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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Santa Fe County Seeks To Buy La Bajada Land
The Associated Press
SANTA FE — Santa Fe County plans to negotiate with developers to buy 1,300 acres of the old La Bajada Ranch in La Cienega, where developers had hoped to build nearly 175 homes.
Developers have been trying for more than three years to build on the site, the only part of the old ranch not owned by Santo Domingo Pueblo. But opponents from the nearby community raised concerns about the project's density and water availability.
A master plan for 174 homes was approved last year, but the county has repeatedly denied requests to extend county water service to the project.
The surprise announcement that the county would negotiate to buy the land from local developer Jim Borrego and several partners left opponents of the plan “stunned.”
“We are deeply appreciative of the county's understanding of our position over these last years,” La Cienega Community Association president Carl Dickens said. “We want to preserve as much of that property as we can. That's been our goal since the beginning.”
Dickens said they understand some limited development may be necessary to help the county fund the purchase, and “we look forward to working with the county in that regard.”
The proposal from County Manager Roman Abeyta to try to buy the land came late last week at a meeting where county staff were set to state their position on a new request to extend county water to the project.
There is no certainty that the developers would walk away from the project, said Rosanna Vasquez, an attorney and the developer's agent.
“I don't think anyone is saying they don't want to do the project or that they want to sell it,” Vasquez said. “I think in the real-estate business you always entertain offers, period.”
Dickens speculated that the county might acquire the property for open space using money from a bond fund used for such purchases. But he said if there is any development, the community would fight to keep the density at no more than half of what is now proposed.
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