Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article
October 1, 2020
Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report

Current and proposed gravel mining adjacent to Placitas continues to be a key issue for ESCA. We are working with the Las Placitas Association to oppose a possible mine on the Buffalo Tract immediately north of our neighborhoods that the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new Resource Management Plan may allow. As of late September, BLM had not yet released the plan for public comment.

ESCA is also monitoring developments with the Vulcan gravel mine that adjoins several Placitas neighborhoods between Camino Barranca and the I-25 frontage road. In 2021, we expect Vulcan to begin construction of a berm on the north side of the mine and to begin moving operations to that area, with mining proceeding from west to east. ES-CA continues to monitor compliance with the 2017 agreement, whereby Vulcan agreed to complete mining and land reclamation on the south side of the mine no later than August 2023, and to complete mining and reclamation on the north side no later than May 2027. ESCA had joined with the Sandoval County Commissioners as plaintiffs in litigation to reach the agreement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped several ESCA activities:

The ESCA Adopt-a-Highway Committee has decided to delay the usual October cleanup on Highway 165 due to health safety concerns.

We’re again supporting the Placitas Artists Series (PAS) with an ad in their program book. PAS is grappling with continuing its concert series and art exhibits online until it is safe to gather in person again.

The upcoming general election also bears changes due to the pandemic, and ESCA urges everyone to have a plan for how to vote safely. Your vote is always important, but it is especially critical in this election. You can vote by absentee ballot, go to an early-voting convenience center, or vote on election day. The New Mexico Secretary of State website (www.sos.state.nm.us) has all the information you need, including an online application for an absentee ballot that will allow you to vote by mail or by placing your ballot in a secure dropbox at the early polling locations. Please be sure to send your ballot early so that your vote will be included when counting begins on October 26, seven days before the election. You can also visit the Sandoval County clerk’s office to request an absentee ballot. Their website is www.sandovalcountynm.gov.

ESCA also has an election coming up, and members will have an opportunity to review candidates and to vote by email. If you haven’t yet renewed your membership or you would like to join us, please visit our website at www.es-ca.org. Your support is critical to our efforts, because we are the “Watch Dogs” for eastern Sandoval communities. We are a nonpartisan civic organization that works with all levels of government to protect your interests.

NOTES FROM A SPECIAL JOINT BOARD MEETING LPA & ESCA 23 JULY 2020

The Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) and the Las Placitas Association (LPA) held a joint meeting via Zoom on Thursday, July 23, 2020 to discuss action following the release by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan (RMP) next month.

In attendance were LPT President Sandy Johnson, ESCA President George Franzen, LPT Member Scott McKenzie, LPT Member Joan Fenicle, LPT Member and ESCA Director Richard Rief, ESCA Director John McNerney, ESCA Director Jim Harre, ESCA Director Jacques Ramey, ESCA Director Bob Wilkens, ESCA Director Wayne Gaede, and guests Brenda from the office of US Representative Deb Haaland, Sandoval County Commissioner Kathy Bruch, Candidate for New Mexico House of Representative Jessica Velazquez, Mary-Rose de Valladarez from Washington DC, and Chris Daul from the office of Commissioner Bruch

The LPA Plan for RMP Release:

1. Article for the August Signpost: Both LPT and ESCA have submitted articles outlining the pending release of the RMP.

2. Meet with ES-CA re. their level of participation: This meeting today.

3. Contact Land Grant: Joan Fenicle is in touch via email with Land Grant representative Rebecca Skartwed.

4. Contact Santa Ana and San Felipe: Breda McKenna is in touch with Santa Ana and will get the contact information for San Felipe from Mary-Rose de Valladarez.

5. Contact our County Commissioner: Sandoval County Commissioner Kathy Bruch and her Aide Chris Daul is present at this meeting.

6. Assign specific tasks and develop a time line.

7. Check federal register*: When published, the RMP will appear in the federal register. It could be anytime but is likely to be August 21 or 24. It will signal the beginning of the 30 days for public comment and 60 day for Gubernatorial response. It is being monitored daily by Mary-Rose de Vallardez.

8. Prepare a postcard for mailing to all homes in Placitas: LPA is working on producing and mailing, it still needs copy and a headline. ESCA will share if the total cost.

9. Get Neighbors website message planed and out

10. Contact Deb Haaland’s office: Representative Haaland’s aide Brenda is present at this meeting. She has introduced HB 2640 prohibiting mining on the Buffalo Tract. It is co-sponsored by Representative Ben-Ray Lujan.

11. Contact our Senators offices: Brenda will coordinate with Senator Martin Heinrich’s office. He has introduced SB 526 prohibiting mining on the Buffalo Tract, companion to HB 2640.

12. Create KUPR spots and schedule airings: Scott McKenzie will coordinate this.

13. Alert the Governor’s office: George Franzen will contact the Governor’s office. She will likely support the prohibition of mining in the Buffalo Tract.

14. Call local BLM office for information (in progress) -have Farmington extension info: Sandy Johnson will inquire if the copy of the RMP received by the Farmington BLM office is a draft or a final copy.

15. Check Bulk Mail Permit: Done. Prices for bulk mailing to constituents were discussed.

16. Call Bill Devin: Done. Bill Devin is a mews writer for the Sandoval Signpost and will have an Article in the August issue.

17. Explore reasons for requesting extension: lack of public meetings, some lack of access for parts of the community to broadband with the closure of the library and community center. Essentially, an extension might be justified by the COVID-19 crisis.

18. Consider filing for an injunction when all else fails: ESCA Director and lawyer Peter Adang will be asked if he could advise us about this.

 *search the Federal Register:  ps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/search?conditions%5Bterm%5D=rio+puerco+resource+management+plan

*Federal Register:  https://www.federalregister.gov/

George Franzen
President, ESCA

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

PRESS RELEASE

AUGUST 2020 SIGNPOST

BY: ESCA

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE BLM RELEASE THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PLACITAS BUFFALO TRACT

The pending “Protect the Buffalo Track Legislation” is still in play awaiting congressional action, but in a parallel action the BLM, Bureau of Land Management, is once again hinting that they will release its plan for our Buffalo Track 3,000 plus acres within the near future. The 800-1,000-acre new gravel mine slated for the north east corner of the Buffalo Tract is still EXPECTED to be the preferred option. Even though Placitas turned in 17,000 comments opposed to it when the draft plan was released 12 years ago.

We EXPECT to get no advanced notice when the plan is released, just a notice in the Federal Register, and if we are lucky a Public Notice to the Sign Post. When it is released, we again get to comment but the window for the final comment period is unknown. We will apply for a longer public comment period than 30 days due to covid19, but we must be ready for a 30 day public comment period. With Covid-19 there will be NO opportunity for a community meeting, so we need to be organized to get comments in on time.

The Las Placitas Association along with the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association will alert all our members to the start of the comment period with an email. And the homeowner’s associations network will be activated for 18 HOAs. Those notices will provide the how, when, and where to provide your comments. If possible, LPA will mail postcards to all.

The key point to cover in your comments is that the BLM does not take into consideration cumulative effects of dangerous airborne particulates when they award leases. Placitas already has a large active mine in the community and 3 additional mines surrounding it. We already have health concerning particulate air pollution, excessive water consumption, industrial noise, a thousand-acre decades old bare abandoned mining site, and degradation to property values in our residential community.

Any new mine must be considered ONLY WITH THE CUMULAIVE EFFECT that mine will contribute to our already overburdened community. This is an environmental justice issue. The BLM’s own mineral data shows there is a 60-mile swath of gravel from south of Santa Fe to south of Albuquerque. Much of that gravel deposit is in uninhabited areas. Further damaging our community for convenience of the gravel miners is untenable.

Find information about the mining conditions and the effect it has on Placitas with maps at the LPA and ES-CA.org web sites. An excellent white paper available on both sites; Land of Enchantment or Gravel details air pollution, water consumption, property value data and descriptions.

Dear readers:

The information below was gained from one of our members in the Washington, D.C. area, who checks in regularly. The person receives information about events in that affect us in New Mexico and the Placitas area. This is an edited summary of current events that affect the gravel mining in the Bureau of Land Management, immediately to the north of Placitas:
“I learned late this week that the much-condensed and revised Rio Puerco RMP (allowing gravel mining on the Buffalo Tract) is about ready to go to the BLM Santa Fe office now and then the requisite meetings with BLM Washington will occur in July. My understanding is that the final draft allows mining on the Buffalo Tract. The targeted date for completion of the entire process, including the Record of Decision (ROD) is October 2020.

  Other important points:

BLM is apparently pursuing approval process aggressively. The BLM is aiming for governor and public consistency reviews (respectively 60 and 30 days) in the July time frame. This would be the time when the governor and staff are busy with the special session that is planned.

Thereafter, it is possible that the Secretary of the Interior himself may intervene and sign the Record of Decision (ROD) to obstruct a challenge that could result in an IBLA review of the Administrative Record. If the DOI Secretary were to sign the ROD, we would have to go to District Court for relief.

Thus, there is an urgent need to move forward with passage of legislation as quickly as possible.”

  Next ESCA Board Meeting: June 8, 2020 – Due to the Governor’s order limiting gatherings, board meetings are now held online. See the next meeting’s agenda for details (under Recent Posts). To contact ESCA, please click here.

IF ANY ESCA MEMBER WANTS TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING THE PRESIDENT OF ESCA WILL NEED TO SEND YOU AN INVITATION VIA EMAIL, SEND YOUR REQUEST TO
president@es-ca.org

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Virtual Board Meeting Agenda
8 June 2020
4:00 PM
By a zoom invitation

1. Call to order

2. Roll Call

 3. Acceptance of minutes

 4. Introduction of Guests Speaker

 5. MONTHLY REPORT

A. Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
B. IT Report – Jim
C. Membership Chair & HOA Coalition Report – Scott
D. LPT Report – George

 6. OLD BUSINESS

A. Simple tri-fold brochure – Scott
B. Plan for Insurance Policies – Peter

7. NEW BUSINESS

 8. OPEN DISCUSSION

Article for July 2020 Signpost

9. Adjournment

 Next meeting July 6 2020, Virtual zoom meeting, AT 4:00PM

IF ANY ESCA MEMBER WANTS TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING THE PRESIDENT OF ESCA WILL NEED TO SEND YOU AN INVITATION VIA EMAIL, SEND YOUR REQUEST TO
president@es-ca.org

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Virtual Board Meeting Agenda
11 May 2020
4:00 PM
By a zoom invitation

1. Call to order

2. Roll Call

 3. Acceptance of minutes

 4. Introduction of Guests Speaker

 5. MONTHLY REPORT

A. Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
B. IT Report – Jim
C. Membership Chair & HOA Coalition Report – Scott
D. LPT Report – George

 6. OLD BUSINESS

A. Simple tri-fold brochure – Scott
B. Brick for the Placitas Library in memory of Dick Ulmer from ESCA – Georg

7. NEW BUSINESS

Review of ESCA two Insurance policies, General Liability – Directors and Officers Liability – Peter

 8. OPEN DISCUSSION

Article for Jun 2020 Signpost

9. Adjournment

 Next meeting 8 Jun 2020, Virtual zoom meeting, AT 4:00PM

 To all our Eastern Sandoval County friends, a gentle hello and a virtual handshake to everyone. Like you, we are weathering this pandemic and all that it entails. And we are always monitoring what is happening in the Placitas area regarding land-use issues and more.

  Here are some reminders of topics that we are still following – even as we hold virtual monthly meetings:

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 townhomes, proposed on land east of The Merc, are proposed by Vineyard Homes, the builder and the McCallister family – the owners.

  Meanwhile, the passage of the Buffalo Tract Bill – which has passed out of committees and is awaiting to be attached to a Bill to be brought to the floor of the House and Senate – would preserve much of the Bureau of Land Management tract north of Placitas. In the words of Rep. Deb Haaland, who carries the bill in the House:

“Passage of the Buffalo Tract Bill in committee brings us one step closer to passing this community-driven effort to protect public health, water and cultural resources in Sandoval County. Local community organizations understand that continued vigilance and a strong community push are needed to get this legislation over the finish line. Community solidarity is absolutely essential to this process.”

Next ESCA Board Meeting: May 11, 2020 – online conference
Due to the Governor’s order limiting gatherings, board meetings are now held online.
See the next meeting’s agenda for details (under Recent Posts).

 To contact ESCA, please click here.

IF ANY ESCA MEMBER WANTS TO JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING, THE PRESIDENT OF ESCA WILL NEED TO SEND YOU AN INVITATION VIA EMAIL.
SEND YOUR REQUEST TO:
president@es-ca.org

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Virtual BOARD MEETING AGENDA
April 13th, 2020

4:00 PM

By a Zoom invitation

1. Call to order
2. Roll Call
3. Acceptance of minutes
4. Introduction of Guests, Max Ramey
5. MONTHLY REPORT –ISSUES – UPDATES

• A. Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
• B. IT Report – Jim
• C. Membership Chair & HOA Coalition Report – Scott
• D. LPT Report– George

6. OLD BUSINESS

• A. Simple tri-fold brochure – Scott
• B. Brick for the Placitas Library in memory of Dick Ulmer from ESCA — Richard

7. NEW BUSINESS

• Appoint member to the LPT Board — Board

8. OPEN DISCUSSION

• Article for May 2020 Signpost

9. ADJOURNMENTNext meeting:

 May 11th, 2020, Virtual Zoom meeting, AT 4:00 PM

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.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association officers and Sandoval County officials met with numerous representatives of the gravel mines near Placitas in January, and received essential updates to reclamation processes and future goals.

Those in attendance included George Franzen, ESCA president and Bob Wilkins of the Land Protection Trust. Sandoval County Commissioners David Heil and Kathy Bruch also attended, along with county and gravel operations representatives and their attorneys.

      The updates included:

• Vulcan officials reported that reclamation has been progressing in Area 1, along the southern central edge of the open gravel mine. Officials said that dirt has been moved into the area for reclamation, and that a hole on the south side of the mine in the area has been filled in. Meanwhile, in Area 2 on the western edge of the mine, similar reclamation is continuing from the east to the southwest in that area. Officials, including operations manager Steve Redenbaugh, expect that operations on the south side of the mine to be completed by the end of 2021. 
• A berm along the north side of the mine next to Sundance Subdivision will be completed by the end of 2021, while mining in that Area 3 of the mine is expected to begin in 2021 and continue until about 2026. Officials said that they will hold a community meeting before that work begins. Final work on Area 4 where the processing plant is located would be the final mining area. Reclamation in each area will be completed as the areas are mined out and completed in 2027.   Vulcan officials say that there will be a yearly tour of the mine for stakeholders this year, but that the tour has not yet been scheduled. 
• Other information: No formal discussions were held regarding what happens to the Mountain Adams mine site once mining operations ceases. Additionally, Vulcan is interested in mining a portion of the Buffalo Tract that is available for mining.  Legislation is pending in Congress that could affect whether or not this land is mined. New Mexico’s senators and representatives have endorsed the legislation that has passed the committee process and waiting for the full congress vote.

Report from the Sandoval Regional Medical Center Community Advisory Board: The SRMC was voluntarily surveyed by The Joint Commission (TJC) – and ESCA’s Community Advisory Board representative, Erica Wendel-Ogelsby, was invited to participate at the closeout session.  The physician surveyor expressed positive thoughts on his findings at this closeout session, she reported, and was pleased with the engagement he received from all in attendance.  Accreditation, every 39 months, is required in order for the organization to receive payment from federally funded Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Finally, ESCA expresses a sadness and respect over the passing of ESCA’s vice president, Dick Ulmer. His work with ESCA and the Land Protection Trust were invaluable to Placitas and Sandoval County. Dick’s kind words, his leadership, his love of his state and his country, will always be remembered by the community he served. ESCA sends out its warmest thoughts and prayers to Dick Ulmer’s family and loved ones. 

The next ES-CA Board Meeting: (open to the public) 
Monday, March 9, 2019 – 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Note new time!
Placitas Community Library,  NM Hwy 165, Placitas, NM 87043