Ensenada’s municipal government shut down a construction site near the Cerro del Keki ecological park on Thursday after inspectors found earth being moved without permits. The closure order came after a citizen complaint prompted an inspection at the corner of Calle Trece and Avenida Obregón in the city’s downtown.
Christopher Sánchez Bañuelos, director of Urban Administration, Ecology and Environment for the XXV Ayuntamiento de Ensenada, confirmed that workers had been conducting earthwork without the required authorization. The city issued a temporary suspension order and levied a second fine under current regulations, indicating the site had already been cited once before.
Workers Ordered to Repair Stairway
Authorities also ordered those responsible for the construction to repair a stairway that provides pedestrian access to Cerro del Keki. The stairway connects the street level to the hilltop park, and the unauthorized earthwork had damaged the infrastructure.
Sánchez Bañuelos told the site operators they must complete repairs before seeking any permit regularization. The city called on the responsible parties to begin the formal permitting process immediately.
A Cultural Landmark at Stake
Cerro del Keki, also known as Keki Parque Ecológico y Cultural, sits in the heart of Ensenada’s Zona Centro at Avenida Moctezuma 1370. The hilltop park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and features a monumental sculpture of the White Tara goddess, donated to Ensenada in 1993 by Nepal’s Institute of International Relations and Cultural Exchange. In Buddhist tradition, White Tara represents compassion, fertility, and kindness.
The park’s proximity to the construction site raised concerns among residents about potential damage to both the public access route and the cultural space.
City Pledges Continued Enforcement
The Ensenada government said it will continue monitoring compliance with urban development regulations, prioritizing public safety and orderly construction within the municipality. The escalating fines signal that repeat offenders face increasingly stiff penalties.
Property owners and developers in Ensenada should note that earthmoving near public or protected areas requires permits from the Urban Administration office before any work begins. The case was first reported by Ensenada.net and confirmed by the official Ensenada municipal government website.