LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Bring golf course back better than ever

After further consideration of the proposal to develop the defunct Chamisa Hills Golf Course into a housing development that would only add to our city’s existing traffic congestion and create a very disruptive environment of concentrated housing with no viable alternatives for emergency vehicles to quickly respond to life and death situations internal to the development infrastructure and in addition to the lack of consideration for the ordinary everyday tasks of driving to and from the proposed home sites with ease of access and safety, there is no other choice but to deny this possibility of any development for housing on this property!

We, the citizens and residents of Rio Rancho, owe no allegiance whatsoever for the owner of this once viable and beautiful golf course that had its roots well-established as a gathering place for recreation, entertainment and socializing with people who were not only residents but also future citizens of this well-planned community! Our City of Vision was home to golf tournaments that brought NFL players to our city and spread the word about our unique culture and experiences! The beautiful clubhouse was home to wedding ceremonies, receptions, anniversaries and other joyous occasions where families celebrated their blessings!

It was a terrible disaster when a suspicious fire destroyed this beloved landmark that has led to the barren remains of the historic golf course! But like Phoenix, with proper respect and diligence a new generation of golf and recreation can once again rise from the ashes! We owe it to our current residents who invested their savings to build their dream homes on this unique site of open space and peaceful community to remake this place even better than it was before with enhanced water usage and xeriscape improvements that would reduce the amount and cost of water resources! The possibilities are endless with people who have vision, passion and foresight to create something meaningful for our city!

With 1,200 more homes already being built in our city in planned developments, our housing needs are being met with due diligence! Let us join together as one unified community to stand up for what we believe is in our city’s best interest for all the residents of Rio Rancho! In addition the existing homeowners, approximately 572, who bought their golf course home at a very conservative estimated price of $200,000 each, have invested a combined total of $114,400,000 to have a golf course home and have paid their property taxes that reflect a home on a premium lot. Do not favor one owner's desires over the hard-working owners who invested their blood, sweat and savings to have a home on a once-beautiful property.

David Rossi

Rio Rancho