The Directorate General for Coasts and the Sea of ​​the Ministry for Ecological Transition has declared the proceedings for the delimitation of the public maritime-terrestrial domain affecting the coastal stretch of Es Comú de Muro, between Casetes dels Capellans and Playa de Muro, to have expired. These proceedings aimed to resolve a long-standing controversy: determining the legality of having three beachfront restaurants and some twenty summer homes occupying this area of ​​high natural value. According to the interpretation of some experts and environmentalists, these buildings were constructed on the dune system, and according to the Coastal Law, these ecosystems must be preserved in their entirety, regardless of their distance from the sea. The Directorate's decision requires the proceedings to be restarted, and in the meantime, it leaves the possibility of keeping the restaurants open, as well as the future of the homes built decades ago, completely uncertain. The procedure that the Ministry has now declared lapsed was formally initiated in January 2021, but after two years without the Coastal Authority determining which areas are public domain and which are not, the law requires the declaration of the lapsed nature of all actions. According to the resolution, the Ministry is retaining the procedures already carried out and leaving the door open to the possible initiation of a new procedure in the future. Those concerned may appeal the declaration of lapsed nature: individuals have one month to appeal through administrative channels or two months to appeal through contentious-administrative channels before the National Court; public administrations may also file a contentious-administrative appeal within two months. A unique core in a highly sensitive environment

Les Casetes dels Capellans is a unique and traditional coastal village located between Can Picafort and Playa de Muro, known for its small, historic buildings and for housing three restaurants directly on the sand. It is an enclave with a long history of debate regarding its inclusion in the public maritime-terrestrial domain. If included, it would be subject to a permitting process and, therefore, limited timeframes, as it would become part of the territory controlled by the State. The site is located on the edge of a dune system of great environmental value, very close to the Albufera Natural Park and within the Es Comú de Muro area, a zone of high ecological sensitivity. Impact on houses and restaurants

The coastal demarcation project aimed to definitively establish the line separating the public maritime-terrestrial domain from municipally or privately owned land. The initial proposal included 22-23 houses in the village center and the terraces of the three restaurants, with potential repercussions for their continued existence and conditions of use. Residents and the Muro Town Council submitted thousands of objections, arguing that the area is communal property with a long-standing tradition and that its inclusion within the public domain did not accurately reflect its historical and social reality. During the summer of 2023, given the lack of response from the Coastal Authority to their requests for terrace permits, the restaurants opted to place tables and chairs "at their own risk," arguing that the expiration of the permit application meant that Capellans was no longer considered part of the public domain.

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