Open space proposal could alter Northwest El Paso development

Future development of the Upper Valley is at stake with a proposed amendment to the Northwest Master Plan.

City Council will introduce the item Tuesday, which calls for more density of homes as a tradeoff for open space.

The first area where this change is being proposed is a 120 acre plot of farm land on the corner of West Side Drive and Artcraft. The current Northwest Plan calls for no more than 2.5 homes per acre, but the proposal asks for more density as a tradeoff for 30 percent open space.

“This has been owned by my father since 1954,” said Veronica Garcia, who has lived her entire life in the Upper Valley, where several members of her family own homes right across from a huge plot of farm land that could soon be developed. “Every morning we get up and we get a cup of coffee and the first thing we do is look out to the sun and this is our beautiful view out here.”

Garcia is against an amendment to the Northwest Master Plan that would allow developers to build homes at a higher density than 2.5 per acre, if they dedicate 30 percent of the land to open space.

“It’s very disappointing because we’ve been surrounded by all this farm land,” Garcia said, ‘from originally when my father used to farm many many years ago.”

Scott Winton of Winton Homes is poised to develop a piece of the land if the amendment passes. He says the Northwest Master Plan has not accomplished its intent, to preserve the character of the Upper Valley.

“It’s a tough argument because for some people its an emotional thing,” Winton said. “You might end up getting some large lots, but you don’t necessarily end up with a sense of open space.”

City Rep. Peter Svarzbein represents the area and he says he’s already scheduled five public meetings to discuss the proposed change in density

“So that constituents can be informed, so constituents can ask questions,” Svarzbein said. “Also, if there are any concerns or ideas that they may have, that staff and the applicants and my office is there to listen to those concerns.”

Svarzbein grew up in a much different Upper Valley and thinks something needs to change to preserve it.

“How is it that we can go and create the best quality development on the land that has not yet been developed?” Svarzbein said.

Winton is confident those meetings will convince residents that the amendment calling for a higher density of homes with more open space is what is best for the Upper Valley.

The first meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 20 at the West Side Regional Command Center. The City Planning Commissioner has already unanimously recommended approval of the amendment, but City Council has the final word.