Playa del Carmen Denies Permits for Coach’s Casa D Project

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The municipal government of Playa del Carmen has confirmed that it has not issued permits for the "Casa D" project proposed by motivational coach Diego Dreyfus. Samantha Álvarez Hernández, head of the Secretariat of Sustainable Environment and Climate Change, stated that while the federal Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) granted Dreyfus authorization for land clearing and cabin construction, no municipal permits have been processed.

Federal Approval Lacks Municipal Compliance

The project involves the conversion of 3.1 hectares of forested land and the construction of 11 cabins across a 21.6-hectare property known as "Cantarranas," located in the Nuevo Noh Bec area northwest of the municipality. Despite Semarnat’s federal authorization, Álvarez Hernández emphasized that all construction projects in Playa del Carmen require municipal approval before proceeding.

"Even if they have federal permission, they cannot proceed without municipal authorization," the official stated, clarifying that no application has been submitted to the local government.

Environmental Concerns and Allegations of Irregularities

Semarnat’s approval reportedly includes measures to deter local wildlife through noise and physical disturbances, such as striking tree trunks—a practice that has drawn criticism from environmental groups. Activists have raised concerns about potential corruption within Semarnat, alleging the authorization was granted without transparency.

Following media reports, the municipal environment department conducted an internal review and confirmed no formal request had been filed by the project’s proponents. Álvarez Hernández reiterated that any future application would undergo rigorous environmental assessments, including safeguards for local fauna.

Municipal Authority to Deny Non-Compliant Projects

The official underscored the municipality’s authority to reject projects that fail to meet environmental and regulatory standards. "If the requirements are not met, the municipality can deny authorization," she said, adding that all developments must pass municipal review before breaking ground in Playa del Carmen.

As of now, Dreyfus and his team have not publicly commented on the matter.