Construction at Cañada Azteca in Playas de Tijuana, shut down on May 11 for unauthorized earthworks, could restart once the developer secures the missing permits and project documentation, Tijuana’s municipal government announced May 13.
Virginia Vargas, the city’s Secretary of Territorial, Urban and Environmental Development, said at a press conference that the closure is temporary. The company behind the project must submit complete documentation and receive approval for licenses covering the grading and earth-moving operations that were not previously authorized.
Neighbors Raised Alarms Over the Sivantia Project
The dispute centers on a multifamily housing development known as Sivantia. Cañada Azteca is a populated drainage corridor in the Playas de Tijuana district, and residents have voiced concerns about flood risk, slope stability, and environmental damage caused by heavy machinery operating in the canyon.
A neighborhood group called Defendamos Playas accused the city of dragging its feet. Members said that as recently as May 8, machinery was still operating at the site even though the only visible permits covered limited work, not the large-scale grading that was underway. The group also said Mayor Ismael Burgueño failed to attend a meeting they had requested to discuss the project.
Mayor Ordered a Review Before the Shutdown
Burgueño later contacted the group to apologize and committed to a meeting in Playas de Tijuana, along with a site visit to Cañada Azteca. On May 11, the city ordered the shutdown after determining that the earthworks exceeded what the existing permits allowed.
Vargas clarified that certain conservation areas within the project zone carry specific treatment requirements authorized by federal authorities. The municipal government will evaluate whether continued construction is viable before granting any new licenses.
For the project to move forward, the developer must deliver all required documentation and wait for city approval. The municipal government has not set a public deadline for this process.
This story was first reported by Semanario ZETA Tijuana.