Get Fact Sheet. - New Mexico Environmental Law Center

SANTOLINA PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
A gigantic proposed housing development in Bernalillo County that will
cost much more than tax dollars.
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Updated 05/11/2015 I S S U E : The proposed Santolina Master Plan was presented to the Bernalillo County Commission on March 25, 2015 as a new community with residential and commercial buildings. The developers project an estimated population of 90,000 people ‐ more than the 2010 population of the third largest city in New Mexico. The project will ultimately need nearly 20 million gallons of water per day. WHY IS THIS SUCH A BAD IDEA?
Santolina would negatively affect urban growth, future taxes, water use, and the economic and environmental well being of all the people in the Albuquerque Metro area. Where will the money come from to pay for this? It would come from raising taxes on residents of Bernalillo County. 
The Price. Providing water service outside of the established area would cost about $100 million. The plan is projecting two interstate exchanges at $30 million each and it would require over $1 billion for schools, roads, and other infrastructure. 
The Cost. The plan would increase the 'overbuilt housing' glut, depressing property values countywide. It would increase taxes for all residents within the Albuquerque Metro Area in order to pay for the added infrastructure. 
The Water. It is not clear where the water to support the development would come from. Because there is no surplus water in New Mexico, the massive amounts of water needed for the New Mexico Environmental Law Center helps open the doors of our legal process to local communities
who are working to protect their water, land and air from pollution and environmental degradation.
1405 Luisa Street, Ste.5 | Santa Fe, NM 87505 | www.nmelc.org | @NMELC
development would have to be taken from water that is already being used for farming or other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of water available for farmers or anyone else. 
The Air. Santolina would be built on ancient geologic sand dunes. Years’ long construction and truck traffic will increase blowing sand, posing increased negative health impacts on neighboring communities. W H A T Y O U C A N D O : Send letters to Catherine VerEecke at cvereecke@bernco.gov addressed to Chair Maggie Hart Stebbins, or leave a message for the Bernalillo County Commissioners at 505‐468‐7000. For more information: www.facebook.com/contrasantolina, contrasantolina.wordpress.com Contact the Santolina Working Group at santolinaworkingroup@gmail.com Public hearing Monday, May 11, 2015 at 4:00 pm Vincent E. Griego CHAMBERS Albuquerque City Hall 400 Marquette NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 New Mexico Environmental Law Center helps open the doors of our legal process to local communities
who are working to protect their water, land and air from pollution and environmental degradation.
1405 Luisa Street, Ste.5 | Santa Fe, NM 87505 | www.nmelc.org | @NMELC