Dozens of residents from Tijuana’s Camino Verde neighborhood packed the offices of IMPLAN (Instituto Metropolitano de Planeación de Tijuana) on Thursday to oppose a proposed land use reclassification that could designate their properties as uninhabitable. The group delivered 528 signed opinion forms rejecting the change, which they say threatens hundreds of homes and the legal standing of their property titles.
The proposed reclassification would affect a risk polygon recently expanded to cover roughly 780 homes in the Camino Verde area, according to Semanario Zeta. Residents say many of those properties show no structural damage and should not be included in the zone. A separate report from Tijuana en Línea placed the number of directly affected homes between 400 and 500, with up to 2,000 people living in them.
Residents Demand Meeting With Governor
Armando Noriega, a member of the Camino Verde neighborhood committee, asked that residents be received by the new Baja California Secretary General of Government, Juan José Pon Méndez, and Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda. Noriega said residents have not met with the governor in three years, despite ongoing concerns about property rights in the area.
According to IMPLAN, Camino Verde residents have until April 30 to submit their opinions for or against the proposed land use change as part of a public consultation process. After that deadline, residents expect to be called to learn about the next steps for any modifications in the zone.
Problems Dating Back to 2022
The dispute traces back to at least 2022, when landslides and geological instability first drew government attention to portions of Camino Verde. Residents have questioned the lack of independent technical studies to support the reclassification and criticize slow progress in addressing families already displaced by earlier events.
Camino Verde sits in the eastern hills of Tijuana, an area where rapid urban growth has outpaced infrastructure. The colonia has long faced challenges including irregular land titles, intermittent water service, and unpaved roads. A reclassification to uninhabitable status could strip property owners of the ability to sell, build on, or formally register their land.
The story was first reported by Semanario Zeta and El Sol de Tijuana.