As expected, push back against Representative Byrd’s proposal that passed Council last week is being organized. There has been disturbing talk about a Mayoral veto and a vote to change the vote. Why? The fear of losing 80 million dollars. More about that in just a second.
For now, Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition has decided to continue its efforts to collect more signatures and needs people out getting signatures. Go to http://www.franklinmountains.org/ where you can download the petition file and print hard copies. If you have friends who find it easier to sign online, there is a link to do just that.
I presented the El Paso City Clerk copies of the signed petition this morning during the “call to the public” segment of the regular City Council meeting. There are currently 1,135 signatures and 893 online responses!
The petition calls for rezoning all City of El Paso land east of gas line road as Natural Open Space. It does so because the current TxDOT highway/freeway plan threatens the natural scenic corridor. Especially, an overpass at the contemplated Paseo del Norte intersection with Trans Mountain will not only critically scar that corridor, it will facilitate development that will change “this naturally scenic corridor, critical wildlife habitat, and potentially invaluable recreational land forever.”
Now here’s what is happening. TxDOT is undergoing an environmental assessment. As soon as they are done, they must take public comment. As elpasonaturally learns more about the schedule for this process, you will find out. In the mean time, FMWC is planning to gather more petitions and get those to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
EAs are usually simple and TxDOT usually gets EAs favorable to their projects. However, what comes up in public comment can force TxDOT to get an Environmental Impact Statement. The process for an EIS can take from a year to 18 months. The fear that 80 million dollars may evaporate when the new Texas legislature convenes next year is real. One would think that, rather than organizing push back and a counter attack, proponents of a freeway/highway plan would jump at the opportunity to take what they can with the Byrd proposal. Why they don’t was the reason for the speculation and criticism of an anonymous contributor to the elpasonaturally blog: Who Really Is Delaying the Project.
Petitions and opinions by biologists and other wildlife and land experts can force the matter to an EIS.
Elpasonaturally has also learned that there are plans to review the Northwest Master Plan. It was created before smart growth ordinances and much of the new “green” thinking in El Paso. We also know now that the old plan was not the product of consensus but rather of manipulation. In fact, the intelligence of some on the planning team was publicly ridiculed by PSB officials. There was no consensus and the really good plans were tabled by the PSB. Now that the public is either waking up or speaking up, the consensus is for preservation and conservation.
One petition gatherer told me that probably 90% of people who signed said that they had no idea about current development and highway plans. El Paso has been and still is a great place for covert machinations. It has an English-speaking newspaper that is conspicuously silent; media outlets that haven’t had a clue; powerful groups that have done whatever they want and so have discouraged public participation and will. However, things are changing. The word is getting out. Back room deals will become less possible. People will be involved in the process.
Many on both sides of the issue would have no compromise. However, there are others who see as a good deal the Byrd plan accompanied with moving Paseo del Norte westward to the contemplated Plexxar intersection near the gas line road, a widening of culverts near the State Park for a wildlife passage/corridor, building a new road to the Park entrance and thoroughly reviewing the NW Master Plan.
Finally, there will be a special reception tomorrow, Wednesday, October 13 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the UTEP Centennial Museum. The Centennial Museum at UTEP will unveil its newest publication: A Pocket Guide to El Paso’s Geological Sites by Professor Bill Cornell The book gives the layman a through sweep of El Paso geological history and is lavishly illustrated with color aerial photographs by FMWC President and museum exhibit curator, Scott Cutler.
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