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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Neighborhood Wants Its Water

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
    "Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over," is a verbal gem credited to Mark Twain.
    Officially announcing its fight last month is the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association.
    The association's beef is with a preliminary plat approval from Edgewood that will use water from the neighborhood's pipelines.
    The water would go to part of Campbell Ranch, an 8,000-acre proposed subdivision east of N.M. 14 and north of Frost Road. The area was annexed to Edgewood in 2001.
    Plat approval for a 92-home section of Campbell Ranch was given by the Edgewood Planning and Zoning Commission in December 2007 with several conditions attached, such as requirements for infrastructure and a water supply.
    According to Campbell's plan, the requirement to supply water would be fulfilled by a proposal to tie in to the water system operated by New Mexico Water Services Company, or NMWSC.
    The company recently acquired a water system in Sandia Knolls, near Campbell Ranch. That water system was in bankruptcy at the time.
    Since it was purchased, significant improvements to the system have been made, and in 2007 the Sandia Knolls water system almost broke even financially, according to NMWSC president Paul Risso.
    In a letter sent to Edgewood, NMWSC agreed to provide water to 750 residences in Campbell Ranch "subject to all regulatory requirements and approvals."
    That commitment to provide services is at the heart of the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association's appeal.
    "What is surprising (in the appeal) is the disparagement of the town of Edgewood Planning and Zoning Commission, town council and planning staff" said Robert Gately, president of Campbell Corp. "What is unfortunate is that more attention is not focused on the facts and the enormous benefit that would flow to Sandia Knolls, Edgewood and the East Mountains area (if the subdivision is built)."
    According to Gately, NMWSC likely purchased the then-ailing Sandia Knolls system based on plans to expand into Campbell Ranch.
    While the prospect of adding new customers is appealing, it is not the reason NMWSC purchased the system, according to Risso. In fact, the purchase was part a general expansion of NMWSC's operations, which have grown by about 50 percent throughout the state.
    "We look at these as stand-alone operations," he said.
    Risso made the point that he would not likely gamble on having new housing in Campbell Ranch to serve, given the current housing industry.
    "You can never tell for sure what is going to happen," he said.
    In addition to any other hurdles Campbell Ranch may face, the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association is arguing that their system has no excess water to pipe in to the subdivision, according to association spokeswoman Janet Winchester-Silbaugh.
    "The problem is that they (Campbell Corp.) have not proven anything concrete yet," said state Rep. Kathy McCoy, who is also on the board of the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association.
    She said she feels, based on a prior Public Regulation Commission ruling, that the neighborhood association has already fought and won the battle to keep water within the neighborhood.
    The previous owner of the water system also tried to sell water outside of Sandia Knolls, but in 2006 the PRC ruled that there was not excess water for that purpose, according to Winchester-Silbaugh.
    "Sandia Knolls is only 50 or 60 percent built out," McCoy argued, "whoever moves here wouldn't have water."
    Gately said that McCoy has a history of opposing developments in the East Mountains, including East Mountain High School and listed a few other examples from many years past. He said it is not surprising that she opposes Campbell Ranch.
    "That's an incorrect statement," McCoy said.
    McCoy said she opposed a plan for Albuquerque Public Schools to build a high school but has always supported East Mountain High School. In fact, part of her capital outlay funding went to the high school this year.
    "I'm not opposed to Campbell building." she said. "(But the Sandia Knolls') water rights are not up for sale."
    Gately said the water from the Sandia Knolls system is not the only water available to Campbell Ranch.
    "We have water rights today," he said. "We wanted to help improve the system that is nearby because it makes the most sense from an economic standpoint."
    McCoy said that other water may be Gately's best option.
    "I guess if (Gately) has other water rights, that's what he should use," she said.
    Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association's appeal was filed Feb. 19 and the issue is expected to be on the town council agenda on March 19.