Playa del Carmen Updates Urban Development Plan for Growth

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The municipal government held the first extraordinary session of the Council for Territorial Planning and Urban Development, chaired by Fourth Councilman Uri Carmona Islas on behalf of Mayor Estefanía Mercado, who serves as president of the council. The meeting focused on advancing the Urban Development Program (PDU) for Playa del Carmen’s population center.

Technical Advisory Council Established

During the session, the integration of a Technical Advisory Council was approved to assist in participatory workshops for updating the PDU. Oscar Manuel Gallardo Escamilla, Secretary of Minutes and Agreements, will oversee the process. Additionally, a schedule for participatory workshops was established, with the goal of concluding the updates by December 23 for subsequent approval by the City Council.

The program aims to establish a new regulatory framework for urban development in Playa del Carmen, aligning with the General Law on Human Settlements and constitutional principles outlined in Articles 1, 3, 25, 26, and 27.

Addressing Rapid Population Growth

Manuel Barrero Gutiérrez, a council member, presented the PDU’s diagnostic report, highlighting the city’s explosive demographic expansion. “In 1970, there were 232 inhabitants. By 2020, the population reached 300,000, and today, in 2025, we are close to 425,000,” Barrero stated. “Playa del Carmen now ranks sixth in growth statewide, surpassing even Cancún. Some neighborhoods have high population density, and housing numbers have doubled in recent years.”

Barrero emphasized that the PDU serves as both a political and technical tool, incorporating community needs and collective norms to ensure dignified living conditions through appropriate economic, social, cultural, and environmental policies.

Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

The update process seeks to align with the Sustainable Development Goals while integrating economic, tourism, urban, heritage, and environmental criteria. The initiative involves collaboration between municipal departments, civil associations, business chambers, and residents.

This effort represents a critical step in modernizing Playa del Carmen’s operational framework, ensuring compliance with legal standards while addressing the city’s evolving needs.