By Rodd Cayton — The Campbell Ranch Master Plan has heard the word “no” many times in recent decades.
But a group is working on a possible alternative that could garner a “yes” from the community. Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas unveiled the idea at the Oct. 17 Community Gathering, hosted by the East Mountains Protection Action Coalition (EMPAC). Olivas told the Route 66 Independent that the county is investing up to $100,000 in contracts for a planning firm and an economist to test the viability of a public lands option for the area. The latter would research the possible financial benefits of that option.
Zoning for the master plan was approved by the Town of Edgewood in 2002, according to EMPAC. The initial proposal called for an 8,000-acre development to include 4,000 houses, two golf courses, and a hotel. There has been no construction activity, however, as neighbors have voiced opposition to the project.
“The community doesn’t want to see all the housing and all the water, traffic and public safety concerns that go along with it,” Olivas said. “We’re going for a positive alternative, instead of just saying ‘no.’”
Olivas said the process will be respectful to property owner Campbell Farming, which filed a lawsuit after town commissioners denied the first subdivision applications associated with the project. He said the road ahead includes several public forums as well as meetings tailored to specific stakeholder groups, including local and tribal governments. There is no timetable yet, Olivas said, but the goal is to begin the meetings in mid-to-late November.
“We don’t want to put our finger on the scale in any direction,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything is going to happen. It may just be an exercise in planning and not go any further. But there could be some real momentum.”
Olivas said that as he discussed the idea, he saw a lot of nodding heads and smiling faces inside the Lantern Ridge Farm Market and Nursery. EMPAC Board President Dennis Kellogg said about 120 people attended the event, many of whom were enthusiastic about a different future for Campbell Ranch. The organization has shared a video touting what the “sustainable transformation” could look like. It includes multi-use trails, a balloon landing zone and a wild horse sanctuary.
Kellogg said at the meeting that EMPAC is looking at other legal avenues for challenging the 220-megawatt Diamond Tail Solar Project after a Sandoval County District Court judge made a pair of rulings against the organization. Diamond Tail is planned for about 1,830 acres east of State Route 14. State Sen. Anthony Thornton and State Rep. Stefani Lord also spoke at the event.
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