Shady Lakes

[North Valley Coalition]

Tinnie Corporation from Artesia F.B.O. Vara LLC, is applying for a special use permit for property owned by Shady Lakes, although deeds to the property show Tinnie Corporation as the owner.  Vara is a local winery/distillery.  Attached below is the application to be heard by Bernalillo County Planning Commission on February 3.  However, a new cover sheet was filed on 12/29/20 and the description on that sheet is attached.  Some uses have been deleted, renamed, or considered incidental and therefore not needing a commercial zone designation.  This property is within the boundaries of the North Valley Coalition and we have been active participants in opposing this application, along with Alameda North Valley Association, North Edith Corridor Association, Maria/Diers Neighborhood Association and several individuals.

This land forms an upside down L and includes the old Shady Lakes property and more land to the south for a total of 31 acres.  It is currently zoned A-1, rural agricultural although a special use permit was approved in 2018 for 11 acres on the southern portion.  There is a dispute, however, as to whether the conditions for that were ever met, and the new permit changes many of the purposes and conditions of that earlier permit.  The property is bordered by private landowners, Sandia Pueblo, and bosque land owned by Sandia Pueblo.  It lies between the Albuquerque Main Canal and the Riverside Drain, extending a little east. 

The planned development includes 4 acres of vineyards, two buildings (46,551 sq. ft. and 24,400 sq ft.) to manufacture wine and distilled spirits, areas for storage and distribution, several restaurants/dining rooms, 6 cabins for rent, outdoor event center/areas with amplified sound, tasting rooms, sales locations, lab, staff quarters, welcome center, greenhouses.  Also, fishing lake, sales, office, pavilion.  Details have been lacking, we have many questions and concerns about the project, can't justify it in this rural agricultural zone, and can't understand how this supports  stability of land use.  There are also concerns about fire codes not being addressed, easements needing to be resolved in court (two easements were originally for access to one or two residential properties), negative effects on water levels and quality (there is no water or sewer infrastructure), and roads not being adequate to safely handle traffic. 

This plan was originally scheduled to be heard December 10, 2020.  However, on December 9, the applicant asked for a deferral to revise their plans.  I attach the comments we sent for the December 10 hearing.  Although there were a few changes to the plan, much of the plan remains the same, many of the comments are still applicable and I will be reviewing them to resubmit.  I also attach a comment letter submitted for the February 3, 2021 hearing.   When available, I will send a link to the packet and you can read more details and comments.  Enrique Lamadrid, a well-known and distinguished North Valley historian, has submitted information about the historical aspects of the area and the importance of protecting them

Any comments should be submitted to ell...@bernco.gov by January 26, 2021, noon.

 

 Revised VARA Application to Bernco.pdf

  

Peggy Norton, President

North Valley Coalition

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