reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 13 - Floodable Zones (§§ 225 — 225m) › § 225j - Department of Housing—Powers and duties

As soon as the Department of Housing is notified of the declaration of a “floodable zone”, it shall proceed, as far as its available funds will allow, in consultation and coordination with the mayor or mayors affected thereby, to study the measures for the relocation of the families affected by floods or the removal of the causes producing floods. With the collaboration of the Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, it shall make a survey of the works necessary to avert the loss of life and property from the effects of floods. Likewise, it may, if necessary, acquire lands or buildings to facilitate its work or to drain and render unfloodable such lands, according to its organic act and the regulations thereunder and to this chapter.
Provided, That any owner who, on the effective date of this act, has his only and permanent residence or trade, business or industry constituting his sole means of living, located in a floodable zone, and who is evicted or dispossessed under the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations thereunder, shall be entitled to receive an adequate compensation in keeping with the value of the structure and to cover his expenses of relocation and eviction.
History —Sept. 27, 1961, No. 3, p. 387, § 11; May 31, 1967, No. 90, § 1; June 24, 1975, No. 79, p. 253, § 7; July 3, 1979, No. 80, p. 170, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 13 - Floodable Zones (§§ 225 — 225m) › § 225k - Department of Housing—Additional duties

It shall be the duty of the Department of Housing to present before the Board the existence of circumstances which, in its judgment, justify the declaration of a “floodable zone” in the urban or rural zone of a municipality, with the exception of the coastal zone, in which case, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources shall be responsible thereof, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History —Sept. 27, 1961, No. 3, p. 387, § 12; June 24, 1975, No. 79, p. 253, § 8; July 3, 1979, No. 80, p. 170, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 13 - Floodable Zones (§§ 225 — 225m) › § 225l - Department of Housing—Regulations

The Department of Housing shall be empowered to make regulations for the fulfillment and implementation of the functions hereby assigned to it. Said regulations shall have the force of law after meeting the requirements of the Rules and Regulations Act of 1958.
History —Sept. 27, 1961, No. 3, p. 387, § 13; June 24, 1975, No. 79, p. 253, § 9, eff. July 1, 1975.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 13 - Floodable Zones (§§ 225 — 225m) › § 225m - Miscellaneous provisions

Any officer or employee of the agencies mentioned in this chapter is hereby authorized to enter into the lands located in zones declared as zones susceptible to floods for the purpose of fulfilling the duties imposed by this chapter or by the regulations to that effect. This right shall be exercised in a reasonable manner. In case of refusal on the part of a landowner to allow the entrance into his property of the officers or employees mentioned above, the latter may file a sworn declaration before the corresponding district judge, who shall issue an order authorizing their entrance therein. The noncompliance of this order shall constitute a contempt of court.
History —Sept. 27, 1961, No. 3, p. 387, added as § 13-A on May 31, 1967, No. 90, p. 304, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226 - Public policy; goals and objectives; guides to action

The Legislature of Puerto Rico establishes that the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the action guidelines directed towards achieving Santurce’s rehabilitation and development shall:
(a) Retain and increase the resident population with persons and families of different income levels and ages.
(b) Promote the physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the communities and neighborhoods of Santurce, with special attention to low income families, and stimulate their integration in spatial, economic and organizational terms with the mainstream of activity of the area.
(c) Increase and bolster the economic activity in Santurce by consolidating and supporting existing economic activity and promoting new activity in the service, specialized business and trade areas related to recreation and culture.
(d) Rehabilitate and occupy deteriorated or vacant structures with special attention to those structures of architectural value.
(e) Create an urban atmosphere of varied uses, coherent in scale with the general urban environment of the area.
(f) Significantly increase employment opportunities in the area and retain and consolidate existing ones.
(g) Expand and improve the furnishing of services to residents and users of the area.
(h) Increase the security of the area and improve its image before the public.
(i) Establish a pleasant pedestrian ambience.
(j) Promote the use of the current and potential public transportation system of the area, including the projected Metrobus and Agua-Guagua systems, as well as a system of internal transportation in the commercial districts.
(k) Improve the traffic flow, increase parking facilities and make them more accessible to their users.
(l) Promote an active participation of the private sector in the rehabilitation and development process of Santurce.
(m) Guarantee the adequacy of the infrastructure and public services, particularly if the increment in densities is allowed.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226a - Special planning zone; establishment

The Planning Board shall delimit one or several special planning zones that will encompass all the territory comprised by Santurce and shall establish an itinerary for the designation of zones within a period of time not greater than one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of approval of this act and pursuant to the periods of time and priorities described in § 226c of this title. The Planning Board shall establish an Integrated Development Plan for each zone or zones, special regulations and applications of regulations that shall govern land use and the characteristics of structures as needed to stimulate the rehabilitation and development of Santurce pursuant to the goals and objectives indicated in § 226 of this title to insure the common good. A zone shall be deemed as designated when the development plans and the needed regulations have been adopted and approved according to the provisions of § 226c of this title and the provisions of § 62 et seq. of this title. The tax benefits granted in §§ 226d, 226e and 226j of this title shall become effective by zone upon completion of the designation process in each. The Planning Board shall conclude the designation of all the zones within a term that shall not exceed thirty (30) days after two (2) years have passed from the approval of this act and the appropriation of the corresponding funds indicated in § 226b of this chapter. If the Planning Board does not meet the itinerary established pursuant to this section, the tax benefits provided herein, which are subject to the designation of a zone, shall become effective automatically thirty (30) days after the date established in said itinerary and shall be subject to the Planning regulations in force for the sector. Nothing shall prevent the Board from designating a zone within a lesser term than that established in said itinerary.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226b - Advisory staff; creation; appropriation of funds

The sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is hereby appropriated to the Planning Board for fiscal year 1988-89 from unencumbered funds in the Commonwealth Treasury, to create a special advisory staff for Santurce, for the purposes indicated in this section. A similar amount of funds shall be consigned as a line item in the Planning Board budget in the next fiscal year. The purpose of the advisory staff shall be to generate recommendations so that the Planning Board can establish an Integrated Development Plan for each zone of Santurce and the public policy that the Government of Puerto Rico and its agencies must adopt with regard to the rehabilitation and development of Santurce, including the physical, economic, social, and cultural aspects. The funds appropriated shall be used to conduct the technical studies needed to solve traffic and parking problems, internal mass transportation and public safety; to analyze and guarantee the adequacy of the infrastructure and public services with regard to the increase in densities and population of users; to analyze and regulate the height, density, volume and other factors of the buildings when applicable, so that new construction and rehabilitation will harmonize with the architectural and spatial configuration already existing in Santurce; the provision of housing for low and moderate income families, including an on-site rehabilitation strategy for low income neighborhoods; the use of public properties to stimulate the rehabilitation of Santurce, among other studies needed to meet the goals and objectives established in this chapter. The funds may also be used for the operations of the advisory staff and any other expense needed for the ends indicated. For the purposes of this appropriation of funds, the Planning Board may include any sector of the Santurce legal ward that is not included in the definition of Santurce contained in this chapter if it is deemed necessary for an adequate analysis, planning process or regulation of the sectors so included therein. The Planning Board shall incorporate the University of Puerto Rico in the efforts of organizing this special advisory team.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226c - Integrated development plan; priorities

The Planning Board shall establish an itinerary of designations within which it shall prepare the Integrated Development Plan for each zone and the corresponding regulations and special applications of regulations in force by sectors of the total area of Santurce, pursuant to the following priorities and within the term established hereinbelow: the Santurce central sector whose general boundaries are: to the North, Baldorioty de Castro Avenue up to De Diego Avenue and then to Loiza Street, on both its sides up to San Jorge Street, to the South, by Cano Martin Pena, to the West, by San Juan Bay, excluding the area between the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway to the North, Hoare Street to the East and by the Luis Munoz Rivera Expressway to its South and West, and to the East, Southeast by San Jorge Street up to its intersection with Ponce de Leon Avenue, and then by the Ponce de Leon Avenue on both of its sides up to the bridge over Cano Martin Pena, shall be completed in a term of twelve (12) months after the approval of this act and the appropriation of funds; the sector whose general boundaries are: to the South, Eduardo Conde Street, to the North, Loiza Street, to the West, San Jorge Street and to the East, the boundary with the municipality of Carolina, shall be completed in a term of eighteen (18) months after the date of approval of this act and the appropriation of funds; the general sector that includes Barrio Obrero, Merhoff, Shanghai, Las Casas and Israel and any remaining sector shall be completed in a term of twenty-four (24) months after the approval of this act and the appropriation of funds. The Integrated Development Plan for each zone, the new regulations and the special applications of regulations in force, shall be submitted to the Governor for his approval once they are adopted by the Planning Board and, immediately after his approval, the Governor shall submit them to the Legislature. The Legislature shall have a period of 45 days, from the date they are filed with the Secretary of the Legislature, either in regular or special session, during which it may state its disagreement with any aspect, through a joint resolution to such effects. If the Legislature is not in session, said term shall start as of the first day of the next regular session. Said action shall leave in suspense the part thus objected to by the Legislature.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226d - Eligible property—Tax exemption

Those eligible properties, as defined in § 226n of this title, which are newly-constructed, substantially rehabilitated or subject to improvements in a special planning zone in Santurce shall have the right to a real estate tax exemption. This exemption shall be of one hundred (100) percent of the property tax imposed, and shall be for a term of ten (10) years. The exemption shall become effective as of January 1, after the year that the property is constructed, is subject to improvements, or is substantially rehabilitated. The Municipal Revenue Collection Center shall establish the procedure for petitioning this exemption through regulations.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 5; Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 1; Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226e - Eligible property—Condoning certain charges

All interest or surcharges and penalties that have been imposed in relation to real property taxes prior to the date the exemption is granted, as provided in this chapter, on eligible properties located in the Santurce suburb that have not been productively used for one year or more, shall be condoned for the period that corresponds to the time that the property was not productively used, if the eligible property is substantially rehabilitated after the approval of this act and to the designation of the special planning zone in which it is located.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 6; Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 2; Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226g - Eligible property—Availability of financing

The Economic Development Bank of Puerto Rico, at its discretion, may grant financing for eligible projects involving substantial rehabilitation, improvements or new construction to be developed in Santurce, upon request. The Economic Development Bank may insure the financing granted by means of insurance. The funds to increase the insurance shall be provided from the collection of a fee of five (5%) percent of the value of the commercial financing secured by mortgages, granted in Santurce, and financed by the Economic Development Bank. The Economic Development Bank shall submit a special annual report to the Legislature, to the Governor, the Mayor and the Municipal Legislature of San Juan, with an evaluation of its role in the granting of the financing authorized by this section, including an account of the applications received, as well as its findings regarding the same.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 8, renumbered as § 7 and amended on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, §§ 2, 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226h - Eligible property—Requirements

Every natural or juridical person is required to be up to date in all his responsibilities with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and all its dependencies, agencies, instrumentalities, and with the municipality of San Juan, in order to avail themselves of the tax benefits established in this chapter and while enjoying the same.
Provided, also, That in order to avail themselves of said tax benefits and be able to enjoy them during the periods provided herein, the properties and businesses benefitted thereby must comply with all planning regulations applicable to the sector or that have been promulgated to guide the development of the special planning zone in which they are located.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 9, renumberred as § 8 on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226i - Incentives—Creation of jobs

Every business or industry established or to be established in Santurce, as defined in this chapter, shall be entitled to an additional deduction for the purpose of computing its income tax, equivalent to five percent (5%) of the applicable minimum wage of each new job created. This deduction shall be in addition to any other one granted by any act, and shall be for a term of five (5) years. To be entitled to this deduction, it shall be necessary that the new job created:
(a) Does not eliminate or replace a job existing prior to the approval of this act.
(b) Is on a full-time basis of forty (40) hours per week.
(c) Is continuously held by the same person for a period of not less than six (6) months of a taxable year.
Also eligible shall be those types of employment determined through regulations by the Department of Labor and Human Resources and the Department of Treasury, as proposed by the Special Interagency Task Force for Santurce.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 10, renumbered as § 9 and amended on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, §§ 2, 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226j - Incentives—Businesses and industries

(a) Every business or industry that is established in a special planning zone in the Santurce suburb shall be entitled to a special deduction for income tax purposes, of ten percent (10%) of the rent paid, for a term of ten (10) years. This deduction shall be in addition to any other granted by any act. This deduction shall be unavailable for subsequent businesses.
(b) One half of the net income obtained from the sale of tickets for artistic and cultural performances held in Santurce, is hereby exempted in establishments located in structures that are newly-constructed, substantially rehabilitated, or subject to improvements for a period of five (5) years as of the date that the construction, substantial rehabilitation or improvement is completed. The Department of the Treasury shall establish the procedure to take advantage of this exemption through regulations.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 11, renumbered as § 10 and amended on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, §§ 2, 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226k - Interagency Task Force

A Special Interagency Task Force for Santurce of indefinite duration is hereby created which shall be constituted by the government agencies and dependencies indicated below, and which shall be presided over and coordinated by the Planning Board. This Interagency Task Force shall coordinate solutions to situations and problems related to the rendering of public services, application of regulations, granting of permits and application of laws in Santurce ward.
The public agencies and dependencies that will constitute this Interagency Task Force are: the Municipality of San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police, the Permit Management Office, the Department of Health, the Planning Board, the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Department of Consumer Affairs. the Electric Power Authority, the Department of Housing, the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the University of Puerto Rico, the Municipal Revenues Collection Center, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the Commonwealth Historic Preservation Office and any other agency that the Planning Board or the Interagency Task Force deems should participate in a special way to said body. The citizenry of Santurce shall be entitled to request a special meeting with the Interagency Task Force by request of twenty-five (25) persons who reside or have bona fide businesses in Santurce.
The Interagency Task Force shall report annually to the presidents of both legislative bodies on their actions and achievements. The report shall include details of the problems and conditions in Santurce with which it has dealt, the strategies adopted and solutions obtained, the priorities, work plans, and problems that have not been resolved, its achievements and suggestions for legislative reforms.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 12; Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 3; renumbered as § 11 on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226l - Other provisions

The Department of the Treasury, the Municipal Revenues Collection Center, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the Development Bank, the Planning Board and any other agency the Planning Board deems should be authorized to such effects, are hereby authorized to approve rules and regulations to comply with the provisions of this chapter in those matters of concern to them pursuant to these provisions.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 13; Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 4; renumbered as § 12 on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226m - Evaluation

The Chairperson of the Planning Board, the Executive Director of the Municipal Revenues Collection Center, the Administrator of the Permit Management Office, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit a report to the Legislature after the tax exemptions provided in this chapter have been in effect for three (3) years.
Said report shall include an analysis of the effects that the designation of zones and the tax incentives established by this chapter have had with regard to the urban development of Santurce, as well as the inventory of housing units created or rehabilitated therein, the number of properties that availed themselves of the provisions of this chapter and any other pertinent information, so that the Legislature may evaluate the effectiveness of the incentives offered in this chapter. The report submitted shall also offer recommendations with respect to the desirability, if any, of additional measures for the development of Santurce. Said report shall include the views of these agencies with regard to the creation of other special planning zones in other deteriorated urban centers.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, § 14; Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 5; renumbered as § 13 on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226o - [Dissemination]

It shall be the duty of the Municipal Revenues Collection Center, the Planning Board and the Municipality of San Juan, to adopt all those pertinent measures and regulations in order to divulge among the [citizens of Puerto Rico] citizenry the existence of this chapter and of the exemptions and benefits granted therein, so that the [citizens of Puerto Rico] citizenry may take advantage of said benefits.
Such task shall be completed immediately after the approval of this act, in order to give strict compliance to the provisions established herein.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 668, added as § 16 on Dec. 27, 1995, No. 254, § 10; renumbered as § 15 on Apr. 17, 2003, No. 110, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 15 - Rehabilitation and Development of Santurce (§§ 226 — 226p) › § 226p - Time to claim incentives, deductions, and other benefits

Any of the incentives, deductions, and other benefits granted by virtue of §§ 226d, 226e, 226g, 226j and 226k of this title may be claimed for taxable years beginning before January 1 st, 2015.
History —Aug. 4, 1988, No. 148, p. 618, added as § 18 on Nov. 17, 2015, No. 187, § 41.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227 - Office—Creation

The Land-Use Plan Office, which shall be part of the Planning Board, is hereby created. The main duties of said Office shall be the following:
(a) Draft the Plan and its supplementary documents, a task which shall include the following, without this constituting a limitation:
(1) To collect information pertinent to the territorial ordinance;
(2) to analyze the present physical, socioeconomic and environmental conditions and interpret the trends concerning the use of the land;
(3) to recommend the classification of the land on the basis of the analysis made;
(4) to recommend the public policies for each of the land classifications;
(5) to coordinate the public participation efforts, and
(6) to present the Plan for its approval and adoption by the Planning Board.
The Land-Use Plan Office shall be directed by a duly licensed professional planner of known prestige and professional competence who shall be designated by the President of the Planning Board.
The agencies belonging to the Interagency Committee created pursuant to § 227a of this title, and any others which the Planning Board may require, including the municipalities, may assign the personnel and provide the necessary resources these may have available to the Land-Use Plan Office for compliance with this chapter, pursuant to the agreements between the various government dependencies and the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227a - Interagency Committee—Creation

The Interagency Committee of the Executive Branch on the Land-Use Plan is hereby created and charged with supervising and providing all necessary support for the preparation, introduction and implementation of the Plan. The Interagency Committee shall be constituted by the President of the Planning Board, the Secretary of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the Secretary of the Department of Housing, the Executive Director of the Solid Waste Authority, the Executive Director of the Permit Management Office, the Executive Director of the Tourism Company, and the President of the Environmental Quality Board, the Executive President of the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, the Executive Director of the Electric Power Authority, one representative designated by the President of the Mayors’ Association, and one representative designated by the President of the Federation of Municipalities. The aforementioned public officials may only delegate their participation in the Interagency Committee to an official with decisional capacity and power in their respective government agencies or dependencies, upon previous notice to and authorization from the Committee itself. The municipal organizations shall designate their representatives on a permanent basis; these officials shall have decision making capacity and power.
The President of the Planning Board shall be the President of the Interagency Committee, who shall be charged with conducting at least one meeting every two (2) months to inform about the status on the preparation of the Plan and discuss whatever actions may be necessary to expedite its development. This Committee shall determine and conduct its work according to the objectives of this chapter.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 4; Nov. 2, 2007, No. 158, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227b - External Advisory Council

The Land-Use Plan Office created by virtue of § 227 of this title, shall be empowered to designate an External Advisory Council that shall advise said Office on the preparation, introduction, implementation and monitoring of the Plan.
The members of the External Advisory Council shall not collect per diems for their work with the aforementioned Council and shall provide their services ad honorem. In the case of institutions and persons of the private sector, their participation shall be of a voluntary nature.
The Land-Use Plan Office may designate any person or institution it believes convenient, to achieve the objectives of this chapter, always ensuring that said person or institution shall be an advisory entity that would equitably and proportionally represent the various sectors of our country interested in land use planning, the conservation of our natural resources and in promoting our sustainable development.
The Land-Use Plan Office shall implement the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the body of laws in effect in matters relative to the access to privileged information and the possibility of conflicts of interest.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227d - Guidelines for preparation

The Plan shall be developed by the Planning Board in three stages using the resources, the standards and the procedures provided in this chapter. Each of said stages for the preparation of the Plan shall meet [the] criteria, procedures and time schedules established in this statute for their compliance and evaluation.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227e - First stage—Preparation

The first stage [in the implementation] of this chapter shall consist of the preparation of a preliminary draft of the Plan that would serve as a tool for discussion. To those effects this stage shall extend to December 31, 2004. The following tasks shall be accomplished during this stage:
(a) The Land-Use Plan Office shall begin operations as established in § 227 of this title.
(b) The Land-Use Plan Office shall adopt a work plan expressing the vision, goals, objectives, scope, tasks entrusted and contents of the Plan.
(c) Any resource to be used by the Land-Use Plan Office shall be consigned in the Planning Board budget.
(d) The Planning Board shall make accessible to the general public through its Internet page the land maps of all Puerto Rico that are available.
(e) The Land-Use Plan Office shall establish early in the process the work teams needed to allow the participation of the citizens.
(f) All agencies, departments, municipalities, corporations and public instrumentalities shall provide the Planning Board through digital means or through direct access to their data banks, the available data or maps whose information shall allow for the long-term planning for the location of agricultural land; the natural resources; the highways, electric power and aqueducts and sewers infrastructure; the natural reserves or high priority conservation areas; the natural risk areas, among others that may be important as established in this chapter. These agencies shall be responsible for updating the information, as required by the applicable laws and regulations, or at the request of the Planning Board.
(g) The Land-Use Plan Office shall conduct the preliminary classification and delimitation of all the land in Puerto Rico, taking into consideration what was established in territorial ordinance plans in effect.
(h) The Planning Board shall prepare, with the collaboration of the government agencies concerned, within a term of six (6) months [following] the date the Plan was adopted, an action program to delimit the buffer zones of the areas of natural, agricultural or cultural value that lack such protection, as well as to increase the existing buffer zones in those cases whereby said modification may be necessary. For the purpose of the present statute, “buffer zone” shall mean the land next to an area of natural, agricultural or cultural value whose function is to protect the integrity or value of said areas from the impact that any activity or use of the adjoining land may cause.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 8.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227f - Second stage—Presentation

The second stage [in the implementation of this chapter] shall consist [of] the public presentation of the Land-Use Plan. To those effects this stage shall extend from January 1 to December 31, 2005. The following tasks shall be accomplished during this stage:
(a) The Land-Use Plan Office of the Planning Board shall recommend the strategies for intervention, the techniques for the use of the land, the standards, regulations and public policies needed to comply with the specifications established through the plan.
(b) The Planning Board shall conduct an evaluation and make recommendations to the Interagency Committee created by § 227a of this title, about the necessary changes to the regulations and the procedures for the evaluation and issue of permits in order to restructure the process for granting permits so that the regulatory agencies may faithfully comply with what was established in the Plan and its public policies. As part of said evaluation, the Planning Board shall ensure that the process for granting permits promotes the protection and conservation of natural resources of high ecological and agricultural value while at the same time allowing expeditious mechanisms for evaluating those projects which because of their location comply with the public policy and the objectives of the Land-Use Plan. Every agency that constitutes this Interagency Committee shall evaluate the recommendations that apply to each and shall determine the actions to be taken, if any, regarding these.
(c) The Planning Board shall have the final draft of the Plan ready not later than December 31, 2005.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227g - Third stage—Approval and implementation

The third stage [in the implementation of this chapter] shall consist [of] the approval and implementation of the Plan prepared by the Planning Board pursuant to the provisions of this statute. To those effects this stage shall extend from January 1 to November 30, 2006. During this state the Planning Board shall accomplish the following tasks:
(a) Conduct several public presentations and commence a divulgation campaign to initiate a process for consulting the general population. The objective of the aforementioned campaign shall be to incorporate the necessary observations or amendments as collected during the citizen consultation and participation process. This process shall be conducted following the administrative procedures established in the laws and regulations.
(b) The detailed and digitalized Land and Resources Inventory, as established in § 7 of this act to be submitted in final form to the Planning Board not later than July 1, 2006.
(c) The Land-Use Plan shall be adopted in final form after collecting the comments of the citizens, not later than November 30, 2006.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227i - Approval—Procedure

The Planning Board shall adopt the Plan so as to then submit the same for the consideration of the Governor of Puerto Rico for its final approval and subsequent notification to the Legislature. This Plan shall take effect immediately after its approval by the Governor.
The Planning Board shall conduct a total review of the Plan every ten (10) years after its date of approval.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 12.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227j - Precedence

The regional plans and the municipal territorial ordinance plans established under the Autonomous Municipalities Act, §§ 4001 et seq. of Title 21, must harmonize and be compatible with the public policy and with the provisions of the Land-Use Plan of Puerto Rico whose preparation and implementation are required by virtue of this chapter.
During the process for the preparation and approval of the Plan, as well as after it becomes effective, the body of laws relative to the faculties and procedures of the municipalities concerning the territorial ordinance plans, shall remain in full force and effect. This chapter in no way revokes, limits or reverts those powers that have been delegated to the municipalities by virtue of §§ 4001 et seq. of Title 21. However, the Planning Board may revise the territorial ordinance plans in order to establish a coherent and comprehensive public policy achieved through the Land-Use Plan of Puerto Rico.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227k - Government collaboration

All agencies, municipalities and instrumentalities of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico must collaborate with the Planning Board to meet the responsibilities entrusted to the latter by virtue of this chapter. To those ends they shall share studies, technical information and other useful documents in order to achieve those objectives. They may also enter into agreements so as to obtain or provide professional services or of any other nature and share the equipment deemed necessary according to the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227l - Reports

As of the date of approval of this act, the Planning Board shall submit a report to the Legislature and to the Governor of Puerto Rico at the end of each phase of the process for preparing the Land-Use Plan. Said reports shall be submitted to and be approved by the Interagency Committee before being forwarded to the Legislature and to the Governor. Each of those documents shall contain information about the achievements attained during each of those periods, the difficulties faced in relation to the responsibilities provided by virtue of this chapter and the use of the public funds appropriated for the preparation of the Plan as well as any other information deemed necessary.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227m - Declaration of Areas Reserved in Perpetuity—Procedure

The Legislature, in exercising its constitutional mandate to legislate and in compliance with the environmental public policy provided in § 19 of Article VI of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in Act No. 9 of June 18, 1970, as amended, may declare, designate or delimit in conformity with the law, any territorial extension under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a Special Area Reserved in Perpetuity when it is of ecological, agricultural, historic, cultural or archeological value that merits to be permanently reserved for such purposes. Any modification to the designation of a Special Area Reserved in Perpetuity or to the uses that may be given to said area must be in conformity with the law. Once said reserve has been designated, the Planning Board shall approve special regulations as to the permitted use of said land according to the established public policy.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227n - Special plan—Vieques and Ceiba

Given the eventual cession or transfer of land property of the Government of the United States of America to the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico located in the Municipalities of Vieques and Ceiba and in view of any other transfer of that sort that may take place in the future, the Planning Board shall establish or amend the Special Land-Use and the Special Zoning Plans or Regulations so as to render them compatible with the public policy provided in this chapter and with the sustainable development plans to be implemented by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the municipalities and the Government of the United States in the aforementioned land transferred or to be transferred.
Said Plan shall be submitted not later than one hundred and eighty (180) days from the moment the cession or transfer of the land is conducted or from the effective date of this act. In the case of land that has already been transferred or is in the way of being transferred, the Planning Board shall determine the applicable procedure through regulations.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 17.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 16 - Land Use Plan of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (§§ 227 — 227o) › § 227o - Special zoning—Transitory provision

The Special Zoning Regulations adopted by the Planning Board shall prevail over any regulations of general application, such as the Puerto Rico Zoning Regulations. The special regulations shall be strictly applied and no variation or exception to the same may be authorized unless in compliance with the body of laws in force and effect. This provision shall apply to the following places: Laguna Tortuguero Zone in Vega Baja, Piñones Zone in Loíza, La Parguera Zone in Lajas, and the Zone surrounding the Bosque Nacional del Caribe (El Yunque). The Planning Board shall take the measures needed to apply this provision to the land that is part of the San Juan Bay Estuary, as delimited by the Management Plan of the same name, to the buffer zone of the Jobos Bay Estuarine Reserve, as delimited by its Management Program, to the Boquerón Sector of the Southwestern Special Planning Area as well as to the Luis Muñoz Marín Panoramic Route, for the purposes of protecting and preserving their natural, scenic and cultural resources.
This provision shall take effect prospectively once the present act has been approved. The Planning Board shall take the internal and regulatory measures needed for complying with the objectives of this chapter.
The provisions of this section shall in no way hinder the rights of those natural or juridical persons that have submitted projects before the government agencies prior to the effectiveness of this act.
History —Oct. 3, 2004, No. 550, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART I - Public Planning (§§ 1 — 229ccc) › Chapter 17 - Public Property Naming Right Sale Authorization Act (§§ 228 — 228j) › § 228 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning expressed below:
(a) Naming rights.— These rights constitute the whole of contractual rights whereby an entity that owns a property, project or event of a public nature confers to a sponsor, in exchange for financial compensation and for a specific period of time, the exclusive right to include his/her name or brand, as the case may be, into the name of said public event, property or project.
(b) Government of Puerto Rico.— Includes the Central Government, its agencies, departments, instrumentalities, political subdivisions, boards, bureaus, municipalities and public corporations; and excludes the Legislative and the Judicial Branches and their respective dependencies, divisions or departments.
(c) Public property.— Includes any personal or real, tangible or intangible property, projects or events, of a public nature, including but not limited to buildings, facilities, spaces, highways, expressways, tolls, promenades, parks, gardens, sports facilities, building complexes, offices and any other physical spaces or parts of properties, except for schools, hospitals and historical buildings belonging to the Government of Puerto Rico, as defined in this chapter.
(d) Secretary.— The Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico.
History —Nov. 26, 2007, No. 170, § 2.