Crunch time for residents trying to prevent mountain development
It’s crunch time for those who don’t want to see a new housing development built on the mountains in Northeast El Paso.
Nearly 200 acres located west of Edgar Park and Magnetic streets is zoned for planned mountain development. The developer is set to begin building more than 300 homes, unless a deal to prevent it can be worked out.
The only hope for residents who want to prevent the development of the mountains appears to be a potential meeting with the land owner.
“I would like for the citizens of El Paso to take a look at what is happening to our mountains,” said Mary Lou Trejo, president of the High Point Homeowners Association, who opposes the development. “El Paso is identified by the mountains and we’re slowly but surely losing our identify.”
ABC-7 obtained drone video of the area planned for development shot by Derek Spear, a member of Save our Sierras, a Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition committee formed in an effort to preserve the mountains.
“We’re trying to ensure that our elected officials are aware that El Pasoans want to protect the mountains,” said Judy Ackerman, an environmental activist who indicated more than 1,000 signatures have been gathered against the development, called Sierra del Puerte. “At the moment, I have a stack at least an inch thick and we’re trying to raise awareness as we take a petition around saying this land would be left as natural habitat than to be built on.”
Both Trejo and Ackerman admit it’s a longshot, since the land is already zoned for development. However, Northeast City Rep. Carl Robinson is working on setting up a meeting with the owners of the land.
“(The land owner) indicated they were willing to discuss the situation,” Robinson said. “They are willing to talk. We will have the discussion to explore the options.”
ABC-7 asked Ackerman if she thinks there is still time.
“Until there is a house on it,” the land can be protected,” Ackerman said.
Roe Engineering told ABC-7 that Phase 3, the part expected to go up the mountain, is scheduled to begin “in a month or two.” The developer, Daniel Knapp, could not be reached for comment. But Roe confirmed the meeting to discuss options, including a land swap or purchase, is being finalized.
