A planned community west of Albuquerque that developers say could someday be home to as many as 90,000 people has cleared a major hurdle.
The commission in the state's most populous county voted 3-2 to approve Tuesday a master plan for a nearly 22-square-mile development known as Santolina. The development would rival some of New Mexico's largest cities once completed.
Bernalillo County commissioners narrowly approved the plan despite opposition from Albuquerque's historical Hispanic South Valley area over fears that Santolina would draw from much needed water sources.
Opponents have promised legal action over the commissioners' vote.
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