Contentious land purchase postponed
LA Council's $9.85M Diamond Drive land purchase discussion continues Dec. 3 amid fierce debate over price, process
The Los Alamos County Council voted 6-0 Tuesday night to delay a decision on purchasing three properties at the corner of Diamond Dr. and Sandia for $9.85 million. This decision followed an emotionally charged two-hour discussion that revealed deep divisions over the public’s role in land use.
County Manager Anne Laurent acknowledged the proposal came “out of the blue,” explaining that current owner Russell Ross approached the County in August about purchasing one of the properties, leading to negotiations that culminated in the current proposal. The agenda packet with this item dropped Friday night near midnight, giving the public only a few days to learn about the measure.
The rushed timeline and lack of public notice became significan…
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