CHARLES D. CARE
Developing golf course will save water, energy
(Published in The Daily Lobo, November 9, 2007)
I've finally had enough of the debate over the UNM North Golf Course. More directly, I'm fed up with arguments against the development: We need public green spaces; UNM needs to give to the community; the golf course is better for the environment.
The real reason these people oppose the development is they're selfish. They want trees and grass without having to foot the bill for water, and they want their government to provide everything for them. UNM, as a state institution, represents the government in these people's eyes.
So they hid behind the buzzword of the day —environmentalism. Don't pave over the grass! The only reason there's grass to begin with is because of wasteful spray irrigation and a forced lack of biological diversity.
And make no mistake. If there's a market for a retirement community in Albuquerque, it will be built. So, if not here, then where? In the wild foothills? On the distant mesas? Just what this town needs, more sprawl.
The fact is that if this proposed community is built wisely with an eye toward water conservation and energy efficiency (perhaps even a gray-water system to help support the remaining golf course), then we will all benefit in the long run. |