Dear Members,
We are writing to let you know that we expect the next Sandoval County Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission agenda on March 10 to include items of interest to Placitas residents. The county has not yet posted the final agenda.
Cluster Housing. The first item concerns the proposal to build cluster housing on land west of La Puerta Realty, on the south side of Highway 165. The P&Z will consider an appeal of the commission’s earlier decision to deny a Placitas resident’s initial appeal, which expressed concerns about the project.
Zoning Change To Allow Gravel Mining. In a second item, a Placitas landowner in the area near Camino de Tecolote and Camino de la Rosa Castilla is requesting a zoning change from residential to commercial. According to an ESCA member who lives nearby, the landowner wants to develop a small gravel mine on his land.
Communications Tower. Note that this item was expected to be on the March 10 agenda, but a P&Z official has notified us that it has been moved to the April 14 meeting. This is a proposal to build a communications tower on the vacant property west of the Homesteads Shopping Center, at the intersection of Highway 165 and Tierra Madre Road. ESCA recognizes that some Placitas residents have little or no cell coverage and may welcome this additional communications tower. We will provide more information in a future ESCA Alert.
Sandoval County Commission Meeting. This meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11. A second Placitas resident, whose appeal was turned down on the Cluster Homes by the P&Z will appear at the Sandoval County Commission meeting to discuss the cluster housing. Any opponents or supporters should send their comments to the County Commissioners before that March 11 meeting. ES-CA opposes the zone map amendment. The Commissioner’s meeting will be at 6pm, in the Commission’s chambers on the 3rd floor of the Sandoval County Administration Building, 1500 Idalia Road, or you can view it online at www.sandovalcountynm.gov/commission/sandoval-county-meeting-videos
The P&Z meeting on Tuesday, March 10 is scheduled for 6 pm, rather than the normal 5 pm start time. You may attend in person in the 3rd floor Commission Chambers at the Sandoval County Administration Building, 1500 Idalia Road, Building D. You may also view the meeting online at www.sandovalcountynm.gov/commission/sandoval-county-meeting-videos.
George Franzen, ESCA President