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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Quail Ranch Hurt by Water Issues
By Rosalie Rayburn
Journal Staff Writer
Water was a key factor two years ago in stalling progress on the massive Quail Ranch community on the far West Side.
It is still a critical consideration in reshaping the concept away from a heavily residential development toward an industrial and commercial center that would bring jobs to the area and reduce West Side and Rio Rancho commuter traffic into Albuquerque.
"Our primary goal at this point is employment related, either for West Side Albuquerque or Rio Rancho," said Greg Foltz, president and qualifying broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial Las Colinas.
Quail Ranch is a 6,500-acre area north and west of Double Eagle II Airport. The preliminary master plan called for 20,000 dwelling units split among apartments, condos and houses, 400 acres of commercial land and 1,000 acres of parks, open space and trails.
Ventana Ranch developer Sandia Properties was slated to develop the area for owners Ranch Joint Venture of Dallas but dropped out in 2007 citing uncertainty about securing a supply of water.
Ranch Joint Venture has hired Coldwell Banker Commercial to rethink the project.
The company also recognizes that there may be limited available water, but commercial development will likely use less water than residential. Coldwell Banker Commercial is trying to identify water-thrifty types of industries that could be suited to the area. Industries being considered are solar, wind and biomass renewable energy companies, Foltz said.
Development is still a long way off. Foltz said there is currently no access road to the property and no determination as to who would pay for building one.
It's also still unclear who will supply water when development occurs. The land lies in Bernalillo County but was annexed by the city of Rio Rancho in 2003.
New Mexico Utilities Inc. was slated to supply water to Quail Ranch, but the company was taken over through a condemnation lawsuit filed by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
Last year, Rio Rancho signed a memorandum of understanding with the water authority saying it would not be burdened with an obligation to supply water and wastewater services to Quail Ranch, no matter who won the lawsuit.
Spokesman David Morris said the water authority took over New Mexico Utilities customers, but it did not automatically assume responsibility for Quail Ranch.
"It's basically not on our radar screen at this point except as a distant future possibility," Morris said.
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