On Wednesday the Bernalillo County Planning Commission voted to recommend a development plan for almost 40,000 new homes and commercial spaces on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. The vote occurred despite some 75 people who spoke out in opposition citing concerns over the economic and environmental impacts.
After hearing hours of public testimony from one sole person in favor of the Santolina development and dozens upon dozens opposed to the idea, Commissioner Javier Martinez made a motion to reject the proposal, which was met with great enthusiasm from concerned citizens who’d packed the chambers.
“I’m gonna move that we deny Santolina Master Plan SPR20130004,” Martinez said as the crowd broke into applause. “I move that we deny.”
But that motion failed and the County Planning Commission ended up approving to recommend the plan,with conditions, by a 4-2 vote.
It will now go before the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners for final consideration.
