ABOUT PROTECT TODOS SANTOS

Todos Santos is a very special place.  People are drawn here.  And it’s important for the generations of families that live here and for all of us who have come here for it to be protected and prosper.  But to do so, the very thing that draws people here…the town's unique character, natural environment, and local heritage…must be cared for and sustained for generations to come.

The good news is that over a decade ago local leaders from all different sectors…the government, residents, businesses, and even our local developers…collaboratively developed The Subregional Urban Development Program also referred to as the PDU.

Basically, the PDU was written to protect the environment while providing economic opportunities for the local community through tourism. It’s as if they took an approach much like Costa Rica…to experience economic and social benefit by protecting their beauty and uniqueness.  For Todos Santos the development plan specifically protects its pristine beaches, its dunes, its Historic Pueblo, and natural beauty. 

The Problem

Over the past few years, the region of Todos Santos has witnessed a host of new homes and developments, many not in conformance with the PDU. These projects include illegally constructed homes on the dunes and apartment and commercial buildings built in designated single-family residential-only areas. When combined with a serious shortage of water and an abundance of unprotected environmentally sensitive areas, Todos Santos has reached a tipping point. We now have two choices: allow the overdevelopment to continue or try to protect the towns and communities that we love.

Now Is the Time to Act.

We believe for urban development to be successful and for us to be able to take advantage of its benefits, it must be carried out in an orderly, planned, and sustainable manner, if not, the negative effects will outweigh the benefits. For this reason, our community believes the best way to avoid disorderly and unsustainable growth, requires effective regulations that are enforced without any exception and implemented and monitored.

To achieve our goals and mission, Protect Todos Santos will:

• Keep the community informed about the ongoing impact of natural and man-made environmental stresses and communicate them to local authorities so that we can work together to remediate them.

• Monitor the status of our aquifers and the actions of our government agencies to ensure an adequate water supply is provided for our community, while supporting water conservation efforts.

• Ensure government officials create the Citizens Oversight Committee called for in the PDU so there will be a thorough local review of building plans and permit applications for compliance before any permits are issued.

• File complaints to notify local officials and the federal environmental protection agency of violations, and if necessary, seek legal remedies.