Table of Contents

About this newsletter

Report from August annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Vineyard Estates Neighborhood Association occured on Thursday, August 27 at 7 PM.

A slate of directors for 2009 - 2010 was elected. They were Lee Ann Riesen from Ventura Village, Tony Huffman, Pat Verrelle, Mike Gibson and Regina Barela from Vineyard III, Aaron Brundage from La Cueva Tierra, and Elizabeth Meek from Desert Vista. Returning for the second year of a two year term are Donna Daniello from Carrington, Dick Bothwell from Vineyard I, and Michelle Garza from Vineyard Court Estates. Ideally we would like to have one board member from each subdivision, so if you do not see your subdivision's name on this list, please consider joining the VENA board of directors. We can make interim appointments before next August's annual meeting.

Dr. Suga, MD, introduced himself. Dr. Suga and his partner Dorsey Beggs, MD, have just established their pediatric practice and taken up residence in the new Alameda Business Park (Alameda just east of Barstow). Dr. Suga also contributed an article for this newsletter.

There was an update from the traffic committee about meetings regarding the possible closing of Signal, and traffic concerns along Greenarbor in Vineyard I/III and Hampton in Desert Vista/Carrington. This is discussed in a separate article in this newsletter.

Larry Velasquez, the NMDOT District 3 Engineer attended the meeting to address concerns about the work that has been done at Paseo del Norte and Ventura. Larry explained that the additional turn lane from north-bound Ventura to west-bound Paseo Del Norte had been added in anticipation of the increased traffic flow into and out of the new Walgreens. The double left turn lane allows twice the amount of traffic to pass in a given amount of time. Larry said that he would have the NMDOT staff evaluate the timing of the signal for the south-bound Ventura to east-bound Paseo Del Norte and take action as necessary.

Concern was also brought up on the through traffic lane alignment for north-bound Ventura through Paseo Del Norte. Larry said he would have his staff take a look at the lane delineation and striping and configuration. There was also a question about getting a crosswalk across Paseo Del Norte for pedestrian traffic. Larry said he would have this looked into also, but crosswalks across a state highway is generally discouraged unless there is real need.

Progress of Greenarbor/Hampton traffic committee

The traffic committee has met with City staff to discuss cut-through traffic on Hampton (in Desert Vista and Carrington) and the fate of Greenarbor if the Greenarbor barricade is removed. Originally the committee wanted to find out if residents would be interested in getting permanent barricades in place at the location of the Greenarbor barricade and on Hampton just west of Mendocino. But the city does not use barricades for traffic control and said that this would not be possible.

We will discuss other alternatives for slowing and reducing traffic along Greenarbor and Hampton at a special general meeting in October. Stay tuned for the date and time of this meeting. This is a very important meeting, and we need a good turn out. We need to make a decision that the majority of our neighbors will be happy with.

Status of Signal Road between Barstow and Ventura

The City Engineer, Richard Dourte, has confirmed rumors that there is a likelihood of Signal being closed between Carrington and Ventura. This will not happen without neighborhood input. And it will not happen without putting a plan in place to prevent Hampton (one of our residential streets just south of Signal) from becoming the next Signal.

This segment of Signal was not built according to the City's standards for roads. It is a dirt road that was paved over by AMAFCA (Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroya Flood Control Authority) several years ago at the request of residents. It does not have curbs, drainage or sidewalks, and there is no plan for these improvements to be made.

The land north of this part of Signal is intended to be a residential subdivision. The Desert Vista homes which back into Signal now, would someday have this subdivision behind their back walls instead if Signal is closed.

Mr. Dourte said that if Signal remains, it will be right-in and right-out only. Ventura will have a median so turning left onto Signal when driving northbound would be impossible. The plan is for Alameda between Barstow and Ventura is to be a four lane road with a median, straight and flat, and with traffic signals at Ventura and Barstow.

From past experience, he believes that drivers will eventually want to use Alameda to pass between Barstow and Ventura, and that Signal will not be missed.

VENA will be having a special general membership meeting, most likely in early October, to discuss traffic flow in Vineyards I, II and III and Desert Vista and Carrington. We also want to hear your thoughts on the possible closure of this section of Signal. These two issues need to be considered as a whole.

Welcome High Desert Pediatrics

Recycle your aluminum for VENA

VENA only has two sources of income. The most important is the $20 per year that each VENA member pays. The other source is our income from recycling aluminum cans. There are two places where you can drop off aluminum for recycling, 8415 Vintage in Vineyard III, and 9036 Village in Ventura Village.

If you can serve as a drop-off site for aluminum donations, please let us know. We would especially like to find a drop-off site in Carrington.

Please save your aluminum to support the neighborhood association. We use these funds to pay for postage and printing, and for beautification projects.

Update on new Walgreens

The Walgreens in Ventura Plaza (southwest of Paseo del Norte and Ventura) is moving along. Landscaping is going in and interior work is being done. We have not heard of an opening date, but look for it to open sometime in October.

The rest of the shopping center is on hold pending a pick-up in the economy.

Update on 9100 Holly

The small L-shaped shopping center that was to be built just north of Albertson's is not going to happen. The owner was not able to make a go of it, and the bank reposessed the property.

At VENA's request the City removed the fence and cleaned up the trash and weeds on the lot.

Progress on cleaning up of problem properties

We reported on two problem properties in the last newsletter.

The triangular lot north of Albertson's was cleaned up by the City recently. Thanks are due to board member Michelle Garza who kept in contact with the City zoning enforcement officer until this was accomplished. This land was to be home to a small shopping center, but it has been reposessed by the bank, and the City's expense in cleaning it up will appear as a lien on the property.

The Vineyard I home and lot just east of Desert Ridge Middle School that was covered in weeds has been cleaned up and is now on the market.

Tierra Morena administrative ruling

Paul Newman, the owner of Tierra Morena has agreed to plant the trees along the Signal frontage that were specified in the original site plan. A dispute occured when he received an administrative amendment last December to omit the trees, without neighborhood input. It is resolved now.

Join VENA today

Announcement from Hope Episcopal Church

How to deal with problem properties

If you have a property near your home which is covered with weeds, or has a dog barking at night, or is storing toxic chemicals outside, you have a problem property. If you have spoken to the neighbor without success, or if you are not comfortable speaking to the neighbor, please call 311 to report the problem.

They will give you a tracking number for your issue. Save this number, and call back four weeks later if the issue has not been resolved. By this point the neighbor has probably received a citation, but not complied with the citation. Tell the 311 operator that a final notice is needed.

If you still see no progress four weeks after your second call, then call 311 again. Tell them the neighbor has ignored the final notice.

If you find that nothing has improved within four weeks of your third call, please contact the neighborhood association. We will contact the zoning compliance office for our area and stay in touch with her until the problem is resolved.