san ignacio/santa elena municipal development plan: chapters 1, 2 and 3

SAN IGNACIO / SANTA ELENA MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Draft Chapters 1, 2 and 3 November 2013

Prepared by:

San Ignacio / Santa Elena

Local Planning Working Group (LPWG)

San Ignacio / Santa Elena Municipal Development Plan DRAFT Chapter 1

Draft Chapters 1, 2 and 3 2

Members of San Ignacio / Santa Elena LPWG:

1. Mayor John August, San Ignacio/Santa Elena

2. Shary Medina, Councilor, SISE Town Council

3. Earl Trapp, Councilor, SISE Town Council

4. Karen Fernandez, Town Administrator, SISE Town Council

5. Juan Polanco, Architect, SISE Town Council

6. Dennis Morey, Valuation Department, SISE Town Council

7. Melanie Danilczyk, Revenue Department, SISE Town Council

8. Wilfredo Zetina, Traffic Department, SISE Town Council

9. Escander Bedran, Business Owner – Running W, Civil Society

10. Anthony Mai, DOE, Civil Society

11. Mick Flemming, Owner – Chaa Creek, Civil Society

Dorian Enriquez, Maps Coordinator, SISE LPWG Consultant



TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING CONDITIONS ................................................................ 5

Overall .................................................................................................................................................... 6

District Scale .............................................................................................................................................. 7

1.1 Role of the municipality within the district .................................................................................. 7

1.2 Physical description ................................................................................................................... 8

1.3 Environmental, natural and archeological assets .......................................................................... 9

1.5 Inter-regional transportation links .............................................................................................. 11

Municipal Scale ....................................................................................................................................... 12

1.6 History and culture ................................................................................................................... 12

1.7 Current land area ...................................................................................................................... 12

1.8 Population ................................................................................................................................ 12

1.9 Economy and labor force .......................................................................................................... 13

1.10 Spatial development pattern, land, and land use ........................................................................ 15

1.11 Environmental, ecological and green areas ................................................................................ 20

1.12 Public spaces ........................................................................................................................... 21

1.13 Cultural, archaeological and historic assets ................................................................................ 21

1.14 Recreational facilities ................................................................................................................ 21

1.15 Transportation and accessibility ................................................................................................ 22

1.16 Priority investments and future known projects.......................................................................... 24

1.17 Hazards, risks and disaster preparedness .................................................................................... 24

1.18 Infrastructure and utilities ........................................................................................................ 26

1.19 Municipal management, administration and financing .............................................................. 29

CHAPTER 2: VISION, STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS ................................... 30

2.1 A Vision for SISE ..................................................................................................................... 31

2.2 SISE Development Strategy ...................................................................................................... 31

2.2.1 Existing population projections ......................................................................................... 31

2.2.2 Population Growth Scenarios for SISE ...................................................................................... 32

2.2.3 Development Strategy Policies and Proposals ................................................................... 36

CHAPTER 3: LAND USE PROPOSALS ........................................................................................... 39

3.1 Introduction: Land Use Planning and Draft Municipal Development Plans ....................................... 40

3.2 Validation: Preferred Development Scenarios and Policies ......................................................... 40

3.3 Overall Development Concept .................................................................................................. 42

3.3.1 General Municipal Improvement Proposals ....................................................................... 42

3.4 Land Use Proposals indicated on a map ..................................................................................... 42



3.4.1Town Expansion ........................................................................................................................ 42

3.4.2 Infrastructural Improvement Areas.................................................................................... 48

3.4.3 Commercial Development Areas....................................................................................... 49

3.4.4 Downtown Improvement Areas................................................................................................. 49

3.4.5 Relocated Bus Terminal.................................................................................................... 50

3.4.6 New Santa Elena Administrative Site ............................................................................... 50

3.5 Land Use Proposals not indicated on a map ............................................................................... 50

3.5.1 Design Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 50

3.5.2 Building Improvement Incentives for Property Owners ..................................................... 50

3.6 General Infrastructure Improvement .......................................................................................... 51

3.6.1 Drainage ................................................................................................................................... 51

3.6.2 LiDER...................................................................................................................................... 51



CHAPTER 1: ASSESSMENT OF

EXISTING CONDITIONS



Overall

San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns are located in the Western region of Belize in the Cayo District.

Cayo District, the largest district in the country, is one of the inland districts bordered by

Guatemala. The Cayo District has three municipalities with the towns of San Ignacio/Santa Elena

constituting the largest municipality with a population of about 18,000.

Approximately 2/3 of the Cayo District is still natural, undeveloped land, while the remainder is

largely cultivated for agriculture purposes. A wealth of resources exists and products that come

from the Cayo District include meats, dairy, poultry, agricultural crops, petrol oil (in export

quantities), cattle and animal feeds, grains and citrus. Electricity is also another product of the

Cayo District driven by the Macal River. The Mopan and the Macal Rivers meet to form the Belize

River. These rivers also provide approximately 28% of the country’s source of drinking water.

The Cayo District also hosts the largest urban road network within the country which largely

contributes to booming tourism activity. Considered as the hub of trading and inland tourism, San

Ignacio and Santa Elena is a melting pot of cultural diversity where neighboring communities and

villages meet to trade agricultural products and goods.

The growth of San Ignacio/Santa Elena is reflected in the increase in population, which has doubled

over the past 20 years. Factors influencing this growth are: immigration for quality of life;

availability of land and natural resources; and increase in employment due to tourism, agriculture,

and increase in industries e.g.: petroleum and foreign investments (especially from Chinese

entrepreneurs).



DISTRICT SCALE

1.1 Role of the municipality within the district

San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town is bordered on the west by San Jose Succotz Village and Benque

Viejo Town. Other surrounding communities include Spanish Lookout, Duck Run, Santa Familia

Village, Bullet Tree Village, Esperanza, San Antonio Village, Cristo Rey Village, Calla Creek

Village and Santa Rosa Village. San Ignacio/Santa Elena hosts the largest farmer’s market outlet

and the surrounding village depends on the local market to supply their produce and trade. San

Ignacio Town is also central to the banking, police, medical, social security and local government or

administrative activities that residents within neighbouring communities need. Most secondary and

tertiary level educational institutions are also located within town limits. San Ignacio/Santa Elena

Town is also the central area providing major job opportunities and entertainment.

The council supports the various surrounding villages despite being outside of our boundaries. San

Ignacio/Santa Elena Town council, in joint cooperation with the Benque Viejo Town council, has

ventured into a new solid waste management project. The council works closely with the

chairpersons of the various surrounding villages towards supporting infrastructure by providing

mechanical equipment such as graders, rollers and other road maintenance equipment.



1.2 Physical description

San Ignacio is bordered on the north by the Mopan River. The Macal river runs directly between

the two towns and is the feature that separates them, with Santa Elena located to the east of the

Macal River, and San Ignacio on the western side. The Macal and Mopan Rivers converge to form

the Belize River, which borders Santa Elena to the north. The Belize River is one of the major rivers

of Belize. The valley areas which border these rivers produce minimum elevations as low as 13

meters. The general topographical trend is an increase in elevation with decreasing latitude.

Maximum elevation within the existing boundaries of the municipality occurs at the Cahal Pech

Archaeological Reserve, which is located in the south-central section of San Ignacio. Beyond the

borders of the municipality toward the southeast, elevation increases to a maximum of 291 meters.

Besides the majors rivers previously mentioned, there are also several adjacent minor rivers and

streams that are affected by seasonality. There are no major water bodies such as lakes or freshwater

lagoons. Existing ponds are very insignificant in size and are mainly used by livestock farmers. In

every developing municipality we face weather-related disasters that have led us to have to rebuild.

Our municipality has always experienced flooding, though today we are proud to have invested in

making our town less prone to this phenomenon.



Immediately surrounding the borders of the municipality are areas of land used for agriculture.

Beyond that, lowland broadleaved forests can be found. This ecosystem can also be found

immediately adjacent to the southern portions of the current boundaries of San Ignacio.

1.3 Environmental, natural and archeological assets San Ignacio Town is the hub of the tourism industry in the Cayo District. It acts as a spring board

to major archaeological sites, natural reserves, parks and national monuments. Most resorts and tour

companies in San Ignacio Town and surrounding communities offer day activities to various sites.

Some of these sites are detailed below:

The Xunantunich Archaeological Site is perched along-side the scenic Mopan River in

the western village of San Jose Succotz. It has become one of the most visited

archaeological sites in the Cayo District.

Cahal Pech Archaeological Site sits atop the Cahal Pech hill overlooking San Ignacio and

Santa Elena Towns.

Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve offers scenic trips to lush natural waterfalls, swimming

holes and jungle hikes. It is also home to many natural cave structures such as the Rio Frio

Cave system and the tallest water fall in Belize, the 1000Ft Falls.



Actun Tunich Muknal cave system is a unique cave system that is set in the Tapir Reserve

in Teakettle Village. Unlike other cave systems, the ATM is also a popular archaeological

site that doubles as a unique jungle adventure.

Caracol Archaeological Site is located just beyond the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve at

the entrance of the Chiquibul Forrest Reserve. It is the largest archaeological site in Belize.

The Barton Creek cave system is located in the Upper Barton Creek area. It offers a one

of a kind cave canoeing tour that takes you through the intricate channels of the cave

system.

Caves Branch is also a very popular destination that is located in the Belmopan area off the

Humming Bird Highway.

The Burns Avenue Promenade is a strip along the main street in the center of San Ignacio

Town that offers a variety of restaurants, gift shops, and shopping centers and is an

extension of the Cayo Welcome Center. With recent discoveries, Burns Avenue now

showcases archaeological findings that were unearthed during construction.

The Cayo Welcome Center is the newest addition to San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town.

It offers a scenic meeting place for the residents of SISE to enjoy events and activities.

Spanish Lookout settlement has seen much development over recent years and is

recognized for its increase in commercial activities. Spanish Lookout produces much of the

country’s supply of poultry, dairy products, agricultural crops, animal feeds and farming

supplies. It is also the home of Belize Natural Energy.

Hawksworth Bridge was built in 1949. The iconic suspension bridge connects the twin

towns of San Ignaico and Santa Elena and serves as a part of the George Price Highway.

El Pilar Archaeological Reserve is located in the Bullet Tree Village, west of San Ignacio

Town.

The Macal River banks are home to hundreds of species of birds and animals such as

endangered green iguanas. It offers a scenic canoe tour and serves as an essential water

supply source.

Xunantunich



1.5 Inter-regional transportation links

The main means of transportation to and from San Ignacio and Santa Elena is by road, with the

George Price Highway being the most important. This highway stretches from Belize City and

passes along the national capital of Belmopan as well as numerous others villages until it reaches

the western most point along the Belize-Guatemala border. There is also a lesser-used road that

stretches from the Spanish Lookout area along villages like Santa Familia and Bullet Tree that leads

into San Ignacio as well.

Inter-city public transportation is a fairly cheap and reliable service that connects the villages and

other towns in the country. There are several bus operators that have scheduled runs in and out of

the twin towns.

There are two airstrips that are located within ten minutes from the municipality by car. The Central

Farm airstrip located on mile 63 of the George Price Highway, between Central Farm and

Esperanza Village. There is also the Maya Flats airstrip located between San Ignacio and Benque

Viejo. Air travel is less used than road transportation because of the much higher price. Currently,

Tropic Air flies to Maya Flats, while Javier’s Travel uses the Central Farm airstrip but currently

only does chartered flights.



MUNICIPAL SCALE

1.6 History and culture

In the early 1900s, San Ignacio

and Santa Elena were two

villages that carried the name

EL CAYO. The mayor in those

days was Mr. Hector Silva. San

Ignacio Town Council was

founded on October 19, 1904 by

the government of British

Honduras.

The only access to the area at

the time was via steam boats

which were known as Cayo boats. It took approximately four days to travel from the then El Cayo

to Belize City. The boats brought dried goods and canned foods from Belize City and took fresh

bananas, fruits, vegetables, livestock and wild game on their return. Logwood and mahogany

cutting were the main economic drivers at the time. The main industry was “chicle” which is the

milky sap of the sapodilla tree exported for chewing gum. The construction of the Hawksworth

Bridge in 1949 brought immense economic development to both towns. The introduction of

secondary and tertiary level education brought significant economic development as well.

1.7 Current land area

The area of the existing boundaries of San Ignacio is approximately 2.68 sq. miles, and that of Santa

Elena is approximately 2.89 sq. miles, giving the municipality a total area of 5.57 sq. miles.

1.8 Population

The last census conducted in Belize was done in 2010. These statistics show that the twin towns of

San Ignacio and Santa Elena currently have a population of 17,878. The Municipality of San

Ignacio and Santa Elena is the second largest municipality/urban area in the country after Belize

City. The population has shown a steady increase over the past decades. Statistics show a rate of

increase of 4.4% per annum during the period 1991-2000 when the town’s population increased

from 8,900 to 13,300; and a 3% rate of annual increase during the period 2000-2010. According to

SIB, the average household size in 2010 was 3.9 persons per household.

Growth in the twin towns can be attributed to many factors including natural population growth as

well as positive migration into the twin towns. This is the largest urban area in close proximity to

the border. As a result, migrants from the Central American countries initially settle here before

leaving for other areas of the country. Many Guatemalans get employment in the construction and

agricultural sector. A large proportion remains and thus contributes to population growth. The area

has also experienced an influx of Chinese immigrants who have settled in the twin towns to be

entrepreneurs in retail and the restaurant business. Some of these businesses are centrally located in

downtown on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio and the George Price Highway in Santa Elena. Finally,



there is also a general migration of workers from the adjacent villages to the town in search of

employment. The new oil industry located in the Cayo District has also led to an influx of workers

to the twin towns in need of accommodation.

Age Distribution. When a comparison is done on age distribution, statistics show that the twin

towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena have a large young population who are younger than 15 years

old. This follows the national trend with about 60% of the population being below the age of 30 and

about 25% being below the age of 15. Conversely, the population above the age of 65 is around

10%. The working population therefore is somewhere around 60%.

Sex Distribution. There are slightly more females than males in San Ignacio and Santa Elena with

the last census showing 9,127 females and 8,751 males (sex ratio = 95.8 female to male). This

however is balanced by the neighboring villages which have a slightly higher male to female ratio.

There is no evidence of gender disparity as a result of the above sex ratio.

Population by highest level of education complete. In comparison to other urban cities/towns,

San Ignacio and Santa Elena ranks 2nd in terms of the educational level of the population. The

residents in our area have easier accessibility to post secondary and university education. There are

three high schools in the twin towns and the University College of Belize is located about 22 miles

away while Galen University is only about seven miles away.

Baseline population (2012). Starting with SISE’s 2010 census figure (17,878) and using SIB’s

projected growth rate of 2.81% per annum until 2020, SISE’s baseline population would be 18,896

in 2012.

1.9 Economy and labor force

The prime economic sector of the local economy is the services sector. The twin towns are

strategically located and form the business, tourism and service sector in Western Cayo.

Transportation to and from the western border of Belize passes through the twin towns and this

allows for various allied industries to thrive, including vehicle repair and maintenance shops,

insurance agencies, service stations etc.

San Ignacio is the commercial hub in this region and has several financial institutions including

banks, credit unions, and other money lending agencies. There are several shops and restaurants as

well as wholesale outlets. Tourism is also a major economic factor in the twin towns. There are

several hotels and resorts which are sustained by numerous services such as tour guiding, taxi

service, catering, artisan shops, etc. Housing construction has declined in the last couple of years

with the discontinuation of the Government Housing Project. This project was designed to construct

hundreds of low cost housing units for low and middle income families. This project was only

partially successful. The government’s focus is on infrastructure development with the construction

of roads, drains, bridges etc. Therefore, within the last ten years, residential construction has seen a

decline in and infrastructure construction has seen an increase.



Labour force. The employed labour force is mainly in the services industry, namely in restaurants,

hotels and government services. Over the past ten years, despite the high unemployment rate, the

labour force has become more educated. There are more high school graduates seeking tertiary

education because of the availability of the sixth form and university level education. Secondary

education has also become less costly since the government currently offers free education for

second year students at tertiary institutions.

The labour force in the twin towns has historically been affected by seasonal employment in the

agriculture sector where harvesting of crops (such as oranges, beans, and corn) occurs on a regular

but seasonal basis. Recently, the petroleum industry has added a large amount of jobs in that

industry. This is expected to remain for the next couple of years but may decrease as petroleum

reserves dwindle.

Unemployment. Over the past ten years the unemployment rate in SISE has fluctuated similar for

other municipalities. One of the reasons for this is because some of the jobs are seasonal e.g.

employment in the tourist industry and short term employment–government/municipal projects. It is

noted that women are less likely to get employed than men and generally earn less. The working

population of the twin towns has also suffered from a slowdown of the construction industry. This

has resulted in many of them being laid off and not being able to find work at home. As

construction resumes in areas such as San Pedro and Placencia, there will be opportunities for

further employment.

Household Income and Poverty. The poverty rate for the twin towns in 2009 was 29% compared

to 22% in 2002. This was about half of the poverty rate for the rural areas in the Cayo District. This

poverty rate can be partially attributed to a contraction of the construction industry. Household

income is not readily available however due to the large percentage of the population involved in

the service and construction sector. It can be estimated that the annual household income would be

somewhere between BZ$12,000 and BZ$15,000.

Tourism. Over the past ten years, our municipality has seen an increase in the number of businesses

in the tourism industry. We have seen several resorts in our area that provide a variety of outdoor

nature activities. We also have seen an increase in tour operators who provide tours countrywide.

The increase in these tourism businesses has increased employment for the younger population.

Remittances. The majority of remittances come from the USA and Canada. There is no data on

what amounts are involved, however local sources suggest that these remittances have decreased

over the last few years. An approximate value would put these remittances at 10 to 15% of

household income. Conversely, there is also an active remittance of funds to families in Central

America. These can be significant considering the immigrant population in the twin towns.



1.10 Spatial development pattern, land, and land use

Municipal Zones. Both towns that comprise the municipality have been divided into 9 major zones

each. Arterial, major and collector roads are the main features that influence the distribution of

zones.



Boundary. The size of the area within SISE’s municipal boundary is somewhere around 3,580

acres. There are neighbourhoods that are considered as part of the town but are actually outside this

limit. However they are still serviced by the municipality especially by garbage collection and

cleaning. These neighbourhoods form an integral part of the municipality. The only issue is the

legal boundary. To date the legal boundaries of the towns are being reconsidered and a new

boundary for San Ignacio and Santa Elena has been proposed covering an area of 5,477 acres.



Growth pattern. For the last few years, housing development has been taking place in the Hillview

and Aguado areas in Santa Elena. Hillview is serviced with piped water and electricity and Aguada

lacks those services but has an excellent location next to the Western Highway. In San Ignacio, the

areas that have been experiencing development include Kotiki Area and the Kontiki extension, both

with access to piped water and electricity, as well as Boiton, which lacks services.

Land use. Residential neighbourhoods of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns are identified in

several zones. In San Ignacio Town these include Independence Square Area, Santiago Juan

Layout, Collins Sub-Division, Cahal Pech Area, Maya Vista Area, Kontiki Area, Forestry

Department Area, Moraton Area, Barrio Pobre Area. In Santa Elena Town residential areas include

Aguada Area, Trapiche Area, New Area, Santa Elena School Area, Hillview Area, Linda Vista Area,

Santa Cruz Area, Santa Cruz Extension, Santa Elena School Area and Downtown Area.

Industrial areas were originally designated for Santa Elena Town. However, these industrial lots

were never used as such and gradually were subdivided into residential lots. An existing industrial

area in Santa Elena Town is Western Gas Company. In San Ignacio Town, Cayo Tropical Fruits and

Big H Products located on Joseph Andrews Drive are examples of private estate utilized as

industrial parcels. Other industries in town include block factories that are located within

residential areas and are usually a nuisance to the neighbourhood. Overall the twin towns do not

have an established industrial zone, thus discomfort amongst the community arises due to

unplanned zones and haphazard trade.

Commercial areas are gradually developing along the major traffic routes of both towns which

include George Price Highway, George Price Avenue, Carillo Puerto Avenue, Burns Avenue,

Hudson Street, Joseph Andrews Drive, Buena Vista Street and the Down Town Areas of West Street,

Far West Street and Bullet Tree Road. The increase in Asian-owned stores contrasts with the

decrease of traditional “mom and pop” shops. Utility companies, banking institutions and private

medical services are centrally located within both towns. There has been an increase in the number

of supermarkets.

The majority of family-owned hotels have evolved from private estates to resorts and large hotels.

San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Cahal Pech Resort, Aguada’s and Midas Resort are some of the major

hotels in the service industry. Approximately 24 smaller hotels are spread across both towns.

Schools and health centres are evenly distributed across both towns and are easily accessible for

residents. Recreational areas including parks and playgrounds are located in strategic areas within

each residential zone. More developed recreational areas such as the Cayo Welcome Centre and the

Burns Avenue Promenade are tourist oriented. Underdeveloped recreational areas such as the

Macal River Banks, Peter August Race Track and the Santa Elena Football Stadium can provide

better recreational facilities for residents with some investment.

There is a significant demand for established commercial and industrial land. Residential land is

currently available. Industrial activity within residential areas is a major concern at present.

Mechanic shops with cars parked on the streets, body shops with fumes and chemicals spreading in



the vicinity, carpentry workshops with sawdust and noise pollution along with block making

factories are some of the concerns of citizens to date.



Commercial areas can be established. It is a matter of the municipality establishing policies or

incentives for the commercial zones to be organized by sector and for them to be proportionally

spread across the towns. The municipality would need to undertake a study in this respect as a

matter of creating commercial areas in different areas of the town, hence minimizing ever-growing

traffic congestion downtown. With the tourism industry booming in the country and San Ignacio-

Santa Elena being a hub for tourism destinations in the district; consideration ought to be placed for

providing the proper facilities and support policies.

Housing. Typical plot sizes in SISE range between 50 x 75 ft (3,750 sq. ft) and 100 x 100 ft (10,000

sq. ft). For such a lot, typical market cost ranges from BZ$8,000 to 25,000. A plot of prime

residential land could cost between BZ$ 40,000 to 75,000. If we assumed that a household does not

spend more than 30% of its annual income on housing, households would have to make between

BZD 15,000 and 47,000 per year to be able to afford the costs of an average plot of land in SISE1.

This is clearly above the average income of most households in SISE and it is why government-

subsidized schemes have been the primary way of accessing land in the towns.

“Gross” vacant land. There are 1,571 acres of vacant land in SISE based on the analysis of the

land use map provided by the Lands Information Centre. This is a “gross” figure that includes all

vacant plots as well as all land that is being used for agriculture. Considerations limiting the

suitability of this vacant land for development still need to be analyzed to come up with a “net”

vacant land figure.

Land tenure. Public land is very minimal within the town. Those owned by the municipality could

include the following: Town Hall Location, Public Library Location. Macal River Park, Columbus

Park, Cayo Welcome Centre Location, Farmer’s Market Location, Cemetery San Ignacio, Falcon

Field, Theodosio Ochoa Park, Godoy’s Park, Flamingo Park, Independence Park, Santiago Juan

Park, Shawville Park, Santa Elena Cemetery, Joseph Andrews Park, Santa Cruz Park, Loma Luz

Park, and Loma Luz Basketball Court. Those parcels owned by the central government include:

Police Station, Broaster stadium, Old Hospital Site, New Hospital Site, Land Department premises,

Reserve on the banks of the Macal River, and properties behind the police station.

Urbanized area size. The size of SISE’s urbanized area has been estimated at 1,062 acres. This

area includes all plots with an assigned land use and thereby excludes large, mostly open space lots

and all vacant lots. Public rights of ways serving the urbanized area have been accounted for by

adding an additional 30% to the previous figure.

Population density. The population density of SISE’s urbanized area is 17.8 persons/acre. This

figure results from dividing the baseline population (18,896) by the size of the urbanized area

(1,062 acres).

1 Assuming a 20 year loan, a 13% annual interest rate and a 20% downpayment.



1.11 Environmental, ecological and green areas

The main ecological zones are the river banks on both towns. Some banks are being eroded and are

creating a hazard to the property owners next to them. It is important to note the importance of the

orange orchard in San Ignacio and similar orchards or pastures in Santa Elena. Our hypothesis is

that these provide a great level of control and barriers for sediments not to flow into the river at

great volumes. A careful study ought to be done regarding this theory. With the construction of the

bridge, we should see if any comments were made in the EIA in this regard.

Of equal importance is the sensitivity of the Macal River Banks. To date there are three sewerage

water drains that lead into the river. With the ever expanding number of households, the

construction of concrete drains, and the increase of tourism, the river is likely to suffer the effects of

contamination. This is a major tourist attraction and represents the source of water for many villages

downstream. With our towns’ waters continuously been drained in an untreated manner, the life

span of the river could be declining. Although the Branch Mouth area is not within the town limits,

any development on this area would have a negative impact for the residents of SISE. This area is

heavily used for recreation by residents of SISE and the surrounding communities (park, swimming

in the river, iguana watching).

The Natural reserves are only in the Cahal Pech Area in town which has already been surrounded

by developments. Careful attention ought to be placed on avoiding deforestation in this area.

SISE, Map of the urbanized area and areas for environmental conservation



Parks are built and maintained by the Town Council. Maintenance is done through subcontracting.

However with the declining green areas in town, the council should probably reconsider improving

the parks by planting more appropriate trees.

1.12 Public spaces

Public spaces are becoming minimal as the years go by. The increasing population is demanding for

more police sub-stations, utility sub-offices, medical centers and entertainment areas. Parks can

only fulfill some of these demands. A strategy has to be developed considering decentralization of

activities around the town itself to better accommodate the needs of those living on the marginal

areas. We consider that with the decentralization of services, other economic activities could spring

up in these areas, thus creating more employment.

1.13 Cultural, archaeological and historic assets

Within the boundaries of the municipality, the only

protected area is the Cahal Pech Archaeological

Reserve, located in the south-central portion of San

Ignacio as illustrated by the above map.

Our town’s being the hub for tourist destinations in

the district, the council needs to establish an identity,

maintain visual landmarks that highlight its history

and look for opportunities that will create more

opportunities for the local tourism sector. At this

point in time these are being lost and an urgent effort

has to be done to restore them. We are losing physical

and human assets and it is time that we expedite

every effort to maintain them.

1.14 Recreational facilities

Sports facilities will be upgraded to an

acceptable standard by 2014.

Swimming areas can be improved next

to the river banks. Our culture is

presently not too concerned with

swimming pools since there are plenty

of natural water features in the district.

Public recreational programs would

have to be done by the council and

other organizations such as Nich.



1.15 Transportation and accessibility

There are four main means of transportation that people use to have access to the different areas of

town, primarily:

Taxi. There are over 200 taxi licenses being issued by the Traffic Department for the towns.

Taxi fares range from $5.00 to $10.00 per trip.

Buses in Transit. Approximately every half hour a bus to or from Belize City will pass

through the town. Many people in lower income areas may wait for these to take them

closer to their destination.

Private vehicles: A large number of the population has vehicles.

Walking to schools and stores is the major reason people leave their homes. Fortunately,

these are strategically located around town hence not much walking has to be done.

Bus waiting area. Though there is not a bus terminal in the municipality, passengers await buses at

the newly constructed Cayo Welcome Center. These passengers typically travel from one area to

the next for employment. A significant number of residents from San Ignacio and Santa Elena are

employed in Belmopan, where most of the government offices are located. The busiest times of the

day would therefore be when these workers leave and return from work - at 7:00 am and at 5:00 pm.

Traffic. The current situation of the bus waiting area is causing traffic congestion and the council is

looking at different options to relocate the bus stop facility. With the taxi association located in the

down town area, parking becomes especially limited on Fridays and Saturdays. This, tied with the

amount of vehicles in the municipality has created a huge area of concern for the Traffic

Department in the downtown area, especially Burns Avenue, Hudson Street and the Savannah area.

This becomes more evident on Saturdays when vendors from the municipalities and the surrounding

villages come to sell their produce at the local market.

Name of Taxi Association Location

Mid-town Hudson Street

Bullet Tree Wyatt Street

Independence Riverside Street

Alliance Savannah Street

Courtesy La Loma Luz Hospital

Cayo Independent Taxi Assoc. Riverside Street

Savannah Welcome Centre



Road network. Almost all built-up and developing areas have road access, even if the road type is

the most rudimentary.



1.16 Priority investments and future known projects

Approved or pre-approved projects:

BZ$ 5 million for upgrading local sporting facilities. To be completed by early 2015;

New bridge (BZ$ 50 million) to be completed by 2016;

Improve current market facility (BZ$ 250,000 – with CARILED). To be completed by April

2014;

BMDP street improvement (BZ$ 2 million).

Projects that the council would like to pursue:

River Walk concept plan;

Shopping mall concept;

Relocation of bus terminal;

Market for Santa Elena;

Multi-purpose municipal building;

Redevelopment of the Norman Broaster Stadium.

1.17 Hazards, risks and disaster preparedness

In the last few years the municipalities have seen a drastic decline in flooding; this can be attributed

to the Challilo, Mollejon and Vaca Dams which act as containment areas for the Macal River.

However, low-lying areas near the banks of the Mopan and Macal Rivers are still prone to flooding.

Areas within San Ignacio and Santa Elena that are vulnerable to flooding include those areas

between the Hawksworth Bridge and the wooden bridge. Flooding in these areas is a result of heavy

rainfall inundating the Macal River. Experience has shown that the high banks on the Santa Elena

side of the Macal River has

protected residents from

flood damage while the river

swells into the lower lying

areas of San Ignacio Town.

According to the study by

Chung’s Engineering Co.

Ltd., Municipal Drainage

Assessment (June 2010),

there are at least two areas

that are susceptible to flooding, namely the Sacred Heart College Area affecting approximately 150

households, two schools and a major traffic route; and the Requena/Bradley Street affecting

approximately 80 residents.

Although the towns have never experienced a flash flood as a result of Dam failure, the

Government of Belize has developed a national multi-hazard contingency plan - The Belize

National Disaster Management Plan. As a result of this plan, NEMO – CAYO developed a district

Flood Contingency plan mandated by NEMO, to provide a comprehensive disaster management



strategy with complementing disaster management plans at the national level. These are further

mirrored at the district and are more localized at the village levels.

EVENT/DATE IMPACT

Flooding in San Ignacio, Santa Familia,

Bullet Tree and Calla Creek from

Tropical depression #16, October 2008

Damage to crops, livestock and other

material property

Flooding in Cayo District, June 2002 Damage to Beaver Creek bridge,

necessitating replacement

Flooding in San Ignacio from Hurricane

Roxanne, 1995

Damage to hydro-electric dam area



During the threat of a hurricane, residents of the coastal areas flock to the inland districts to seek

shelter where damages are minimal. Protected by its hilly terrain, San Ignacio and Santa Elena have

seen very minimal damage resulting from hurricane winds. There are nine identified shelters within

San Ignacio and Santa Elena hosting a capacity of 4,130 persons. Updating and renovating existing

shelter facilities need to be considered. Actions taken in advance of a disaster to minimize loss of

life and damage include organizing temporary removal of people and property from a threatened

location, facilitate timely and effective rescue, relief rehabilitation (which would enhance response,

recovery and reconstruction actions) after the disaster.

As experience has shown, the lower lying wooden

bridge becomes impassable during flooding and SISE

Town Council takes assertive action in the control of

traffic flow including diverting traffic routes,

allocating available evacuation transportation and

liaising with NEMO to coordinate use of equipment

and resources.

Fire disasters are not frequent in San Ignacio and Santa

Elena Towns, however as experience has indicated,

due to poor building codes, the fires of 1968 and 1971

destroyed more than half of the business community in the downtown area.

1.18 Infrastructure and utilities

The electricity network displayed is for the main high voltage distribution lines (22,000V) and low

voltage (220V) lines. Lines to individual locations (110 volts) are not represented. Residential areas

with no coverage in Santa Elena are those adjacent to a portion of the current north-eastern

boundaries. In San Ignacio, the area known as the Boiton division just south of the current

boundaries as well as the area immediately west of the Bishop Martin primary school have no

electrical coverage. The rest of the built-up areas of the twin towns, as well as areas outside of the

current boundaries such as Shawville (the area located furthest to the south of San Ignacio), enjoy

electrical coverage.

All built-up areas within the town boundaries are covered by the solid waste collection service

provided by the town council. Each zone is covered at least one time per week. Businesses also get

serviced however the business cannot be mapped as an official zone.



1.19 Municipal management, administration and financing

The current town boundaries for SISE include 3,565 acres, which the council must upkeep on a

daily basis. Development within the boundary is very straining because of lack of proper boundary

planning and is thus creating conflicts with land owners outside the current boundaries. A new town

boundary was proposed which comprises 5,477 acres and will incorporate the majority of these

outside lands and place them within the town limits.

At the present moment, subdivisions which are located outside the current boundary receive

services from the council. Such areas include the Shawville area, Captal Heights, Susanna Bradley

sub-division, Daniel Silva sub-division, Maya Mountain Lodge, Boiton Area, and the Branch

Mouth Road. Examples of these services are:

1. Garbage collection

2. Drainage cleaning and maintenance

3. Street clearance and maintenance

4. Land Clearance due to over grown vegetation

5. Street lights

We must bear in mind that these subdivision are currently out of the SISE jurisdictions and these

services are essential demands. This new proposed boundary will eventually boost the property tax

revenue and will help us avoid any court action which the council faces at the present moment due

to conflicting information gathered from the Ministry of Natural Resources, hence creating

inconsistencies with the landowner(s) and the SISE Town Council.

The council’s budget stands at $BZ 2 million for the year 2012-2013 and its main revenue comes

from property taxes, trade licenses, liquor licenses, traffic, market stall rentals, garbage collection

and, last but not least, the Welcome Centre. Some revenue collection comes in different methods,

for example the Traffic Department collects fees for licensing vehicles, license plates, permits

(learners), drivers’ license ID cards, vehicles registration, traffic violation tickets. Revenue for

Welcome Centre comes from the rental of buildings, bus fees, toilet fees and parking.

Every district council has a different tax rate. The SISE Town Council has a 7% charge for

occupied lots and a 2% charge for unoccupied (vacant) lots. Trade licenses also have a tax rate of

25% on rental value. SISE Town Council has recently employed a Revenue Manager with the

intentions to increase collections of outstanding revenues. Since May 2013 the department has

commenced various collection strategies which includes delivery of property tax statements to

occupied properties, identifying accounts that exceed the statue of limitations, demand letters, stop

orders to delinquent Trade License, public notices, site visitations and routine telephone contact.



CHAPTER 2: VISION, STRATEGY

AND DEVELOPMENT

SCENARIOS



2.1 A Vision for SISE

San Ignacio / Santa Elena in 2030 is envisioned as:

A vibrant municipality offering a multitude of services to residents and businesses;

A peaceful municipality that continues to foster harmony and social well-being among its

residents;

To become the number 1 inland destination tourism hub in Belize proud of its local history,

nature and cultural traditions;

A well managed municipality equipped with efficient and modern infrastructure;

A modern municipality with a strong local economy conscious of a healthy, green

environment;

A well planned town that encourages proper land uses and management.

2.2 SISE Development Strategy

The vision for SISE is pursued through a comprehensive strategy that includes a range of

development policies and planning proposals.

2.2.1 Existing population projections

There are two available population projections for Belizean urban areas—those provided by SIB

(through 2020) and by the World Bank study (through 2050). 2 While both are supported in past

population growth figures, the World Bank estimates are higher because they account for overall

urbanization trends as foreseen by the United Nations Population Division (UN-DESA) for Belize

in 2020-2050.

The World Bank growth projections of individual cities/towns are based on UN-DESA urban

population projections for Belize during the period 2020- 2050. The total number of urban residents

in all cities/towns in a given year was constrained to equal the projected total urban population in

that year. Then, the added population to a given municipality was assumed to be proportional to the

average of three values: the population that was added to the municipality between 1991 and 2000,

the population that was added to the municipality between 1980 and 2000, and the population that

was added to the municipality between 1970 and 2000. 3 The figure below summarizes the World

Bank projections until 2030 for the towns and cities that are relevant for the “MDP—Preparation of

Development Plans project”.

2 The World Bank. Belize Housing Policy. Diagnosis and Guidelines for Action. Latin America and the

Caribbean Region. June 2011



Figure 1: World Bank study urban population projections for Belize

City and town 2010 2020 Annual

2030 Annual

% Change* % Change*

Corozal 9,901 14,583 3.9% 17,955 2.1%

Orange Walk 13,400 17,538 2.7% 20,518 1.6%

San Ignacio/Santa Elena 16,977 29,082 5.5% 37,800 2.7%

Benque 5,824 9,135 4.6% 11,520 2.3%

Belmopan 13,351 27,067 7.3% 36,945 3.2%

Danriga 9,096 11,521 2.4% 13,268 1.4%

Punta Gorda 5,205 8,078 4.5% 10,147 2.3%

Total Urban 138,796 211,000 4.3% 263,000 2.2%

Note: * = added by Consulting team

Source: The World Bank (2011)

The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) growth projections of individual cities are estimated with a

mathematical model based on the 2000 and 2010 population censuses. The population was

estimated at the national level, then disaggregated based on the growth patterns of the various

districts and urban/rural areas. The figure below summarizes SIB’s projections until 2020 for the

towns and cities that are relevant for the “MDP—Preparation of Development Plans project”.

Figure 2: SIB Belize Postcensal Population Estimates, 2010 to 2020

Area

Census

2010

Annual Growth

Rate*

(2000-2010)

Estimated Mid

Year Population

(2020)

Annual Growth

Rate*

(2010-2020)

Corozal Town 10,287 2.6% 13,314 2.61%

Orange Walk Town 13,709 0.1% 13,665 -0.03%

San Ignacio/Santa Elena 17,878 3.0% 23,583 2.81%

Benque Viejo 6,148 1.3% 7,087 1.44%

Belmopan 13,931 10.6% 25,583 6.26%

Dangriga 9,591 1.1% 10,680 1.08%

Punta Gorda 5,351 2.0% 6,530 2.01%

Country Urban 145,829 2.7% 187,249 2.53%

Note: * = added by Consulting team

Source: SIB

2.2.2 Population Growth Scenarios for SISE

Starting with a population of 16,977 in 2010, the World Bank study projects that SISE will reach

29,082 by 2020 and 37,800 by 2030, what would mean expanding at annual growth rates of 5.5%

and 2.7% respectively between 2010-2020 and 2020-2030. SIB’s projections are more moderate

and estimate that SISE will reach 23,583 by 2020 and thus it would expand at an average rate of

2.81% per annum.



Figure 3: Existing population growth projections for SISE

Based on SISE’s baseline population (2012) of 18,896 this LPWG has prepared three population

growth scenarios for 2020 and 2030:

1. Scenario 1 matches the World Bank’s growth rate projections. It assumes a stronger growth

rate of 5.5% per annum until 2020 that would go down to 2.6 % in 2020-2030;

2. Scenario 2 matches SIB’s growth rate projections. It assumes a growth rate of 2.8% per

annum until 2020 and in 2020-2030. This scenario illustrates what would happen under the

“business as usual” situation.

3. Scenario 3 is an intermediate projection between a stronger scenario projected by the

World Bank and a more conservative one projected by SIB. It is based on the assumption

that SISE will be an attractive town. Thus, a population growth rate is estimated at 4.1% per

annum until 2020 and then at 2.5% in 2020-2030. Assuming that part of that growth will be

absorbed by the neighboring communities, as is the case in other towns in Belize.



Figure 4: Population growth scenarios 1, 2 and 3

Year Population Annual % change Number of households

Total Change

Scenario 1: growth rates similar to WB’s

2012 18,896 -- 4,599

2020 29,065 5.5% 7,266 2,688

2030 37,791 2.6% 9,690 2,424

Scenario 2: growth rates similar to SIB’s

2012 18,896 -- 4,599 --

2020 23,586 2.8% 5,896 1,298

2030 31,118 2.8% 7,979 2,082

Scenario 3: Intermediate growth

2012 18,896 -- 4,599 --

2020 26,160 4.1% 6,540 1,941

2030 33,488 2.5% 8,587 2,046

Figure 5: Population growth scenarios for SISE

The assumed average household size in SISE is 4.1 (SIB 2010), and is projected to move down to

4.0 in 2020 and 3.9 in 2030.

Estimation of future land needs (2020 and 2030). Once the population has been projected, we can

estimate the amount of additional land that will be required to meet projected growth. Additional

land requirements are based on the level of land consumption necessary to build new housing to

accommodate new households, as well as shops and other commercial enterprises, schools, health

facilities, government buildings, infrastructure, parks and other public open spaces necessary to

support a town’s population and economic activities.



The estimation of land needs is based on the assumption that development will maintain the current

urbanized area density in SISE of 17.8 persons / acre. The underlying rationale for this is that at

these early stages of the planning process the room needed to accommodate the projected growth

should not be unnecessary limited. This initial estimation of land needs is intended to provide an

initial figure that could be further refined as part of the work for Chapter 3 on land use planning.

The “gross” amount of vacant land available within the proposed municipal boundary was

estimated at 1,571 acres. Of this, 1,099 acres have been identified as “net” vacant land preliminary

suitable to accommodate development. Pending of additional analysis to exclude or limit

development in those areas, it can be preliminary asserted that SISE municipality has enough

vacant land to accommodate the projected population growth under any of the three

scenarios.

Figure 6: Estimation of land needs for Scenarios 1, 2 and 3

Year Population Population

density

(persons / acre)

Urbanized area “Gross” vacant

land

Total

(acres)

Change

(acres)

Amount left

(acres)

Scenario 1: growth rates similar to WB

2012 18,896 1,062 -- 1,571

2020 29,065 17.8 1,634 +572 999

2030 37,791 2,124 +490 509

Scenario 2: growth rates similar to SIB

2012 18,896 1,062 -- 1,571

2020 23,586 17.8 1,326 +264 1,307

2030 31,118 1,749 +423 884

Scenario 3: Intermediate growth

2012 18,896 1,062 -- 1,571

2020 26,160 17.8 1,470 +408 1,163

2030 33,488 1,882 +412 751



2.2.3 Development Strategy Policies and Proposals

The San Ignacio / Santa Elena Development Strategy outlines policies and interventions to manage

the municipality under these population growth scenarios in ways that begin to achieve the vision of

the town. These interventions include the kinds of services that can be provided and the

opportunities that can be leveraged to meet the needs of the municipality.

Policy 1:

Tourism development

San Ignacio maintains and improves its tourism position as a place that must be visited in

Belize

Urban beautification and improvement of the overall urban environment

Attract retirees

Attract local tourism and international tourism

Commerce as a magnet

Hold international and local sport tournaments

Branding strategy: combine modern and ancient

Specific proposals to advance this policy:

Create tourist itineraries linking the main tourist destinations in town.

Policy 2:

Economic development

San Ignacio / Santa Elena as a destination (vs. a bypass), offering a good location for

business suppliers

Provide zoning guidelines to guide the location of different businesses activities (i.e.

mechanic shops) based on compatibility with the surrounding environment


Encourage investment in downtown SISE to make the downtown a booming business and

tourism centre

Policy 3:

Improve infrastructure services

Provide adequate and proper drainage infrastructure

Develop a long term vision for a sewer system for the municipality;

Coordinate with utility companies and PUC (Public Utilities Commission) to provide water

and electricity services in the areas that do not have;

Provide paved streets and sidewalks, prioritizing arterial and collector roads.

Policy 4:

Planning and Development

Create more linkages between downtown San Ignacio and Santa Elena

Make the downtown SISE a business and tourism centre



Embrace higher building densities in selected which areas are more suitable for this type of

development.

Identify suitable commercial zones and provide incentives for investment in those zones

Encourage commercial growth for Santa Elena to spread commercial activities in both sides

of town

Figure 7: San Ignacio / Santa Elena preliminary development concept diagram


Concentrate residential and retail uses to create a vibrant and active downtown SISE that

acts as a destination;

Require higher density standards downtown (smaller plot sizes, no setbacks and party walls).

This will allow utilizing space to the maximum and eliminating leftover unused outdoor

spaces where garbage accumulates and criminal activity can occur;



Joseph Andrews Drive residential zone should evolve into a commercial and trade zone;

Provide Santa Elena with a commercial center, a new market, and upgrade the sports

complex;

Change use of Norman Broaster old stadium located on prime land and create a new site for

development that would include a parking area serving downtown;

Build a new town hall (currently condemned) with expanded space and redevelop the current

site for uses (either by lease or sale) that would support economic development that benefits

the town—meets the goals and objectives articulated in the development plan.

Policy 5:

Architecture and urban design

Preserve historic architecture and current stock of buildings +100 years old

Provide architectural design guidelines through building codes so that character of SISE’s

historic ensemble is maintained in terms of design quality and scale


Provide incentives for property owners to contribute to town beautification by improving the

facades of their buildings.

Link this project with public space improvements and tourism itineraries.

Policy 6:

Transportation

Improve traffic management and traffic flow to reduce congestion;

Finding a suitable area for the bus terminal.

Develop a local public transportation policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport,

including a bus shuttle linking the new residential areas;

Legislate and provide new areas for parking.


Use the new road and bridge to divert major truck traffic;

Capitalize on the enhanced connectivity brought to promote commercial development.

Policy 7:

Municipal administration and management

Ensure that a proper administration and organizational structure is in place to meet the

growing demands of the residents of SISE;

Professionalize municipal staff: upgrade the level of professional expertise of town council

staff in order to better address the needs of a growing population;

Coordinate with central government departments and agencies for better access to data,

urban planning and decision-making

Consolidate the various street address systems and streets signage;

Implement and enforce the recommendations from the Revenue Enhancement Program (i.e.

trade licences, various taxes, fees and land assessment);



CHAPTER 3: LAND USE

PROPOSALS



3.1 Introduction: Land Use Planning and Draft Municipal Development Plans

The San Ignacio / Santa Elena Municipal Development Plan expresses the preferred form of

development in and around the twin towns to cater to their present and future needs. The San

Ignacio / Santa Elena Local Planning Working Group has drawn up development scenarios, and

from these various policies objectives and actions have been recommended, which range over issues

from land use to economic development to social progress.

Chapter Three of the MDP focuses on bringing the observations of Chapter One (Assessment of

Existing Conditions) and the projections and development scenarios of Chapter Two (Vision,

Strategy and Development Scenarios) into the Land Use Plan. This consists of both map-based and

text-based information.

Phased Implementation. As the development proposals made in the MDP, whether map-based or

text-based, are wide-ranging, and are intended to cater for a wide variety of future needs, the

implementation of those proposals must be given a phasing format. Some proposals may be

implementable in the short term (a nominal 1 – 3 years), some in the medium term (4 – 8 years),

and some in the long term (9 – 16 years). Consequently, Chapter Three MDP proposals are

assessed and categorized for their implementability in these terms.

3.2 Validation: Preferred Development Scenarios and Policies

The LPWG examined three population growth scenarios to estimate the necessary land

requirements and based its assessment of projected growth on an intermediate scenario. The

adopted scenario is an intermediate projection between a stronger scenario projected by the World

Bank and a more conservative one projected by SIB. It is based on the assumption that SISE will be

an attractive town and thereby have a population growth rate estimated at 4.1% per annum until

2020 and then at 2.5% in 2020-2030. This, however, assumes that part of that growth will be

absorbed by the neighboring communities, as is the case with other towns in Belize.

Population growth scenario

Year Population Annual % change Number of households

Total Change

Scenario: Intermediate growth

2012 18,896 -- 4,599 --

2020 26,160 4.1% 6,540 1,941

2030 33,488 2.5% 8,587 2,046

The assumed average household size in San Ignacio / Santa Elena is 4.1 (SIB 2010), and this is

projected to decrease to 4.0 in 2020 and to 3.9 in 2030.

Estimation of future land needs (2020 and 2030). Once the population has been projected, the

amount of additional land required to meet projected growth can be estimated. Additional land

requirements are based on the level of land consumption necessary to build new housing to

accommodate new households, as well as shops and other commercial enterprises, schools, health

facilities, government buildings, infrastructure, parks and other public open spaces necessary to



support a town’s population and economic activities. The estimation of land needs is based on the

assumption that development will maintain the current urbanized area density in SISE of 17.8

persons / acre. The “gross” amount of vacant land available within the proposed municipal

boundary was estimated at 1,571 acres. Of this, 1,099 acres have been identified as “net” vacant

land preliminary suitable to accommodate development. From this it can be preliminarily asserted

that the San Ignacio / Santa Elena municipality has sufficient vacant land to accommodate the

projected population growth under this scenario.

Estimation of land needs

Year Population Population

density

(persons / acre)

Urbanized area “Gross” vacant

land

Total

(acres)

Change

(acres)

Amount left

(acres)

Scenario: Intermediate growth

2012 18,896 1,062 -- 1,571

2020 26,160 17.8 1,470 +408 1,163

2030 33,488 1,882 +412 751

Policies generated by the LPWG in Chapter 2 are:

1. Tourism development: to maintain and improve the position of the twin towns tourism as a

primary tourism destination in Belize through improved marketing and improvement of the overall

urban environment.

2. Economic development: enhance the towns’ attraction as a destination and good location for

business suppliers, and through guidelines identifying optimal locations for different business

activities based on compatibility with the surrounding environment.

3. Improved infrastructure: provide sustainable proper drainage, sewage, road and utility

infrastructure throughout the town, particularly in liaison with the utility companies.

4. Planning urban development: create better linkages between the two towns; enhance

downtown San Ignacio as a business and tourism centre; embrace higher building densities in

suitable areas; identify commercial development areas and provide incentives for investment;

encourage commercial growth in Santa Elena to spread commercial activities on both sides of the

Macal River.

5. Architecture and urban design: preserve historic architecture and provide architectural design

guidelines so that historic character is maintained.

6. Transportation: improve traffic management to reduce congestion; identify a more suitable

location for the bus terminal; apply by-laws and provide new areas for parking.

7. Municipal management and administration: ensure an effective administration structure is in

place to meet the growing demands of the residents of the towns; coordinate with central

government departments and agencies for better access to data, urban planning and decision-making

processes; implement and enforce the recommendations from the Revenue Enhancement Program.



3.3 Overall Development Concept

Here, a summary of general development concept of the MDP is described. The Module 3

workshop focused on the scenarios, objectives and actions written up in Chapter 2, and in

discussion these may have been expanded or altered. The purpose here is to capture the essence of

the concept.

3.3.1 General Municipal Improvement Proposals

Enhancement of the historic downtown area of San Ignacio through a Downtown Improvement

Scheme to boost the attraction of the area for tourism and its economic activity.

Developing the core of Santa Elena as a commercial and tourism area to elevate the development

profile of the east side of the Macal River.

Establish improved access and economic connections between the two towns.

Designation of two new Commercial Development zones: one in the east, where at the juncture of

the by-pass and the George Price (Western) Highway; the other in the west at the junction of the

Highway and the Kontiki road.

Safeguard urban expansion areas around the twin towns: in the east mainly in the vicinity of the

new by-pass, but also, in the longer-term, on the hillier land south of the Highway and along the

Cristo Rey Road; in the west the objective is more to utilise land lying between existing

subdivisions along the Bullet Tree Road, the Highway, and south of the Cahal Pech archaeological

Reserve. In all these cases, development is to be phased – short-term, medium-term and long-term.

The relocation of the bus terminal to a more strategic site which is easily accessed yet causes

reduced traffic and urban inconvenience.

The protection of the natural vegetation lining both sides of the Macal River (particularly upstream

of the Hawksworth Bridge), and the forest cover on the higher hills lying to the south.

The prioritised upgrading of infrastructure (streets & drains) in existing sub-divisions (some with

little or no occupation) generally lying in the outskirts of the two towns.

Drafting of general urban design guidelines (building, architecture and traffic) to guide the public,

developers and GOB permitting authorities.

3.4 Land Use Proposals indicated on a map

3.4.1Town Expansion

San Ignacio / Santa Elena has a relatively rich supply of land for urban expansion in the short to

medium term on reasonably developable (flat to rolling) land, along with further reserves for the

long-term on less immediately developable (hilly) land. However, little of this land is in public

ownership. Government subdivisions over the last decade of so have been undertaken on private



land acquired for public purposes. Urban expansion is described firstly in the Santa Elena area, and

secondly in the San Ignacio area. In all cases, the town boundary referred to is the proposed one.

Areas already or partially developed have also been identified for infrastructural improvement.

These areas are described in 3.4.2 below.

3.4.1.1Urban Expansion in Santa Elena

Expansion in the Short-Term. There are two areas identified for short-term development (1 – 4

years). The first is a block of property lying in the Aguada area, north of the route of the new by-

pass and east of the Trapiche Road. It is flat land, not particularly subject to any inundation, will be

well connected to the by-pass and the Trapiche Road, and has a little subdivision lying between it

and the by-pass. This land has been designated for mainly housing, though subdivision should

include adequate recreational space, land for elementary schooling, and some commerce along the

main road frontages, particularly along the by-pass. The second block is also in the Aguada area,

lying west of the some recent (generally un-serviced) subdivision and north of the Highway – it

extends to the town boundary with neighbouring Esperanza village. It too is flat, and generally free

of the threat of flood, though access is limited to the Bradley’s Bank road on one side and the

Highway at its south end – a main road will be needed to run through the block to connect these two

access points. Land use in this block has been designated as ‘mixed’, meaning generous provision

should be made for commercial use situated along the Highway, with the allowance of small-scale

business and retail interposed with residential use. Suitable space will be required for recreation

and schooling. Both of these parcels are of some few hundred acres.

The new by-pass in Santa Elena

Although any urban expansion in this area may be incremental – different parts being developed at

different times – an indicative master plan for both blocks would be very instrumental to ensure

optimal land use and efficient service delivery.



Figure 8: San Ignacio / Santa Elena land use planning proposals



Expansion in the Long-Term. There are two general areas of blocks of land earmarked for long-

term (10 – 15 years) urban expansion: in the Red Creek area close to Esperanza; and along the

Cristo Rey Road. The first area comprises two blocks, one immediately south of the Highway and

west of Esperanza with Red Creek running along its western side. This land is generally flat to

rolling and has Highway frontage and a motorable road running along its eastern side. Further to the

south, separated from the former by a tract of supposedly subdivided (though unoccupied) land lies

the second block which is hillier than the former, and is largely under bush. This block also lies

immediately east of the Hillview area of Santa Elena, which is generally built-up and relatively well

serviced, though with poor roads. Part of this block is identified as having a particularly high hill

which should be left undeveloped under forest.

The need for a main road to service these blocks is identified as running along the existing road

coming from the Highway just east of Red Creek. Part of this road will continue straight to access

the back, hillier, block, while another part will then turn west to meet existing roads of the Hillview

area.

Looking north from Santa Cruz area towards Hillview

Due to problems with terrain – Red Creek with the former, hilly land with the latter – both blocks

are reserved for longer-term urban expansion: requiring greater infrastructural preparation than the

two short-term blocks.

The second area lies along the Cristo Rey Road and consists of three blocks. The first block lies

immediately south of the Santa Cruz area and the San Jose Road which runs along the top of the hill

southwest to northeast and east of the Cristo Rey road. This is a large block of several hundred

acres, with much of the land cleared for pasture. There is a half-completed resort on the crest

(overlooking the land to the north), and some forest in the south east. This block is readily accessed

by the San Jose Road and the Cristo Rey Road.

The second block directly west of this, across the Cristo Rey road, directly south of the built-up

Linda Vista estate, and next to the Macal River. The land is hilly and forested. It is separated from

the third block by a belt of high forested hills best left in reserve. The third smaller block is equally

hilly and forested. Both these blocks are adjacent to the sensitive Macal River reserve, and are



serviced by the Cristo Rey road. All three blocks are designated for long-term development due to

their hilly and sensitive nature, especially the latter two.

3.4.1.2Urban Expansion in San Ignacio

Unlike proposals for Santa Elena, San Ignacio also has an area designated for medium-term (5 – 10

years) urban expansion. This is due to the wider variety of land types west of the Macal River.

Whereas land in Santa Elena is essentially either flat or hilly, San Ignacio also has some quite

extensive areas of ‘rolling’ land with little obstructions to development in the far west of the town,

but lies beyond parcels that are only in the first stages of development. There is also an area

designated for ‘low to medium density development’ which is subject to assessment of land

suitability.

Expansion in the Short-Term. There is only one block of land designated for short term (1 – 4

years) urban expansion. It is a block of several hundred acres, made up of more than one parcel,

lying south of the Kontiki area, east of the Highway, north of Shawville, and readily served by

Constellation Boulevard. The land is generally developable, with no obvious low or hilly parts, and

is largely under secondary forest. There appears to be a small lake in the south west. Development

on this block would connect the already built up Shawville with the main body of the town.

Shawville was subdivided approximately twenty years ago, has 30 to 40 government built low-

income houses on it, and has electricity and water, however it lies entirely unconnected with the rest

of town, and is outside of the current town boundary. Development between Shawville and Kontiki

will bridge this gap, and will connect to in the east to the very partially developed area of Boiton.

Looking from Shawville towards Kontiki

Road connection to this block is focused on Constellation Boulevard which runs north-south from

Kontiki to Shawville, with other collector streets extending south from Kontiki, and east-west from

Boiton to the Highway. Small scale commercial uses will be focused on the boulevard, yet with

sites for recreation and schooling located within the block.



Expansion in the Medium-Term. The one area, of several hundred acres, designated for medium-

term (5 – 10 years) urban expansion lies in the Santiago Juan area, on rolling land between the

Bullet Tree road and the Highway. South lies a block (occupied partly by the Windy Hill resort)

designated for ‘resort / eco-tourism’, while to the north, lying towards the Bullet Tree road, and the

east, going towards central town, are subdivisions that are in the process of being developed

(though the subdivision to the north has minimal development). A large building of five stories or

more (perhaps intended as a hotel) is under construction towards the south of the block.

Though the relief of the land presents few problems for expansion, attention must be paid to small

creeks that run through it to the east and north. Moreover, the high tension line from the hydro

plants runs south-north across the site with a substantial reserve along its alignment. The area is

accessed by a relatively good road running along the southern edge, with several, generally poor,

streets running into it from the subdivision to the east. There are road reserves giving access from

the north, but, where they are actually made-up, they are very poor. The north-south Collins

Boulevard, almost completely motorable, runs along the eastern edge. The subdivision to the

immediate east (the Collins Subdivision) has electricity and water supply.

Drainage east of the medium-term block

Expansion in the Long-Term. Long-term expansion (10 – 15 years) is proposed in the hilly and

sensitive land lying west of the Macal River and east of the Cahal Pech and Boiton areas. The land

is divided into several large private blocks, is largely forested, and has a few isolated generally

upper-investment houses on it. Due to its sensitive and hilly terrain, and its close proximity to the

proposed river reserve, particular care must be taken over its development, and environmentally

damaging uses must be avoided. Access will be via the Martin Galvez road that runs north–south

from the Octavia Waight Center to the Boiton area and connects with Figueroa Street running

west–east to the Kontiki area. Electricity and water supply is already in the Cahal Pech area to the

west.



View from the Boiton area towards Cahal Pech

Low to Medium Density Development. This block of several hundred acres lies at the north of the

town and west of the Branchmouth Road. It is private property and is currently cultivated for citrus

and other crops, and will have a stretch of the new by-pass run through its south east corner. The

terrain is generally flat, though as there are low, or quarried, areas along its eastern side, its

development potential requires further assessment, not least because the by-pass will pass through

it. The block is also accessed by Joseph Andrews Drive which runs along its southern boundary.

3.4.2 Infrastructural Improvement Areas

Various areas of the twin towns that have been subdivided and are at least partially occupied have

been identified as requiring prioritised infrastructural work to bring them up to the standard of the

main body of the towns. Improvements include: roads and streets motorable in all seasons;

culverting and bridging where required; efficient drainage into a comprehensive drainage system;

and electricity and water supply to all lots.

Apart from facilitating occupation of the lots in these areas, the objective is urban consolidation –

bringing all vacant lots into use to minimise any need for subdivision in unsuitable areas, which is

expensive for the occupants and for Town Council services. The identification of these areas is

intended to guide future infrastructural works, and should act as the basis for a rolling improvement

programme.

Infrastructural Improvement Areas in Santa Elena. There are two areas in Santa Elena

identified for prioritised works. The first in the Aguada area, covering a GOB and a private

subdivision, both of which are in the early stages of development. As this area lies immediately

west of the block of short-term ‘mixed-use’ town expansion, improvements will assist in that

expansion. The second area lies immediately south of the Hillview area. The land here has been

subdivided, yet is hilly and there appears to be little or no building work. Upgrading this area will

bring it in line with neighbouring Hillview.

Infrastructural Improvement in San Ignacio. The four sites in San Ignacio are firstly the Boiton

area, which has been subdivided yet has seen little occupation. The site lies south of Figueroa Street



and east of Kontiki, and bringing this area into effective occupation will largely consolidate the

urban framework south of Cahal Pech. The site is also accessed by Martin Galvez Street.

The second site is the remainder of the Shawville subdivision, which has not been occupied.

Constellation Boulevard passes through it.

Third is a private subdivision north of the Bullet Tree Road and immediately east of the new

hospital. Lots have been laid out, but no building has commenced.

Lastly, south of the Bullet Tree Road and opposite the hospital is another private subdivision that

has not been brought into use.

Upgrading these last two areas will amalgamate the various subdivisions in this west part of town

into a comprehensive urban quarter.

3.4.3 Commercial Development Areas

Two Commercial Development Areas are proposed at well-serviced locations. One in Santa Elena

at the junction of the new by-pass and the Highway, with the other in San Ignacio at the junction of

the Kontiki road and the Highway. In both these strategic areas, large scale commercial enterprises

(supermarkets, warehouses, etc) are proposed, with the objective of encouraging smaller scale,

tourism-friendly enterprises downtown (in both San Ignacio and Santa Elena).

3.4.4 Downtown Improvement Areas

San Ignacio. The historic center of San Ignacio – the area centered on Burns Avenue, with Joseph

Andrews Drive on the west, Benque Viejo Road on the south, and the Macal River on the east.

Within this area lie the pedestrianised Burns Avenue, the Welcome Center, the market, Police

Station, and most of the town’s small restaurants, bars and tourist facilities, and several buildings of

architectural interest. While the area has experienced some inappropriate development over the

years, parts have recently been greatly improved, and it has the potential to act both as a revitalized

heart of the town and as a boost to the town’s tourism attraction.

The area, however, is complex – having multiple land uses, ownership and traffic issues – and a

comprehensive approach will be required to ensure all relevant matters are addressed in effective

relation to each other. Consequently, a master plan will be required for improvement of the

downtown area. Matters that should be focused on include:

Encourage small-scale residential and retail uses to boost a vibrant downtown;

The preservation of historic architecture;

Incentives to encourage property owners to contribute to the area’s beautification;

Drafting of design guidelines to guide the construction of new buildings, the

maintenance of historic buildings and appropriate building densities;

Guidance and control of the land uses, to avoid non-compatible uses;

Beautification projects to upgrade the parks, gardens and the river front;



Explore the possibility with the Local Building Authority of higher density land uses

(smaller plot sizes, no setbacks, and party walls) in suitable areas;

Improvement of traffic flows and parking in the whole of the area, and the Norman

Broaster Stadium particularly;

Press for the conveyancing of the old hospital site to the Town Council, possibly as the

site of a new town hall, or other civic uses;

Assess ways to improve connections between the downtown areas of San Ignacio and

Santa Elena, possibly through themed walkways.

Santa Elena. At present, Santa Elena has no downtown area like Burns Avenue in San Ignacio.

Though retail and other commercial uses extend all along the George Price (Western) Highway, it is

the western part of the Highway and George Price Avenue form the ‘town center’. The MDP

proposes that more small scale retail, recreational and restaurant uses are encouraged in this area to

create more of a balance with those in San Ignacio. The redirection of through traffic along the by-

pass will allow street-side improvements and beautification along the remainder of the Highway to

the Hawksworth Bridge. It is also proposed that the current ‘wooden bridge’ which carries

westbound traffic across the Macal is, after the completion of the by-pass, retained as a pedestrian

crossing to encourage greater connection between the two towns.

3.4.5 Relocated Bus Terminal

The need for a new site for a new and efficient bus terminal has been identified, particularly as the

current site is considered as better used as a part of the downtown improvement area. The proposed

‘commercial development area’ in Santa Elena, at the junction of the Highway and the new by-pass.

A more detailed assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of either site is required to ensure

sufficient acreage, effective proximity to the highway, the avoidance of negative impacts on

surrounding uses, and ease of public access.

3.4.6 New Santa Elena Administrative Site

The current Ministry of Works yard at the junction of the Highway and the Cristo Rey Road is

proposed as the site of a municipal administration centre for Santa Elena, allowing easier local

access and creating improved local civic services and public recognition.

3.5 Land Use Proposals not indicated on a map

3.5.1 Design Guidelines

A set of comprehensive architectural design guidelines are required to guide the construction of new

buildings, the maintenance of historic buildings, and appropriate building densities. To facilitate

implementation, these guidelines should complement GOB guidelines where they exist, such as

Central Building Authority (CBA) and Land Utilisation Authority (LUA) requirements. Illustration

of appropriate building forms and styles would expedite the guideline’s use.

3.5.2 Building Improvement Incentives for Property Owners

The use of fiscal or licensing incentives to encourage property owners to improve the condition of

their buildings and lots is proposed. Examples of the use of such incentives in other municipalities,



whether in Belize or internationally, will be examined to gauge their suitability and

implementability.

3.6 General Infrastructure Improvement

3.6.1 Drainage

The drainage system in the urbanized parts of both towns is generally adequate for normal weather

conditions. However, road improvement and construction should integrate a sustainable network of

drains and culverts to ensure this level of service is maintained and improved to meet exceptional

weather conditions. Construction in the Savannah area of San Ignacio should either avoid the land

which is occasionally flooded by river surge, or be built to withstand it.

However, as pointed out above, small creeks in new or proposed subdivisions must be effectively

connected to the existing drainage system.

3.6.2 LiDER

The need for greater information on detailed topography has been identified by most, if not all,

municipalities, as a means to plan comprehensive drainage schemes. The optimal means identified

is the use of LiDER technology, which supplies detailed information on the topography, indicating

changes in relief to centimetre specificity, enabling in-depth assessment of the land and its drainage

patterns.

A particular recommendation of this MDP is the need to prepare a proposal to commission a

comprehensive LiDER survey of all the municipalities in Belize.

san ignacio/santa elena municipal development plan: chapters 1, 2 and 3

Documents

sise town council

town administrator

san ignaciosanta elena

municipal scale

spatial development

civil society dorian

valuation department

revenue department