ALAMOSA — Alamosa now has an updated ranch management plan, which encompasses existing uses and provides for future ones.

With Alamosa City Councilman Michael Carson dissenting because he said still had questions, the city council in a 5-1 vote on Wednesday approved the 2018 Alamosa Ranch Master Plan. Councilman Charles Griego was absent and excused.

Carson said he still had questions in reviewing the proposed ranch plan. He said he also believed the plan needed more input and information on the ranching portion of the property, for example overgrazing and capacity, how many head of cattle the ranch could sustain.

City Manager Heather Brooks said the ranch plan was a broader plan separate from the lease itself, which would address specific ranching issues. She said the council had had an opportunity before the plan came before them for formal approval to address their questions.

Carson said he was not against the plan, but “I do have some issues adopting this tonight.”

City Planning and Development Specialist Dan Vaughn said a great deal of hard work had gone into the plan over the last several months in cooperation with the council, city staff, outside agencies and the parks/recreation advisory board, which recommended adoption of the revised plan.

Alamosa City Attorney Erich Schwiesow said the ranch plan was a guidance document that council could change in the future if it had a good reason for it.

Vaughn added, “It provides guidance for the future.”

Brooks said that even though a provision like conservation easements is included in the ranch plan, the council would still have to approve a conservation easement.

Councilor Kristina Daniel said those developing the plan had done a great job and including the public in the plan, and she appreciated everyone’s efforts. She asked about the conservation easement, which had been discussed during ranch planning and provided for in the plan itself.

Brooks said the conservation easement was not contingent on the ranch plan but was pending information on the city’s proposed water augmentation plan, which had included part of the ranch as leverage. She said as far as the augmentation plan is concerned, the city could place the entire ranch under a conservation easement, but that is not what staff was recommending. She said the conservation easement would come back to the council when it is designed.

Councilman David Broyles said he liked 80 percent of the plan and felt comfortable with addressing issues as they arose. “I think it’s important for the people of Alamosa and the city to have a plan moving forward,” he said.