January 2007 Update

Hello my friends,

First, I must apologize for the long space between updates. We've had a few hurdles to jump these last six months - the 'clausurado' and the fact that our village is in two zones.

We were allowed to remove the clausurado (closed) signs in December and move forward with the development. Now we are working with a 'perito', Enrique Presiado, to establish our zoning variance. A 'perito' is an authorized professional whose signature is recognized by the government. This process will take another three months and will result in the paperwork necessary to form the Condominium Regimen, prepared by our lawyer, Adrian Turner. Most of the town is in a high density area of 100 homes per hectare and the top part is in low density of 1 home per hectare. We are asking for an average of 4.5 homes per hectare, which has much less impact on the environment. We have been meeting with the heads of the State and Federal authorities for ecology, SEMARNAT and SEDUMA, and have been assured that we will be accepted once the perito finishes his job. We already have permission from the Municipal government. We also have a team of topographers working in Pueblo SacBe double checking every lot point and installing monuments where they are missing. Our main objective now is completing all the requirements for escrituras (individual titles). Here is a copy of the paid 2007 land taxes for Pueblo SacBe in the name of Sacbe Village S.A. De C.V.

Pueblo SacBe is being created as a Master Condomium, which is made up of several neighborhood associations or smaller condominiums. Part of our legal process is to define 120 lots which include the existing lots. Each existing lot will have a separate title for their private area and each lot owner will be an owner in all of the common areas. The overlay map of 120 neighborhood associations will be available soon. This is part of the three month time line.

Because a mandate for SacBe is to create a sustainable community, we are trying to do this on many levels. Sustainability has several meanings - alternative energy, recycling, education, leaving a clean planet for our grandchildren, growing food, promoting culture, etc. Another important need is raising enough money to pay for the maintenance of the village, the gardeners, security, maintaining roads, and the like. SacBe has entered into a one year contract with a company that brings in Incentive Groups from one of the resorts here. They bring in tables and linen and set up dining in the volleyball court. We had a show last Monday where there were over 40 dancers performing wonderful shows and the 130 tourists were very happy with the event. All SacBe residents are welcome to watch the show in an area separate from the tourist group. These events are permitted two times per month, as I want to see what the reaction from all the residents will be before limiting it to less shows or asking for more. The Tohoku Park belongs to all of us and I am trying to rent only to these people and only for Maya type shows, so there is minimal impact to the harmony of the village. The contract states that we will decide in three months if it is worth it to us to increase the number of events. At the end of this year we can decide to continue with the events or cancel.   parks images   shows images

We now have 24 hour security, seven days a week, at the entrance to Pueblo SacBe. The bypass road is now completed, so the land owners behind SacBe do not need to cross through our town. The new security palapa is finished and I am now going to do some gardening so our entrance will be spectacular. Our security gate will control both roads and there will be four groups paying for security, Sacbe Village, Don Mario Garrigos, Muņoz y Associados, and Sacbesito.   security images

Sacbesito is an area of land between Sacbe and the bypass road. Along with two partners, I have purchased this from Don Mario. Our intention is to build a Maya style shopping mall. It will be kind of like a western town look with Mayan doors and windows, will include business services, a health food store and restaurant, several shops, as well as storage areas for rent. We expect that there will be a market for this in about two years. On the south side of the road we will be building a fence to protect us from whatever developments are planned for that area. The bypass road is private and we have security now at the entrance, as well as our western border. Our western property has now been fenced as well.

We have been building and widening roads this year. Dave and Lisa can now drive to their lot, Cam now has access for his building materials, and Bill and Jackie's road was finished so they could finally get their well drilled. I've added some pictures to show the way we are building our Sacbes (white roads) by first breaking large rocks to fill the holes, then covering with smaller stones and then the sascab, which is crushed limestone. We will be flattening all roads, leaving a 2% incline for fast water drainage. The stones below also help with better drainage.   roads images

The Tarzan Tower was revamped this year. We have been using the SacBe Cafe for events. The Tarzan office is 90% completed and Billy has installed a wireless internet antenna, so he now can send the signal to the houses in the village. Bill abandoned my office to work in the jungle in his home. Check out the picture of Bill in wireless internet bliss. Lynn is now able to operate her business from her home in the jungle, too. That's a big deal for all of us. Thank you Billy!   tower images

I am so pleased in how the residents of Pueblo SacBe have spent so much time gardening. Many developments take down all the trees, put up a cement structure and plant a couple of bushes later, but not our group. Check out the nursery where hundreds of Neem Trees are growing. The Neem tree is originally from India and is a natural repellent for mosquitoes, which hate to be around them. There are amazing gardens everywhere in the village now and I wish to thank you all for your green thumbs.   gardens images

The old security palapa will now be used as a sales information center and will also help us explain the concepts and regulations of SacBe. Behind the palapa is an area we are developing for a recycling center. Carlo and Cecilia are in charge of this project and will supply each resident with a manual for how we will accept the materials. Our goal is to eliminate as much garbage as possible by recycling the plastics, glass, metals and paper. We have a buyer in Cancun who is providing the PET bags for the center. The remaining garbage will be taken to the Municipal dump and the residents will pay on a usage basis. We are hoping to have this up and running by March.

I have included some pictures of the homes that are being built. The workmanship of the owners and workers is remarkable.   homes images

Our Winter Solstice Festival was a lot of fun with a lot of musical and dance talent. Thank you Trent for your generosity in bringing us Tina and her band. They were phenomenal. And thanks to all of the performers for making this event a success.   solstice images

Lama Lhanang Rinpoche is blessing us with his presence once again. He will be giving yoga, meditation and art classes in Playa del Carmen at the Jardin de Shangri-la Caribe, as well as in Pueblo SacBe. He is a wonderful human being and has a very clear insight to life.   lama images

That's all for now and I promise to keep you all more informed in the future. I appreciate you all. Without you, we could never accomplish what we are doing. And to our hard working people who are the backbone of this dream, I send a special thank you.

All the best, ted