Santolina needs more study: 3 takeaways from this week's Bernalillo County Commission meeting

The Santolina development may get more scrutiny and the city of Albuquerque will be taking full ownership of a visitor center on Route 66.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday's Bernalillo County Commission meeting:

1. Santolina needs to be studied.

Commissioners listened to a report from Julian Baca, a senior research specialist with the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research about the potential impacts of the proposed Santolina development in southwest Bernalillo County. If constructed, the development would be a planned community to the west of Albuquerque.

The research, funded by the state Legislature, found that the development’s target population and job growth are likely overstated, and the development may cost New Mexico governments more money than it generates.

The estimated cost of building water infrastructure also seemed lower than is realistic, according to Baca. The estimate for the water infrastructure costs were $659 million, back in 2018.

“Executive staff at the Albuquerque water utility said it is probably 2x. So, it's probably more like $1.3 billion, because recent projects that they've been trying to complete have been doubling in cost relative to what they cost at five years ago,” Baca said.

Commissioner Barbara Baca said she was very concerned about that difference in cost estimate and suggested commissioners have a study session focused on the report.

“The level of public investment to subsidize a private developer is massive,” Commissioner Eric Olivas said. “And I don't see the return on investment for the jobs that are projected to be created. If the estimates are correct,, this, ... this just doesn't pencil in, and I think it's really a cautionary tale as we go forward and approve other kinds of (Industrial Revenue Bonds), all of our economic development instruments.”

Commissioner Walt Benson said commissioners do need to be careful with taxpayer dollars, and he’d like to see more studies done.

“From what I understand, the master plan is for where future growth will happen, and if we don't have room to grow, housing affordability goes away, because you can only have so many houses, and the demand will go up,” Benson said.

2. Commissioners approve $3 million for the Gateway Center.

County commissioners unanimously approved $3 million from the behavioral health gross receipts tax for the Gateway Center. The city-managed project has health resources and overnight beds to help people experiencing homelessness.

The county funds will be used to demolish, construct and rebuild an existing 17,000-square-foot suite, which would expand the capacity by 50 beds, said Pam Acosta, senior manager with the county’s Behavioral Health Initiative.

3. The County plans to donate the Route 66 Visitor Center to Albuquerque.

Bernalillo County commissioners approved donating the Route 66 Visitor Center, located at 12300 Central SW, to the city of Albuquerque, leaving the city responsible for the visitor center's operation and ownership.

To complete the transfer of the facility, the county will have to terminate an agreement with the nonprofit West Central Community Group, County Manager Julie Morgas Baca said. With county approval, the transfer will go to the State Board of Finance at the end of March for approval.

The county and city worked together to build the visitor center on county property. The building was completed in 2023.