The Placencia Marina, the largest full-service marina being built in Belize, is proceeding with development after a lawsuit was thrown out.
Early last year, The Placencia Marina project was announced and particularly promoted to the megayacht market. With about 300 slips in total, the site plan, in southern Belize on the Placencia Peninsula, includes 25 slips for megayachts to 260 feet (79.2 meters). Also last year, a group called the Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development (PCSD) filed a lawsuit against The Placencia, the marina’s developer. PCSD highlights what it believes is too rapid, poorly executed, and unsustainable tourism development of the Placencia Peninsula. Among PCSD’s claims against the marina were that the required environmental-impact assessments were not filed. In addition, PCSD claimed tourist sites would be overrun; sewage treatment facilities didn’t exist or wouldn’t be able to handle the influx of people; mangroves would be cleared; and the megayachts would pollute the waters and reef. Earlier this month, however, the Supreme Court of Belize dismissed PCSD’s claims.
Around the same time, the breakwater at The Placencia Marina was completed. Brent Borland, head of The Placencia Group, anticipates the first phase opening in the first quarter of 2013.
When finished, The Placencia Marina will include customs and immigration clearance, a fuel station, a ship’s store, a crew lounge, and a marina concierge. Steps away from the marina, there’ll be the Marina Village. It will feature shops, restaurants, a casino, and a boutique hotel, along with condominiums.
Collectively, the marina and other amenities are part of a larger development along 4,000 acres. This will further include a private runway capable of handling commercial-size craft, a golf course, and variety of homes.
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