The Alpine City Council is under pressure to correct a lack of water pressure at Skyway Gardens II, a development green-lighted by the council in February 2023 that is expected to open in the late spring or summer.
“So they have water but not the ample pressure behind it,” said Councilmember Robert Rückes. “And, therefore, our building official made it known … that she is not going to be able to give them a certificate of occupancy.”
Council members have expressed their desire to move quickly to correct the water pressure issue and requested that the firm of Jacob/Martin be retained to draw up needed plans, but postponed an October 21 vote to fund the nearly $900,000 fix.
The vote will be moved to the November 4 city council meeting, following a budget workshop, said Interim City Manager Geo Calderon. The postponement should not cause a delay in the completion of the project, said Calderon.
The water pressure issue was discussed during a water workshop and City Council meeting held on October 7.
During the workshop council members heard a review of a feasibility study commissioned in 2023 and conducted by Jacob/Martin. The study showed a realignment of current water planes would be needed to support the new development.
The bad news mounted during the City Council meeting when city building officials informed council members that Skyway Gardens II could be completed prior to the completion of the realignment.
While city officials placed the Skyway Gardens II completion date at late spring to early summer 2026, the development’s owner, Roy Lopez, later set the opening of the project’s first 11 units for August 1, 2026.
The soonest the realignment project could be completed is late summer to early fall 2026, said Councilmember Rückes.
However, Rückes pointed to other issues the developer has had and problems that could come up during building. “They had some issues with their slab and stuff, so it’s a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of what they have going on over there,” he said.
During an October 20 interview, Lopez said he was not aware that the city of Alpine had not addressed the water pressure or that the issue would be discussed on October 7. However, he was confident that the issue would be resolved by August 1. Lopez added that he has had good experiences working with the city.
The project, Skyway Gardens II, a 44-unit addition to Skyway Gardens, was approved despite questions regarding whether the city had the infrastructure to support it, according to a staff summary presented to council. The council then initiated a feasibility study to determine any infrastructure needs.
“At that time, council was advised that the city did not have adequate water pressure to serve the project,” the staff summary said “Despite these concerns, the annexation and development agreement were approved, and Jacob/Martin was commissioned to conduct a feasibility study. The study was presented to council in October 2024, but no preparations were made to address the findings in the subsequent budget.”
Rückes said that while he wishes the City Council had followed up with correcting the water pressure at the time of the development’s approval, he cannot judge past officials because he does not know the other priorities and financial limitations the council had at that time.