Cancún plans transition to 15-minute proximity city model

The Benito Juárez City Council, through the Municipal Institute of Urban Development Planning (Implan), is preparing a 50-year transition for Cancún toward a “proximity city” model. This urban plan aims to ensure residents can access basic services, education, and commerce within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transit trip.

Following a diagnostic phase, the Municipal Urban Development Program (PMDU) will move into zoning, aligning with the Local Ecological Ordering Program (POEL). This integration is expected to conclude in September, providing legal certainty for protected areas and defining buildable polygons before public consultation. The project is being supported by technical assistance from ONU-Habitat.

The implementation timeline extends to early 2027, with a general workshop scheduled for October and public consultations set for November and December. The plan also targets specific critical zones, including the Hotel Zone, the El Ombligo super-block, the historic center, and the Donceles neighborhood, to focus on road regeneration and service reorganization.