San Bernardino is reviewing objections to Acuforta
In San Bernardino, objections are delaying the next phase of the Acuforta site development process. The municipality of Mesocco must now review more than five but fewer than ten submissions before the building permit process for the hotel, spa, and apartments can proceed.
The submissions pertain to a project that, following the referendum on June 18, 2023, has now entered the decisive phase under building regulations. At that time, Mesocco voters approved, by a vote of 351 to 96, the right to purchase and the transfer of building rights for the municipal properties in Acuforta.
According to Mayor Mattia Ciocco, more than five but fewer than ten objections were received during the public review period for the building permit application. The municipal council must now evaluate the points raised and determine how to proceed with the process. This is significant for the project developers because the future timeline for the largest single component of San Bernardino’s tourism revitalization now depends, for the time being, on the substantive review of the submissions.
Hotel, Thermal Baths, and Apartments in One Phase
The project includes a five-star wellness hotel, a thermal and spa area, vacation homes, serviced apartments, underground parking garages, and new public spaces surrounding the historic mineral spring. According to the published project details, the plan calls for 64 hotel rooms with 203 beds, 163 apartments, a mineral bath covering approximately 2,000 square meters, and 286 parking spaces. There are also plans to convert the historic spring building into a water museum.
A key factor for real estate and site development is that Acuforta is not intended to be an isolated structure. The site forms the core of San Bernardino’s revitalization plan, which is scheduled to be completed by 2032. San Bernardino Swiss Alps has announced an investment of 500 million Swiss francs for this project. On the project timeline, Acuforta is listed for the 2026–2030 phase as a new hotel and residential complex featuring a publicly accessible spa and wellness area.
Next Test for the Revitalization
This case illustrates how a politically supported development strategy only becomes a concrete, viable implementation path once the building permit process begins. The municipality must now determine which objections are admissible and whether they will result in adjustments, additions, or delays. Only then can it be assessed whether the timeline for the ongoing renovation of the resort can be met.