A proposed development that would create 16 townhomes in the vacant area immediately west of The Merc shopping center is the type of multi-family development that has not been seen in Placitas for decades. The Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association requests community input about the project because it goes to the heart of the question of what type of community Placitas wants to be.
The townhome development was first publicly proposed at a Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in February.
According to the Sandoval Signpost, “After more than an hour of discussion and public comment, the Sandoval County Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission on February 25 tabled a zoning amendment affecting vacant land adjacent to the Homestead Village Shopping Center.”
The P&Z Commission was next scheduled to meet on March 24 at 4:30 p.m. The county P&Z staff, according to the Signpost, “has recommended the amendment be denied as being inconsistent with the Placitas Area Plan approved by the county in 2009. That plan included the Homestead commercial district and only designated land across Interstate 25 from the town of Bernalillo for multifamily residential development.”
The history of multifamily homes proposed in Placitas is sparse. A condo development was built in the Trails development area in the early 1980s – 40 years ago. Other proposals have been denied for various reaons. Historic reasons for concern within the community range from additional water use, traffic increases, and any possible ramifications of multifamily homes existing in a single-home community.
The owners of the land, the McCallisters, also own the Merc. The builder, Deborah Short, is known throughout the community as a homebuilder with her company, Vineyard Homes. She also lives in Placitas.
The development of 16 townhomes would average about 1,800 square feet. Short said that the development would include walking trails, nature landscaping, a green belt, and a common area. Its proximity to The Merc would allow for people access to walking, shopping and dining.
“I don’t want to appeal to families,” Short said. “I want to appeal to singles.” However, Short said that the development allows for families. Additionally, traffic and water-use surveys would need to be accomplished when the approval process begins.
Short and Jennise Phillips, the project’s realtor, said that they think the development would be ideal for seniors who already live in the Placitas area, but who want to downsize. The 1,850-square-foot homes would be priced beginning at $389,000 and be located on 8.75 acres.
There are issues that still need to be resolved, and numerous questions about the development. They include:
- How much water would be used in an area that has only single homes on large plots of land?
- How would traffic be affected in an area of Placitas that already has developed higher traffic use than the rest of the area?
- What precedent would this set for additional multifamily homes? The developers believe that this is a one-time instance that would not affect future developments because this land is already zoned for commercial uses, and the owners are seeking a change that allows for homes. And they point out that the land could be used other purposes, such as retail or commercial – because it is already zoned for commercial use.
This development proposal is currently tabled, based on staff recommendations, pending further review. Additionally, the COVID-19 crisis means that Planning and Zoning meetings are indefinitely called off.
But this is the time for community input. Please contact County Commissioner Kathy Bruch at kbruch@sandovalcountynm.gov and give her your opinions.
ES-CA Board Meetings are currently cancelled until further notice for safety reasons because of the COVID-19 virus.