Here's an email that I just sent out to some of the natural open space advocates many of whom took part in the NW Master Plan charrettes in January. Remember this group was labeled by PSB member and UTEP Engineering Dean, Richard Schoephoerster, as having a conflict of interest. One attendee at the special PSB meeting when Schoepherster made this condescending remark said that the group was labeled biased "because they did not want any development, and that they were therefore unreasonable and their input should be disregarded."

"Please make every effort to attend a special Open Space Advisory Board meeting this Thursday, March 15, at 2 p.m. in the 8^th Floor Conference Room of City Hall. There is one key item on the agenda: a reconsideration of the Northwest Master Plan. Let me explain why it is critical for you to be there if you can and also plan on returning to City Hall next Tuesday morning, March 20^th. Why reconsideration? It was best said by a citizen at the special PSB meeting last week: “Why did OSAB choose a plan that develops more open space!?” Here’s what happened.  Not long after the NW Master Plan and Scenic Transmountain Corridor design charrettes in January by Dover Kohl, OSAB jumped the gun and endorsed the draft proposal of a scenario that developed land south and north of Transmountain! This was a draft proposal without all of the facts and not a final report from Dover Kohl.  OSAB did place some caveats on that recommendation: the arroyos had to be preserved, there could be no large parks in any development, animal corridors had to be built, no major roads (e.g., Paseo del Norte) through the arroyos – there had to be bridges and no box culverts. PSB selected the only scenario that the top brass of EPWU (Ed Archuleta and his lieutenants) let them see: Scenario #1 which has development north and south of Transmountain. Not only that, but the bobbing heads of the PSB said “Nyet” to all of the OSAB caveats and Mr. Archuleta made it clear that arroyos would have to be hybridized and concreted. They also proposed an option for conserving the land by some means other than a conservation easement – a means yet to be fully worked out but one that would give the PSB/EPWU more control with the flexibility to tear up natural open space in the future. This coming Tuesday, City Council will begin the process for the new NW Master Plan. They will have four scenarios to choose from: ·         Build north and south of Transmountain·         Build only south of Transmountain in limited areas (2 options)·         No Build The special meeting of OSAB has been called so that OSAB can have the opportunity of being on record for recommending a more conservation/natural open space friendly scenario to City Council rather than having their previous decision assumed by Council members as their final recommendation. OSAB and City Council need to see you – many numbers of you – and hear from many of you.  OSAB should choose a plan that develops less not more open space! Please, please try to come on Thursday. Wouldn’t it be great if the 8^th Floor Conference Room is packed with people who want to save the Scenic Corridor, preserve arroyos, rescue animal habitat and corridors . . . keep open space open? Just as soon as I have more details about next Tuesday’s City Council meeting and agenda, I will email you again.  Do me a favor now: forward this message out to all your friends and all you know who love natural open space! Let’s pack the conference room on March 15^th at 2 p.m."

Meetings for your calendar:


March 15th, 2 p.m. Open Space Advisory Board
March 20th, City Council
April 10th, City Council ordinance introduction
April 19th City Plan Commission hearing
May 1st, City Council public hearing