Colonias

Process of Colonia Development

The organization of colonia settlements is complex. In terms of public welfare, one troublesome outcome from these irregular subdivisions is the lack of infrastructure that is the norm in formal subdivisions. Accordingly, given that environmental services and access to utilities are not organized at each site [Page 60]prior to sale, access to water, energy, and sewer connection or septic system is the responsibility of the lot purchaser. A raw lot is provided, often without a registered survey, so formal streets are lacking, and lot boundaries can be cloudy.

As a result, utilities are more costly in colonias than in planned subdivisions. The buyer may be able to drill a private well or contract with a private water company or may need to rely on water that is trucked to the location. Long-term connections to a utility are made difficult, as easements needed for utility lines are not recorded, nor is space formally indicated for these public utilities. Local utility providers can and do object to extending their systems to these communities.

In addition, public amenities that are commonplace in planned subdivisions are not available, nor is there a straightforward way to provide them after build out begins. Streets typically are not engineered and neither graded nor paved, nor are they dedicated to any local jurisdiction. Access to a public right-of-way may not be provided. Setbacks needed for safety and access to police or fire services are not included. As the development of an individual lot occurs after a sale in the manner that the buyer finds reasonable, many of these needs are not addressed by the buyer as he develops his lot. Accordingly, as a colonia development is built out by lot owners, the possibilities for future infrastructure provision become limited and more expensive.

From a regional planning perspective, the absence of planning for public utilities and shared infrastructure results in both individual and social costs. However, colonias do offer social benefits. Lots in these settlements are cheaper than those in formal subdivisions and provide a partial solution to the demand for affordable housing. A trade-off is made, however, as these settlements often fail to provide adequate infrastructure to protect the health and safety of residents. Difficulties with water supply and sewage treatment are two problems that have brought broader attention to these small settlements. Standing “black” water has been associated with cholera outbreaks in some colonias, drawing the attention of state public health officials.

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