Bernalillo County Funds Study of East Mountains Land as Potential Open Space
Bernalillo County is funding a feasibility study for 8,000 acres in the East Mountains near Albuquerque, originally proposed for housing and commercial development. The study will explore using the land as open space with recreational and equestrian trails, addressing community…
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, October 22, 2026 —
Bernalillo County is funding a feasibility study examining whether 8,000 acres in the East Mountains near Albuquerque could be used as open space with recreational and equestrian trails, rather than for the housing and commercial development originally proposed.
The study is intended to address community concerns about water supply while exploring a potential compromise between the landowner and the community. The summary of the proposal does not identify the landowner, provide a study timeline or describe who will conduct the work.
The acreage was originally proposed for both housing and commercial development. The feasibility study will consider an alternative use focused on open space and trails. The available information does not specify whether development plans have been withdrawn, whether a final decision on the land’s use has been made, or what criteria the study will use to assess feasibility.
Water supply is a stated concern for community members, but details about the nature or scale of those concerns were not provided. No estimates of water use, trail access, project costs or potential economic effects were included in the summary.
The study’s findings could help inform discussions about the land’s future, but its outcome and any subsequent county or landowner decisions have not been provided. The funding amount, schedule for releasing results and process for community input are also unspecified.
Story summarized from the original created by Mike Gaba on www.newsradiokkob.com, see more information here.
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