NCA NEWSLETTER
“Green” Season 2007

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

A Sustainable Development Committee has been formed to work on the required Regulatory Plan for the area. This committee is comprised of members of the NCA, the town associations of Nosara, Esperanza, Santa Teresita and Santa Marta. The responsibility for developing this plan belongs to the Municipality of Nicoya, but...

This committee was formed to join the forces of all of the community in order to plan for Nosara’s future. The number of new projects, which include condominiums, gated communities, malls, hotels, office space, not to mention all of single family homes being built on divided lots, has sky rocketed. We need studies to determine how much development can be sustained, especially as far as the aquifer is concerned. Potable water is the main concern. All of the ASADA’s (rural water companies) are already facing problems with trying to keep up with the demand during dry season.

The sustainable development process is “the study of the economic growth in which the best available technology, the exploitation of the resources and the social organization and politics satisfy the needs of the present, without compromising the capacity of satisfying the needs of the future generations”.

A Regulatory Plan defines:

The local associations are working together to address all of the needs of the community, not just the Regulatory Plan.

PROPERTY WARNING FOLLOW-UP

Last newsletter you were warned about the possibility of having your property stolen right out from under your nose. The owner in the example waited too long before pursuing criminal action against the individuals who had falsified the sale of his property. The lot now is in a third party name. The NCA doesn’t want to give up on this and will do everything it can to bring the culprits to justice and to protect all properties.

If you would like someone from the NCA to check your property in the National Registry, please send us your “finca” number and the name under which the property is registered, whether it is in your name or a corporate name.

RAINS

Rainy season started early this year and so far we are above average. We’ll have to see how the “dikes” that the Emergency Commission put up in the Nosara River hold up. This was an effort to divert the course of the river to prevent flooding in town.

AIRPORT

If you haven’t been in Nosara for awhile, you don’t know that we now have a real airport terminal, built by Civil Aviation. A Nosara Airport Association has been formed to administer this building and the current airport guard. It is hoped that eventually a small departure tax can be levied to cover operating costs. Until such time as this tax is approved, the airport is being funded by donations from local businesses and individuals. So when you see the donation can at the terminal, please contribute. Or please contact Heide Cronqwist, treasurer - heidebob@nosarabeachvillas.com. None of us wants to see the airport closed again.

ROADS

There is a lot of talk going around about the paving of the main road, Route 160. Some say it will start in 2008, others say that the measuring of the width of the road and its route will start in 2008. The sooner the better. A study was done last dry season in front of the school in Esperanza. Between 7:00 am and 3:00 pm, while classes were in session, 847 vehicles passed in front of the school.

As an emergency measure, 20/hr signs were posted along the road from the gas station to Santa Marta but with little affect.

The NCA has offered the entities responsible for the paving of this road (CONAVI and MOPT) any assistance that it can provide.

Also, the NCA has hired a contractor to clean the intersection corners of tall grasses, to clean out the road drainage systems and to do minor repairs. You can help with this by making sure that any water that passes in front of your property flows correctly, without pooling up or crossing the road. How about putting a shovel in your car and taking care of problems as they arise. It takes just a minute.

NCA PARKLANDS

The NCA’s Parklands are currently being surveyed to insure that there are no encroachments into these areas. All necessary actions will be taken to make sure that these green areas remain in tact. Take note of the new “Bienvenidos” signs on the main road.

INSULATION OF POWER LINES

The installation of insulated power lines and “protective boots” for transformers continues in conjunction with ICE (the power company) to protect the howler monkeys from being electrocuted. But it is a long and expensive process. You can help prevent electrocutions by checking your property and cutting away any limbs that are offer the monkeys a right-of-way via the power lines. If your gardener is unable to do this, please contact Brenda at Refugio Animales de Nosara, 682-1010 or the NCA and we will recommend someone.

TRASH/DUMP/RECYCLE

In April, over 50 people and 15 trucks volunteered to clean up the dump road. What a job! The amount of garbage just tossed on the side of the road was amazing. Thank you to all that participated.

Why is dumping along the road necessary? We have a trash collection company, Micro Empresa para el Saneamiento Ambiental de Nosara that is doing an incredible job with the resources they have. It is three guys with one truck. They have been very good about keeping to their schedule of collection twice a week for only $10 per month for a private residence. But do you know how many people are not willing to pay their share??? It must be easier to just drive down the road and throw stuff out or take residential trash to the beach containers, than to try to pay, which can be a problem.

There are a number of recycling programs which are working. The garbage men have someone at the dump separating the plastics, aluminum cans and glass for collection. It will be very helpful for this person if we put the recyclables into separate bags on garbage day. Many hotels and individuals are collecting recyclables to benefit the local elementary schools. Please do your part.