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Forty-seven senators, led by Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), yesterday filed a resolution to kill the recently established Waters of the U.S. regulation using the Congressional Review Act.
The 1996 law allows expedited procedures to be used to block new regulations. They are most significant in the Senate, where the law limits debate time and bans the use of some common procedural delay tactics, including the filibuster. That means a resolution needs only a simple majority to pass.
Nebraska Republican Rep. Adrian Smith already filed a joint resolution of disapproval for the Waters of the U.S. rule in July, which was referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee but hasn’t moved since.
It is unclear whether the Senate’s resolution is any more likely to see action. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), an avowed opponent of the water rule, is among the co-sponsors.
But even if the resolution were to pass, President Obama is certain to veto it, and critics of the rule would still need to muster a two-thirds majority to override him.
NAR has been supporting all available legislative efforts to have the rule withdrawn or not implemented in 2016.  In addition, NAR is closely monitoring how the EPA and the Corps are implementing and enforcing the rule, to collect information that would assist these legislative efforts.
By: Russell Riggs & Jamie Gregory (National Association of REALTORS®)
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The city of Albuquerque’s massive baseball complex planned on 82 acres on the Westside is advancing, as the city’s Environmental Planning Commission approved site plans and zoning changes for the site. The plans still have to go through the City Council before crews can break ground on the project.

The regional complex will be home to 17 baseball fields at full build out. The complex will be located just south of Arroyo Vista Boulevard NW, which is near the I-40 and 98th Street exit. To the east of the site is the recently-built Albuquerque Public Schools stadium and athletic track. To the north of the project, Albuquerque Public Schools plans on building a K-12 educational complex.

The first phase of the massive baseball complex includes five fields and an administrative and concessions building.
The city said the regional complex is meant to hold large-scale sporting events.

“Staff agrees that this project is an important economic development initiative that will provide needed recreational opportunities for the area by hosting regional tournaments and encouraging investment in the local economy from visitors from outside the area,” a city’s planning report said.

The complex will be developed in phases. The first phase is about 20 acres that will include five adult-sized baseball fields with dugouts, bullpens, batting cages and stadium seating. An administrative and concession stand building will include office space for park and recreation staff, umpire locker rooms, public restrooms and community meeting spaces.

Eventually, the park will add an additional 12 youth-sized and softball fields, facility maintenance storage and a children’s park. Albuquerque’s Parks and Recreation Department’s recreation division will manage the baseball complex.

The complex will serve the growing Westside, which has been called Albuquerque’s next development frontier. Westside activity includes the 300-acre Mirehaven development by PulteGroup, which is underway and being built out quickly due to a high amount of interest.

There’s also 53,000 acres owned by Western Albuquerque Land Holdings (WAHL), which is known for its proposed Santolina master planned community. The Estrella development has $30 million worth of water and sewer lines in place making the area surrounding Petroglyph National Monument ripe for development.

By: Stephanie Guzman (Albuquerque Business First)

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