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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Editorial: Town, Campbell Should Cooperate

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    Campbell Ranch has been controversial since the 8,000-acre development was proposed eight years ago.
    The town of Edgewood jumped into that controversy in 2001 when it annexed the property adjacent to the Sandia Knolls subdivision. After nearly seven years of planning and lawsuits, the town finally approved a 92-home preliminary plat late last year with the condition that Campbell Ranch provide water to the development.
    Campbell Corp. sought and received an agreement with New Mexico Water Services Co. to provide water. Trouble is, at least for the Sandia Knolls Neighborhood Association, this is the same water company that provides service to Sandia Knolls.
    The concern of the neighborhood association is that water service in its area will be affected. That's the basis for the association's appeal of the preliminary plat approval, which will come before the Edgewood Town Council on March 19.
    With the election of a new mayor and new council member, what Campbell may face is different than what the developers faced just a month ago. Robert Stearley, who was elected Edgewood's new mayor on Tuesday, has been a long-time critic of Campbell Ranch.
    Campbell's president, Robert Gately, has taken a confrontational attitude toward critics of his development in the past. Now he will be faced with having to work with at least one of those critics. It's reasonable to assume that the lawyers may be called out again before this is all settled.
    However, the town, and its mayor, as well as Campbell Corp., would be wise to seek common ground to avoid expensive legal battles. The truth of the matter is that Stearley and Gately are stuck with each other whether they like it or not.