The master plan approved for the 235 acres annexed by the City of Las Cruces on May 19, 2003 is unique for two reasons: it preserves public open space along an arroyo and it resulted from a cooperative effort between citizens, governmental representatives, and a private developer. The master plan calls for a section of the North Fork of the Las Cruces Arroyo to be left in a natural state except the construction and minimal landscaping of a trail. The trail will be built by the developer and then the entire arroyo corridor will be turned over to the city.
Although this master plan covers a short segment of a single arroyo, the
Citizens’ Task Force for Open Space Preservation (CTF) sees it as a
significant step toward the open space vision contained in the City’s
Comprehensive Plan. The master plan
is also in step with the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s conceptual trail
plan for the arroyos and irrigation canals. CTF sees the plan for this portion
of the North Fork of the Las Cruces Arroyo as another important step toward
providing public access via trails and in guaranteeing public access into the
future by returning the arroyo to public ownership.
The plan for this arroyo came about through cooperation between the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Nature Conservancy, the City’s Community
Development Department and the developer, Mr. Philippou.
In response to CTF’s comments and others, the BLM worked with the
Nature Conservancy and Mr. Philippou, and they devised a plan to protect the
arroyo when it passed from public to private ownership. Once Mr. Philippou received the property, he started working
with the City’s Community Development staff and together they came up with the
trail and land dedication plan contained in the master plan.
The process which resulted in this plan can be a model for future
planning efforts where cooperation and a shared vision for a regional open space
and trail system results in something the entire community can benefit from and
enjoy.
John
Bunn
Spokesperson, CTF