P.R. Laws tit. 23, § 163
The Puerto Rico Planning Board is hereby empowered to establish ancient or historic zones in coordination with the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and zones of tourist interest in coordination with the Tourist Company anywhere in Puerto Rico. The said zones may include one or more lots or properties, or only a part of same, whether they are public or private property; they shall be established pursuant to the procedure of previous public hearing provided for by § 62z of this title and the resolutions establishing said zones shall be effective and have the force of law fifteen (15) days after being adopted by the Board. The same procedure shall be observed for the discontinuance, enlargement, reduction, or any other modification of the area of said zones.
An ancient or historic zone is an area within which the buildings, structures, appurtenances, and places are of basic and vital importance for the development of culture and tourism because of their association with history; because of their unique Spanish colonial style, including color, proportions, form, and architectural details; because of their being a part of, or related to a plaza, park, or area, the design or general arrangement of which should be preserved and/or developed according to a fixed plan based on cultural, historical, or architectural motives or purposes in general.
A zone of tourist interest is any area of Puerto Rico having as an integral part of its geographical location or within the environs thereof a series of natural and artificial attractions which are at present developed or have tourist potential, such as beaches, lakes, bays, historical sites and places of great natural beauty, within which the buildings, structures, natural beauty and other things are of basic and vital importance for the development of tourism in Puerto Rico.
On and after the effectiveness of this act and for the purpose of preserving the nature of ancient or historic zones, and zones of tourist interest it shall be required to obtain authorization from the Permit Management Office for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, enlargement, removal or partial or total demolition of any building within the areas comprised in the ancient or historic zones, and the zones of tourist interest, pursuant to the procedure established by §§ 161—166 of this title or this regulation.
History —May 14, 1949, No. 374, p. 1144, § 3; Mar. 2, 1951, No. 1, p. 2; June 8, 1972, No. 8, p. 360, § 3; July 15, 1975, No. 4, p. 575, § 4.