A surprise twist in the saga of a 1,300-acre property southwest of La Cienega could result in Santa Fe County buying the land.

Local developer Jim Borrego and several partners have tried for three years to come up with a plan for developing the land. It is the only part of the former 5,300-acre La Bajada Ranch not owned by Santo Domingo Pueblo.

Developers received county master plan approval to build 174 homes on the property in 2008. But the county has repeatedly denied requests to extend county water service to the project. And community organizers have protested the density and alternate water plan for the project, which counted on return flow credits not yet finally adjudicated by the state engineer. Opponents of the project want the number of homes limited to 80.

This spring, at the request of the county, developers and community members met four times with mediators to try to resolve differences, to no avail.

On Thursday morning, at a meeting in which county staff were set to state their position on a new request to extend county water to the project, County Manager Roman Abeyta announced that the county would like to negotiate with the developers to buy the land.

La Cienega Community Association president Carl Dickens said he didn't attend Thursday's meeting but other association members told him about Abeyta's proposal.

"The developers were asked if they would enter into negotiations to sell the ranch," Dickens wrote in an e-mail he sent out Friday. "The developers responded they would and the negotiations begin next week."

Dickens said Friday he was "stunned" about the turn of events, but pleasantly so.

"We are deeply appreciative of the county's understanding of our position over these last years," Dickens said. "We want to preserve as much of that property as we can. That's been our goal since the beginning. We understand there may be some reaction from the public about spending this much money out here, and if it's necessary to do some sort of limited development (on the land) to help the county fund the purchase, we look forward to working with the county in that regard."

Dickens speculated that the county, which has a bond fund for preservation of open space, might acquire the property for such a purpose. However, if there is any development, he said the community would expect it wouldn't have a density greater than 80 dwelling units.

Attorney Rosanna Vasquez, the developer's agent on the project — which was to be called Santa Fe Canyon Ranch — confirmed Friday that the county had expressed interest in buying the land.

But Vasquez, who also did not attend the meeting and only heard second-hand what had transpired, said that should not be seen as an indicator that the partners have decided to give up on the project. The partners do want community support and have tried to negotiate with opponents in good faith. But they will move ahead with the project if such a sale doesn't go through, she said.

"I don't think anyone is saying they don't want to do the project or that they want to sell it," Vasquez said. "I think in the real-estate business you always entertain offers, period. But Santa Fe Canyon Ranch will move forward one way or another, either on a community water system or county water utility, or it will be sold."

Neither Dickens nor Vasquez had any details about how much the county might offer for the land or the source of the funds. Both said the county has proposed sitting down next week to discuss the possible purchase.

Abeyta and county spokesman Stephen Ulibarri did not respond to phone calls and an e-mail seeking comment for this story. Partners James Borrego, David Schutz and Rick Borrego also did not return calls seeking comment.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.