpt_es": "SOBRE EL EFECTO REFLEJO E IMPACTO LUMÍNICO Y AMBIENTAL DE LAS OBRAS. El Plan de Gestión Ambiental del Proyecto Condominios Playa Tamarindo evalúa y establece una serie de medidas ambientales correctivas compensatorias que pretenden que la luz artificial que se utilizará en los edificios y que, en criterio del accionante producirá un efecto reflejo e impacto lumínico y ambiental con consecuencias negativas en la zona de influencia del Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, no produzca ningún efecto en la anidación de las Tortugas Baula y en la fauna en general. Para evitar el impacto que el proyecto podría generar, el desarrollador se comprometió a utilizar en la iluminación de los parqueos y la calle principal que dará acceso al proyecto, la cantidad de luminarias necesarias para brindar la seguridad adecuada a los residentes del Proyecto. Asimismo, a que esa iluminación no se proyectará hacia la calle pública, para lo cual instalará en las luminarias cobertores que permitirán direccionar la luz hacía la calzada o parqueos. Además, se comprometió a utilizar niveles de iluminación que oscilen entre 2- 11 lux; asimismo, que los postes donde se colocarán las lámparas no sobrepasen 1.50 mts. de altura. En la iluminación interior se obligó a utilizar lámparas alejadas de la ventana y vidrios tratados que opaquen e impidan que la luz se proyecte fuera de las habitaciones, todo lo cual fue aprobado por el ente rector en la materia. Aprecia esta Sala que habiendo sido aprobado el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental, otorgada la Viabilidad Ambiental y aceptados los Compromisos que el Plan de Gestión Ambiental prevé, se garantiza el respeto, la estabilidad y la armonía ecológica de la obra constructiva y de los recursos naturales de la región donde se desarrolla.",
  "excerpt_en": "REGARDING THE REFLECTION EFFECT AND LIGHT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE WORKS. The Environmental Management Plan for the Playa Tamarindo Condominiums Project evaluates and establishes a series of corrective compensatory environmental measures intended to ensure that the artificial light to be used in the buildings—which, in the petitioner's view, would produce a reflection effect and light and environmental impact with negative consequences in the area of influence of the Las Baulas National Marine Park—will not have any effect on Leatherback turtle nesting or on fauna in general. To avoid the impact that the project could generate, the developer undertook to use in the illumination of the parking areas and the main road providing access to the project only the number of light fixtures necessary to provide adequate safety for the Project's residents. Likewise, to ensure that such illumination will not be projected toward the public road, for which purpose it will install covers on the light fixtures that will direct the light toward the roadway or parking areas. Additionally, it undertook to use illumination levels ranging between 2 and 11 lux, and that the poles on which the lamps will be placed will not exceed 1.50 meters in height. For interior lighting, it obligated itself to use lamps away from windows and treated glass that dims and prevents light from being projected outside the rooms, all of which was approved by the governing body in the matter. This Court considers that, having approved the Environmental Impact Assessment, granted the Environmental Viability, and accepted the Commitments set forth in the Environmental Management Plan, respect for the ecological stability and harmony of the construction work and of the natural resources of the region where it is developed is guaranteed.",
  "outcome": {
    "label_en": "Dismissed",
    "label_es": "Sin lugar",
    "summary_en": "The amparo action was dismissed because the project has environmental viability, the property is exempt from the maritime-terrestrial zone, and no environmental harm was proven.",
    "summary_es": "Se declaró sin lugar el recurso de amparo porque el proyecto cuenta con viabilidad ambiental, el inmueble está desafectado de la zona marítimo terrestre, y no se probó daño ambiental."
  },
  "pull_quotes": [
    {
      "context": "Considerandos",
      "quote_en": "the property of the co-defendant company is excluded from the application of the public domain regime imposed by the Maritime-Terrestrial Zone Law.",
      "quote_es": "la propiedad de la empresa coadyuvante se encuentra excluida de la aplicación del régimen de afectación de dominio público que impone la Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre."
    },
    {
      "context": "Voto 447-91 citado en considerandos",
      "quote_en": "this is not a case in which limitations are imposed on private property, because the law itself, in Article 6, exempts its application \"to properties registered in accordance with the law, in the name of private individuals\"",
      "quote_es": "no se trata de un caso en que se impongan limitaciones a la propiedad privada, porque la misma ley, en el artículo 6 exceptúa su aplicación \"a las propiedades inscritas con sujeción a la ley, a nombre de particulares\""
    },
    {
      "context": "Considerandos",
      "quote_en": "This Court considers that, having approved the Environmental Impact Assessment, granted the Environmental Viability, and accepted the Commitments set forth in the Environmental Management Plan, respect for the ecological stability and harmony of the construction work and of the natural resources of the region is guaranteed.",
      "quote_es": "Aprecia esta Sala que habiendo sido aprobado el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental, otorgada la Viabilidad Ambiental y aceptados los Compromisos que el Plan de Gestión Ambiental prevé, se garantiza el respeto, la estabilidad y la armonía ecológica de la obra constructiva y de los recursos naturales de la región."
    },
    {
      "context": "Considerandos",
      "quote_en": "the report from the Human Environment Protection Unit of Liberia confirms that the blackwaters from the “Sunrise” commercial premises do not produce contamination and that the disposal systems arranged by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., guarantee environmental protection.",
      "quote_es": "el informe de la Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano de Liberia permite acreditar que las aguas negras de los locales comerciales “Sunrise” no producen contaminación y que los sistemas de disposición dispuestos por el Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., garantizan la protección del ambiente."
    }
  ],
  "cites": [],
  "cited_by": [],
  "references": {
    "internal": [
      {
        "target_id": "norm-6549",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Ley 4558  Transitorio III"
      },
      {
        "target_id": "norm-32006",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Ley 6043  Art. 6"
      },
      {
        "target_id": "norm-4023",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Ley 4847  Transitorio"
      },
      {
        "target_id": "norm-45903",
        "kind": "concept_anchor",
        "label": "Decreto Ejecutivo 29307-MPJ-MIVAH-MEIC-TUR  Art. 2 inciso b"
      }
    ],
    "external": []
  },
  "source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/ext-1-0007-62238",
  "tier": 2,
  "_editorial_citation_count": 0,
  "regulations_by_article": null,
  "amendments_by_article": null,
  "dictamen_by_article": null,
  "concordancias_by_article": null,
  "afectaciones_by_article": null,
  "resoluciones_by_article": null,
  "cited_by_votos": [],
  "cited_norms": [],
  "cited_norms_inverted": [
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-32006",
      "norm_num": "6043",
      "norm_name": "Ley sobre la Zona Marítimo Terrestre",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "02/03/1977"
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-45903",
      "norm_num": "29307",
      "norm_name": "Reglamento para el Trámite de Visado de Planos para la Construcción de Edificaciones en la Zona Marítimo Terrestre",
      "tipo_norma": "Decreto Ejecutivo",
      "norm_fecha": "26/01/2001"
    },
    {
      "doc_id": "norm-6549",
      "norm_num": "4558",
      "norm_name": "Ley de Urbanización Turística de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre",
      "tipo_norma": "Ley",
      "norm_fecha": "22/04/1970"
    }
  ],
  "sentencias_relacionadas": [],
  "temas_y_subtemas": [],
  "cascade_only": false,
  "amendment_count": 0,
  "body_es_text": "SOBRE LOS ALCANCES Y LOS LIMITES DEL PLAN REGULADOR DE PLAYA TAMARINDO. La aplicación del Plan Regulador de Playa Tamarindo se encuentra determinado por lo que disponen el transitorio III, de la Ley de Construcciones de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, Nº 4558 del 20 de abril de 1970 y el artículo 6º de la Ley de la Zona Marítimo- Terrestre. La Ley 4558, en el transitorio III dispuso que:\n\n “Aquellas personas que demuestren haber poseído en forma quieta, pública, pacífica y a título de dueños, lotes o fincas en la zona marítimo-terrestre, por más de treinta años, pueden solicitar título de propiedad sobre ellos, salvo la reserva a que se refiere el artículo 6º de está ley, aún cuando hubieren poseído tales inmuebles durante parte de ese tiempo como arrendatarios, mediante contratos suscritos con el Estado o sus Instituciones. El procedimiento será el que marca la actual Ley de Informaciones Posesorias. En este caso no habrá limitación en cuanto a la extensión del lote o finca a inscribir en cabeza del interesado”.\n\nDebe tomarse en consideración que el Transitorio de la Ley 4847 del 4 de setiembre de 1971 que derogó el transitorio III de la Ley 4558 dispuso que “las informaciones posesorias que hubieren sido presentadas a los Juzgados al 8 de setiembre en curso, continuarán tramitándose hasta su terminarción”. Asimismo, la Corte Plena, en función de Tribunal Constitucional en la Sesion Extraordinaria Nº 52 de las 14:00 hrs. del 22 de noviembre de 1972 declaró inconstitucional ese transitorio de la Ley 4847 “únicamente en cautno retrotrae sus efectos al 8 del mes de setiembre inmediato anterior...”, con lo que todas las informaciones posesorias presentadas hasta la fecha de entrada en vigencia de la Ley 4847 debían ser continuadas y fenecidas.\n\nPor su parte, la Ley 6043, en su artículo 6º, estableció:\n\n“Las disposiciones de esta Ley no se aplicarán a las áreas de las ciudades situadas en los litorales, ni a las propiedades inscritas, con sujeción a la ley, a nombre de particulares cuya legitimidad reconozcan las leyes”.\n\nEn el caso concreto está, debidamente, acreditado que el inmueble propiedad del Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, en el que se realiza la obra de construcción de los denominados “Condominios Sunrise” se encuentra inscrito en el Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble bajo el Sistema de Folio Real Matricula Nº (copias a folios 325, 327- 328 y 401) y que la inscripción de ese inmueble provino de una información posesoria incoada el 24 de abril de 1971, finalmente, homologada por el Juzgado Civil de Santa Cruz, por resolución de las 14:00 hrs. del 10 de setiembre de 1980(copia a folio 401 y manifestaciones a folio 413). Dado que, que el inmueble del Grupo coadyuvante se encuentra en la zona restringida de la zona marítimo terrestre e inscrito en el Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble, con sujeción a las Leyes Nº 4558, 4847 y Ley de Informaciones Posesorias y cumpliendo los requisitos de rigor, bajo la inteligencia de las normas transcritas, la propiedad de la emprsea coadyuvante se encuentra excluida de la aplicación del régimen de afectación de dominio público que impone la Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre. Está posición se reafirma, con lo que dispone el inciso b), del artículo 2, del Reglamento para el Trámite de Visado de Planos para la Construcción de Edificaciones en la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 29307-MPJ-MIVAH-MEIC-TUR, de 20 de febrero de 2001, que estatuye:\n\n “El presente reglamento no rige para los casos de construcciones que posean regulación y procedimientos especiales para el visado definido por ley, o bien aquellos excluidos –por la misma ley- de la aplicación de la Ley sobre Zona Marítimo Terrestre Nº 6043 y sus reformas. Por lo tanto el presente decreto no aplica para:\n\na) (..)\n\nb) Las propiedades inscritas con base en la Ley Nº 4558 del 22 de abril de 1970 y normativa anterior, cuyo título haya sido legalmente adquirido e inscrito ante el Registro Público...”\n\nEstá posición, ya había sido sostenida por este Tribunal en 1991, en la sentencia 447-91, de las quince horas con treinta minutos del día veintiuno de febrero de mil novecientos noventa y uno, cuanto reconoció que:\n\n“...no se trata de un caso en que se impongan limitaciones a la propiedad privada, porque la misma ley, en el artículo 6 exceptúa su aplicación \"a las propiedades inscritas con sujeción a la ley, a nombre de particulares\" y \"a aquellas cuya legitimidad reconozcan las leyes\". Se confirma de ese texto, que está excluida su aplicación a la propiedad privada, pues la ley lo que hace es reconocer a las zonas marítima terrestre su condición de bien de dominio público y regular su administración, protección, uso y aprovechamiento. Tómese en cuenta que cuando en mil novecientos setenta y siete se dictó la ley, regía la Ley No. 4558 de 22 de abril de 1970 (derogada precisamente por la No. 6043), que a su vez reconocía el dominio público de esa zona declarada en leyes anteriores, aunque con una modalidad y regulación un tanto diversas. La tesis tiene confirmación con la circunstancia adicional de que el Estado ha tenido que ir emitiendo legislación -bastante profusa- en la que exceptúa del dominio público ciertas zonas o partes del litoral, por manera que no se les aplique la legislación general que para ellas regía. No es atendible, entonces, la premisa de la que parte el accionante, ya que no se imponen limitaciones a la propiedad privada, sino que al regularse el dominio público, la ley lo que hace es establecer condiciones mediante las que es posible el uso y disfrute de la zona marítimo terrestre, por parte de los particulares...”\n\nEn lo que respecta al primer punto –el otorgamiento del uso de suelo-, está acreditado que el inmueble inscrito bajo el Sistema de Rolio Real Matricula Nº , no se encuentra sometido a la Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, puesto que conforme se explicó por disposición expresa de la ley, se encuentra desafectado del régimen de dominio público. De ahí habiendo sido el uso de suelo otorgado por la Municipalidad de Santa Cruz conforme lo que dispone el Plan Regulador de Playa Tamarindo para construcciones en inmuebles desafectados en la zona de servicios turísticos múltiples -que es donde se encuentra la propiedad-, no se produce lesión alguna al plan regulador de la zona. De otra parte, y en lo que respecta a que la obra constructiva del coadyuvante carece de Estudio de Impacto Ambiental y declaratoria de Viabilidad Ambiental aprobado y permisos de salud, la prueba documental aportada permite desvirtuar el dicho del recurrente. Mediante resolución Nº 088-2003-SETENA de las 11:56 hrs. del 29 de enero de 2003, la Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental aprobó el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental del Proyecto Condominio Playa Tamarindo (copia a folios 229- 231). Los Compromisos Ambientes del Proyecto fueron presentados ante la Municipalidad de Santa Cruz el 13 de febrero de 2003 (folio 61 del expediente administrativo que se aportó) y mediante oficio SG-1892-2003-SETENA de 17 de noviembre de 2003, se le otorgó al Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., la Viabilidad Ambiental al Proyecto Condominios Playa Tamarindo (copia a folio 228). De otra parte, los permisos municipales de construcción de la primera etapa se aprobaron por acuerdo Municipal tomado en la Sesión Ordinaria 24-2002, Capítulo VIII, artículo 8, inciso 01) apartado 01 de 11 de junio de 2002 y los de construcción de la tercera etapa el 1º de setiembre de 2003 (copias a folios 17 y 276).\n\nSOBRE EL EFECTO REFLEJO E IMPACTO LUMÍNICO Y AMBIENTAL DE LAS OBRAS. El Plan de Gestión Ambiental del Proyecto Condominios Playa Tamarindo evalúa y establece una serie de medidas ambientales correctivas compensatorias que pretenden que la luz artificial que se utilizará en los edificios y que, en criterio del accionante producirá un efecto reflejo e impacto lumínico y ambiental con consecuencias negativas en la zona de influencia del Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, no produzca ningún efecto en la anidación de las Tortugas Baula y en la fauna en general. Para evitar el impacto que el proyecto podría generar, el desarrollador se comprometió a utilizar en la iluminación de los parqueos y la calle principal que dará acceso al proyecto, la cantidad de luminarias necesarias para brindar la seguridad adecuada a los residentes del Proyecto. Asimismo, a que esa iluminación no se proyectará hacia la calle pública, para lo cual instalará en las luminarias cobertores que permitirán direccionar la luz hacía la calzada o parqueos. Además, se comprometió a utilizar niveles de iluminación que oscilen entre 2- 11 lux; asimismo, que los postes donde se colocarán las lámparas no sobrepasen 1.50 mts. de altura. En la iluminación interior se obligó a utilizar lámparas alejadas de la ventana y vidrios tratados que opaquen e impidan que la luz se proyecte fuera de las habitaciones, todo lo cual fue aprobado por el ente rector en la materia. Aprecia esta Sala que habiendo sido aprobado el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental, otorgada la Viabilidad Ambiental y aceptados los Compromisos que el Plan de Gestión Ambiental prevé, se garantiza el respeto, la estabilidad y la armonía ecológica de la obra constructiva y de los recursos naturales de la región donde se desarrolla. \n\nSOBRE EL ABASTECIMIENTO DE AGUA POTABLE. En este extremo, no se ha podido acreditar que la obra constructiva que desarrolla el Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., una vez construida o en su proceso de construcción, comprometa el caudal y la calidad de los aprovechamientos del entorno. Por ello, debe ser la empresa encargada del suministro del servicio público de agua potable la que deberá ponderar las condiciones en las que se suministrara a los condominios “Sunrise Tamarindo” ese servicio, para lo cual deberá tener en consideración las condiciones de los aprovechamiento cercanos. \n\nSOBRE LA EVACUACIÓN DE AGUAS NEGRAS. En este punto, está acreditado que, con ocasión de una denuncia planteada por Nombre01 contra los locales comerciales denominados “Sunrise” por descarga de aguas negras en la playa, la Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano de Liberia realizó una inspección en el lugar el 8 de enero de 2004. Según el informe de esa inspección, ese centro comercial cuenta con un sistema primario de tratamiento consistente en un tanque séptico, que tiene una capacidad de 2000 metros cúbicos y un drenaje de 12 mts. lineales. Además que en la primera fase de las obras, ese tanque séptico con sus respectivos drenajes se construyó de manera provisional para tratar las aguas residuales. Lo anterior, porque a nivel de planos constructivos, tanto las aguas del centro comercial como las de los condominios serán tratadas en forma definitiva por una planta de tratamiento de lodos activados, que fue construida contiguo al tanque séptico. En ese sentido, el informe concluyó señalando que las aguas negras procedentes de los locales comerciales no están siendo descargadas a la playa, sino están siendo tratadas mediante el sistema convencional de tanque séptico y drenajes localizados en el sector este respecto a los locales y que el único descargue de aguas procedentes de las instalaciones del Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., que lograron identificar hacia la playa, son las aguas utilizadas en el lavado de las mezcladoras de concreto, aspecto para el cual las autoridades sanitarias dispusieron la construcción de drenajes o pozos de absorción en las áreas donde, transitoriamente, se ubicaran los equipos, obligación que deberá acatar la emprsa constructora. Aprecia la Sala que el informe de la Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano de Liberia permite acreditar que las aguas negras de los locales comerciales “Sunrise” no producen contaminación y que los sistemas de disposición dispuestos por el Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., garantizan la protección del ambiente. \n\nSOBRE LA ALEGADA DESOBEDIENCIA. En cuanto a la acusada desobediencia, el informe del Alcalde Municipal de Santa Cruz y la prueba documental que aportó –notificación de 23 de enero de 2004-, permiten acreditar que ese funcionario Municipal, giró las ordenes necesarias para cumplir con lo que este Tribunal le ordenó en la resolución Nº 2004-00362, de las 14:50 hrs. Por ende, la gestión del peticionario, resulta improcedente sin necesidad de declararse en la parte dispositiva de esta sentencia por la forma en que se resuelve el fondo del asunto. Todo sin perjuicio que el recurrente ocurra ante el Ministerio Público, si estima que se incumplió lo dispuesto en esa resolución.\n\nComo corolario de lo expuesto, se impone declarar sin lugar el recurso y comunicarlo vista la paralización de las obras.-",
  "body_en_text": "**ON THE SCOPE AND LIMITS OF THE PLAYA TAMARINDO REGULATORY PLAN.**\n\nThe application of the Playa Tamarindo Regulatory Plan is determined by the provisions of Transitional Provision III of the Ley de Construcciones de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, No. 4558 of April 20, 1970, and Article 6 of the Ley de la Zona Marítimo-Terrestre. Law 4558, in Transitional Provision III, provided that:\n\n \"Those persons who demonstrate having possessed lots or properties in the maritime-terrestrial zone quietly, publicly, peacefully, and as owners for more than thirty years may request a property title for them, subject to the reservation referred to in Article 6 of this law, even if they held such immovable property during part of that time as lessees, through contracts signed with the State or its Institutions. The procedure shall be that established by the current Ley de Informaciones Posesorias. In this case, there shall be no limitation regarding the size of the lot or property to be registered in the name of the interested party.\"\n\nIt must be taken into consideration that the Transitional Provision of Law 4847 of September 4, 1971, which repealed Transitional Provision III of Law 4558, provided that \"the possessory information proceedings (informaciones posesorias) that had been filed with the Courts by September 8 of the current year shall continue to be processed until their conclusion.\" Likewise, the Corte Plena, acting as the Constitutional Court in Extraordinary Session No. 52 at 2:00 p.m. on November 22, 1972, declared that Transitional Provision of Law 4847 unconstitutional \"only insofar as it retroacts its effects to the 8th of the immediately preceding month of September...\", meaning that all possessory information proceedings filed until the date of entry into force of Law 4847 had to be continued and concluded.\n\nFor its part, Law 6043, in its Article 6, established:\n\n\"The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the areas of cities located on the coastlines, nor to properties registered, in accordance with the law, in the name of private individuals whose legitimacy is recognized by the laws.\"\n\nIn this specific case, it is duly proven that the property owned by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, on which the construction work of the so-called \"Condominios Sunrise\" is being carried out, is registered in the Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble under the Folio Real System, registration number (copies at folios 325, 327-328, and 401), and that the registration of this property originated from a possessory information proceeding initiated on April 24, 1971, and finally approved by the Juzgado Civil de Santa Cruz, by resolution at 2:00 p.m. on September 10, 1980 (copy at folio 401 and statements at folio 413). Given that the property of the intervening Group is located in the restricted zone of the maritime-terrestrial zone and is registered in the Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble, in accordance with Laws No. 4558, 4847, and the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias, and meeting the strict requirements, under the interpretation of the transcribed norms, the property of the intervening company is excluded from the application of the public domain encumbrance regime imposed by the Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre. This position is reaffirmed by the provisions of subsection b) of Article 2 of the Reglamento para el Trámite de Visado de Planos para la Construcción de Edificaciones en la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 29307-MPJ-MIVAH-MEIC-TUR, of February 20, 2001, which stipulates:\n\n \"This regulation does not govern cases of constructions that have special regulations and procedures for plan approval (visado) defined by law, or those excluded —by the same law— from the application of the Ley sobre Zona Marítimo Terrestre No. 6043 and its amendments. Therefore, this decree does not apply to:\n\na) (..)\n\nb) Properties registered based on Law No. 4558 of April 22, 1970, and previous regulations, whose title has been legally acquired and registered before the Registro Público...\"\n\nThis position had already been upheld by this Tribunal in 1991, in judgment 447-91, of three-thirty in the afternoon on February twenty-first, nineteen ninety-one, when it recognized that:\n\n\"...it is not a case in which limitations are imposed on private property, because the law itself, in Article 6, excepts its application 'to properties registered in accordance with the law, in the name of private individuals' and 'to those whose legitimacy is recognized by the laws.' It is confirmed from that text that its application to private property is excluded, since what the law does is recognize the maritime-terrestrial zones' condition as public domain property and regulate its administration, protection, use, and exploitation. It should be noted that when the law was enacted in nineteen seventy-seven, Law No. 4558 of April 22, 1970, was in effect (specifically repealed by No. 6043), which in turn recognized the public domain status of that zone as declared in previous laws, albeit with a somewhat different modality and regulation. This thesis is confirmed by the additional circumstance that the State has had to issue legislation—quite extensive—in which it exempts certain zones or parts of the coastline from public domain, so that the general legislation that governed them does not apply. Therefore, the premise from which the plaintiff starts is not acceptable, since limitations are not being imposed on private property, but rather, in regulating public domain, what the law does is establish conditions through which the use and enjoyment of the maritime-terrestrial zone by private individuals is possible...\"\n\nRegarding the first point—the granting of land use (uso de suelo)—it is proven that the property registered under the Folio Real System, registration number , is not subject to the Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, since, as explained, by express provision of law, it is disaffected from the public domain regime. Hence, as the land use was granted by the Municipalidad de Santa Cruz in accordance with the provisions of the Playa Tamarindo Regulatory Plan for constructions on disaffected properties in the multiple tourist services zone—which is where the property is located—no harm whatsoever is caused to the zone's regulatory plan. Furthermore, with respect to the claim that the intervening party's construction work lacks an approved environmental impact assessment (Estudio de Impacto Ambiental) and declaration of environmental viability (Viabilidad Ambiental), as well as health permits, the documentary evidence provided allows the petitioner's claim to be refuted. Through resolution No. 088-2003-SETENA at 11:56 a.m. on January 29, 2003, the Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental (SETENA) approved the environmental impact assessment (Estudio de Impacto Ambiental) for the Condominio Playa Tamarindo Project (copy at folios 229-231). The Environmental Commitments (Compromisos Ambientes) of the Project were filed with the Municipalidad de Santa Cruz on February 13, 2003 (folio 61 of the administrative file provided), and through official letter SG-1892-2003-SETENA of November 17, 2003, the environmental viability (Viabilidad Ambiental) was granted to Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., for the Condominios Playa Tamarindo Project (copy at folio 228). Additionally, the municipal construction permits for the first stage were approved by Municipal agreement adopted in Ordinary Session 24-2002, Chapter VIII, Article 8, subsection 01) paragraph 01 of June 11, 2002, and those for construction of the third stage on September 1, 2003 (copies at folios 17 and 276).\n\n**ON THE REFLECTIVE EFFECT AND LIGHT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE WORKS.**\n\nThe Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) for the Condominios Playa Tamarindo Project evaluates and establishes a series of corrective and compensatory environmental measures intended to ensure that the artificial light to be used in the buildings, which, in the petitioner's opinion, will produce a reflective effect and light and environmental impact with negative consequences in the zone of influence of Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, does not produce any effect on the nesting of Baula Turtles or on wildlife in general. To avoid the impact the project could generate, the developer undertook to use, in the lighting of the parking areas and the main street that will provide access to the project, the quantity of luminaires necessary to provide adequate security to the Project residents. Likewise, it undertook to ensure that this lighting is not projected onto the public street, for which purpose it will install covers on the luminaires to direct the light toward the roadway or parking areas. It also undertook to use illumination levels ranging between 2-11 lux; furthermore, that the posts where the lamps will be placed shall not exceed 1.50 m in height. For interior lighting, it obligated itself to use lamps placed away from windows and treated glass that opacifies and prevents light from being projected outside the rooms, all of which was approved by the governing body in the matter. This Chamber considers that given the environmental impact assessment (Estudio de Impacto Ambiental) has been approved, the environmental viability (Viabilidad Ambiental) granted, and the Commitments established in the Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) accepted, respect for, and the ecological stability and harmony of, the construction work and the natural resources of the region where it is developed are guaranteed.\n\n**ON THE SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER.**\n\nOn this point, it has not been possible to prove that the construction work being developed by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., once built or during its construction process, compromises the flow and quality of the surrounding water uses (aprovechamientos). Therefore, it must be the company responsible for supplying the public drinking water service that shall assess the conditions under which this service will be supplied to the \"Sunrise Tamarindo\" condominiums, for which purpose it must take into consideration the conditions of nearby water uses.\n\n**ON THE DISCHARGE OF BLACK WATER.**\n\nOn this point, it is proven that, on the occasion of a complaint filed by Nombre01 against the commercial establishments known as \"Sunrise\" for the discharge of black water onto the beach, the Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano de Liberia conducted an inspection on site on January 8, 2004. According to the inspection report, that commercial center has a primary treatment system consisting of a septic tank, which has a capacity of 2000 cubic meters and a 12-linear-meter drainage field. Furthermore, in the first phase of the works, that septic tank with its respective drainage was built provisionally to treat wastewater. This is because, at the construction plan level, both the water from the commercial center and that of the condominiums will be treated definitively by an activated sludge treatment plant, which was built adjacent to the septic tank. In that regard, the report concluded by noting that the black water coming from the commercial establishments is not being discharged onto the beach, but rather is being treated through the conventional system of a septic tank and drainage located in the eastern sector relative to the establishments, and that the only water discharge from the facilities of Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., that they were able to identify towards the beach is the water used in washing the concrete mixers, an aspect for which the health authorities ordered the construction of drainage or absorption wells in the areas where the equipment is temporarily located, an obligation that the construction company must comply with. This Chamber considers that the report from the Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano de Liberia proves that the black water from the \"Sunrise\" commercial establishments does not produce contamination and that the disposal systems arranged by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., guarantee the protection of the environment.\n\n**ON THE ALLEGED DISOBEDIENCE.**\n\nRegarding the alleged disobedience, the report from the Municipal Mayor of Santa Cruz and the documentary evidence provided—notification of January 23, 2004—prove that this Municipal official issued the necessary orders to comply with what this Tribunal ordered in resolution No. 2004-00362, at 2:50 p.m. Therefore, the petitioner's claim is without merit, without needing to be declared in the operative part of this judgment due to the manner in which the merits of the case are resolved. All without prejudice to the appellant resorting to the Ministerio Público, if they consider that the provisions of that resolution were not complied with.\n\nAs a corollary to the foregoing, the appeal must be declared without merit, and notification must be given in view of the stoppage of the works.-\n\n<span style=\"font-weight:bold\">ON THE SCOPE AND LIMITS OF THE PLAYA TAMARINDO REGULATORY PLAN.</span> The application of the Playa Tamarindo Regulatory Plan is determined by the provisions of Transitory Provision III of the Ley de Construcciones de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, No. 4558 of April 20, 1970, and Article 6 of the Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre. Law 4558, in Transitory Provision III, provided that:\n\n\"Those persons who demonstrate having possessed, quietly, publicly, peacefully, and as owners, lots or properties in the maritime-terrestrial zone (zona marítimo-terrestre) for more than thirty years, may request title of ownership over them, except for the reservation referred to in Article 6 of this law, even if they had possessed such real estate during part of that time as tenants, through contracts signed with the State or its Institutions. The procedure shall be that set forth in the current Law of Possessory Informations (Ley de Informaciones Posesorias). In this case, there shall be no limitation regarding the extent of the lot or property to be registered in the name of the interested party.\"\n\nIt must be taken into consideration that the Transitory Provision of Law 4847 of September 4, 1971, which repealed Transitory Provision III of Law 4558, provided that \"possessory informations (informaciones posesorias) that have been filed with the Courts by September 8 of the current year, shall continue to be processed until their conclusion.\" Likewise, the Full Court, acting as the Constitutional Court in Extraordinary Session No. 52 at 2:00 p.m. on November 22, 1972, declared that transitory provision of Law 4847 unconstitutional \"only insofar as it retroacts its effects to the 8th of the immediately preceding month of September...\", which meant that all possessory informations (informaciones posesorias) filed up to the effective date of Law 4847 had to be continued and concluded.\n\nFor its part, Law 6043, in its Article 6, established:\n\n\"The provisions of this Law shall not apply to the areas of cities located on the coastlines, nor to properties registered, in compliance with the law, in the name of private individuals whose legitimacy is recognized by the laws.\"\n\nIn the specific case, it is duly accredited that the real estate owned by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, on which the construction work of the so-called \"Condominios Sunrise\" is being carried out, is registered in the Public Registry of Real Property (Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble) under the Folio Real System, Registration No. (copies on folios 325, 327-328, and 401) and that the registration of that real estate originated from a possessory information (información posesoria) filed on April 24, 1971, finally approved by the Civil Court of Santa Cruz, by resolution at 2:00 p.m. on September 10, 1980 (copy on folio 401 and statements on folio 413). Given that the real estate of the intervening coadjuvant Group is located in the restricted zone of the maritime-terrestrial zone (zona marítimo terrestre) and registered in the Public Registry of Real Property (Registro Público de la Propiedad Inmueble), in compliance with Laws No. 4558, 4847, and the Law of Possessory Informations (Ley de Informaciones Posesorias) and fulfilling the rigorous requirements, under the understanding of the transcribed norms, the property of the intervening coadjuvant company is excluded from the application of the public domain encumbrance regime imposed by the Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre. This position is reaffirmed by the provisions of subsection b) of Article 2 of the Reglamento para el Trámite de Visado de Planos para la Construcción de Edificaciones en la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, Decreto Ejecutivo Nº 29307-MPJ-MIVAH-MEIC-TUR, of February 20, 2001, which stipulates:\n\n\"This regulation does not govern cases of constructions that have special regulations and procedures for the approval defined by law, or those excluded –by the same law- from the application of the Ley sobre Zona Marítimo Terrestre No. 6043 and its amendments. Therefore, this decree does not apply to:\n\na) (..)\n\nb) Properties registered pursuant to Law No. 4558 of April 22, 1970, and prior regulations, whose title has been legally acquired and registered before the Public Registry...\"\n\nThis position had already been held by this Court in 1991, in judgment 447-91, at three thirty p.m. on February twenty-first, nineteen ninety-one, when it recognized that:\n\n\"...this is not a case in which limitations are imposed on private property, because the law itself, in Article 6, exempts its application 'to properties registered in compliance with the law, in the name of private individuals' and 'to those whose legitimacy is recognized by the laws.' It is confirmed from that text that its application to private property is excluded, since what the law does is recognize the maritime-terrestrial zones (zonas marítima terrestre) for their condition as public domain property and regulate their administration, protection, use, and exploitation. It must be considered that when the law was enacted in nineteen seventy-seven, Law No. 4558 of April 22, 1970 (repealed precisely by No. 6043) was in force, which in turn recognized the public domain of that zone declared in previous laws, albeit with a somewhat different modality and regulation. The thesis is confirmed by the additional circumstance that the State has had to issue legislation –quite profuse- excepting certain zones or parts of the coastline from the public domain, so that the general legislation that governed them is not applied. The premise from which the claimant proceeds is therefore not tenable, since limitations are not imposed on private property, but rather, in regulating the public domain, the law establishes conditions through which the use and enjoyment of the maritime-terrestrial zone (zona marítimo terrestre) by private individuals is possible...\"\n\nRegarding the first point –the granting of land use (uso de suelo)–, it is accredited that the real estate registered under the Folio Real System, Registration No. , is not subject to the Ley de la Zona Marítimo Terrestre, since, as explained, by express provision of the law, it is released (desafectado) from the public domain regime. Hence, the land use (uso de suelo) having been granted by the Municipality of Santa Cruz in accordance with the provisions of the Playa Tamarindo Regulatory Plan for constructions on released (desafectados) real estate in the multiple tourist services zone –which is where the property is located–, no injury is caused to the regulatory plan of the zone. Furthermore, and with respect to the contention that the coadjuvant's construction work lacks an approved Estudio de Impacto Ambiental and declaratoria de Viabilidad Ambiental and health permits, the documentary evidence provided allows refuting the claimant's statement. By means of resolution No. 088-2003-SETENA at 11:56 a.m. on January 29, 2003, the Secretaría Técnica Nacional Ambiental approved the Estudio de Impacto Ambiental for the Proyecto Condominio Playa Tamarindo (copy on folios 229-231). The Environmental Commitments (Compromisos Ambientales) of the Project were filed with the Municipality of Santa Cruz on February 13, 2003 (folio 61 of the administrative file provided) and by official letter SG-1892-2003-SETENA of November 17, 2003, the Viabilidad Ambiental was granted to Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., for the Condominios Playa Tamarindo Project (copy on folio 228). Furthermore, the municipal construction permits for the first stage were approved by Municipal agreement adopted in Ordinary Session 24-2002, Chapter VIII, Article 8, subsection 01) paragraph 01 of June 11, 2002, and those for the construction of the third stage on September 1, 2003 (copies on folios 17 and 276).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight:bold\">ON THE REFLEX EFFECT AND THE LIGHTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE WORKS</span>. The Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) for the Condominios Playa Tamarindo Project evaluates and establishes a series of corrective and compensatory environmental measures intended to ensure that the artificial light that will be used in the buildings and which, in the claimant's opinion, will produce a reflex effect and a lighting and environmental impact with negative consequences in the zone of influence of Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, does not produce any effect on the nesting of Leatherback Turtles (Tortugas Baula) or on the fauna in general. To avoid the impact that the project could generate, the developer committed to using, in the illumination of the parking lots and the main street that will provide access to the project, the quantity of necessary luminaires to provide adequate safety to the Project's residents. Likewise, it committed that this illumination will not be projected towards the public street, for which purpose it will install covers on the luminaires that will allow directing the light towards the roadway or parking lots. In addition, it committed to using illumination levels ranging between 2-11 lux; likewise, that the poles on which the lamps will be placed do not exceed 1.50 meters in height. For interior illumination, it obligated itself to use lamps located away from the window and treated glass that obscures and prevents the light from being projected outside the rooms, all of which was approved by the governing body in the matter. This Chamber considers that, the Estudio de Impacto Ambiental having been approved, the Viabilidad Ambiental granted, and the Commitments provided for in the Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) accepted, the respect, stability, and ecological harmony of the construction work and the natural resources of the region where it is developed are guaranteed.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight:bold\">ON THE SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER.</span> On this point, it has not been possible to prove that the construction work developed by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., once built or during its construction process, compromises the flow and quality of the surrounding water sources (aprovechamientos). Therefore, it must be the company in charge of supplying the public drinking water service that must weigh the conditions under which this service will be supplied to the \"Sunrise Tamarindo\" condominiums, for which purpose it must take into consideration the conditions of the nearby water sources (aprovechamientos).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight:bold\">ON THE EVACUATION OF SEWAGE (AGUAS NEGRAS).</span> On this point, it is accredited that, on the occasion of a complaint filed by Nombre01 against the commercial premises called \"Sunrise\" for the discharge of sewage (aguas negras) onto the beach, the Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano of Liberia conducted an inspection at the site on January 8, 2004. According to the report of that inspection, that commercial center has a primary treatment system consisting of a septic tank, with a capacity of 2000 cubic meters and a drainage of 12 linear meters. Furthermore, that in the first phase of the works, that septic tank with its respective drains was built provisionally to treat the wastewater. The foregoing, because at the level of construction plans, both the waters from the commercial center and those from the condominiums will be treated definitively by an activated sludge treatment plant, which was built adjacent to the septic tank. In that regard, the report concluded by stating that the sewage (aguas negras) from the commercial premises is not being discharged onto the beach, but rather is being treated by the conventional system of a septic tank and drains located in the eastern sector with respect to the premises, and that the only water discharge proceeding from the facilities of Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., that they were able to identify towards the beach, is the water used in washing the concrete mixers, an aspect for which the health authorities ordered the construction of drains or absorption wells in the areas where the equipment is temporarily located, an obligation that the construction company must comply with. This Chamber considers that the report of the Unidad de Protección al Ambiente Humano of Liberia allows accrediting that the sewage (aguas negras) from the \"Sunrise\" commercial premises does not produce contamination and that the disposal systems arranged by Grupo Hotelero Tamarindo, S. A., guarantee the protection of the environment.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight:bold\">ON THE ALLEGED DISOBEDIENCE.</span> Regarding the alleged disobedience, the report of the Municipal Mayor of Santa Cruz and the documentary evidence he provided –notification of January 23, 2004– allow accrediting that this Municipal official issued the necessary orders to comply with what this Court ordered him in resolution No. 2004-00362, at 2:50 p.m. Hence, the petitioner's action is improper without needing to be declared in the operative part of this judgment due to the manner in which the merits of the matter are resolved. All without prejudice to the petitioner resorting to the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Público), if he deems that the provisions of that resolution were not complied with.\n\nAs a corollary of the above, it is imperative to declare the appeal without grounds and to communicate it given the stoppage of the works.-"
}