Bosque Farms P&Z awards Mayor’s business request

Bosque Farms

The Village of Bosque Farms Planning and Zoning Commission made sure Mayor Roger Baldwin jumped through the zoning ordinance hoops in order to get his Value Rite Manufacturing business in-line with current zoning regulations.

Baldwin’s cabinet making business was zoned for light manufacturing (M-1) in October 1993. However, that designation expired soon after, as the village opted to use the special use (SU-1) designation for special use.

“The property was zoned in 1993 as M-1,” said Planning and Zoning Chairman Bob Knowlton. “There was some doubt whether notification to the property owner (Baldwin) had ever been given.”

“You are correct. There was no notification,” replied Com-missioner Margaret Chavez.

Since February, Baldwin has enlisted the services of lawyer Lar Thomas in attempts to get his business in compliance with current zoning regulations. After the fire that destroyed part of his business, Baldwin rented out part of his space to a metal-table maker and a party organizer.

After more than an hour of discussion and testimony during Monday’s meeting, Thomas was successful in pleading the case for a multiple zone change for Baldwin’s business, located at 2485 Bosque Farms Boulevard.

The commission unanimously approved a multiple-use zone change for Baldwin’s business.

This change would be for commercial use in the front area, special-use in the back two bays and special-use zoning in a larger central area, which Baldwin has yet to make a decision on with regard to future use.

In addition, the village zoning commission stipulated that Baldwin had to declare the use of this area within 90 days. They also ordered that Baldwin be required to apply for an updated boulevard-access permit through the New Mexico Highway Department.

Thomas started working on Baldwin’s case for a zoning change in February and pointed out that most businesses will not take the time to get approved by the village zoning commission.

“Timing is everything. Most businesses don’t have time to deal with this,” Thomas said. “They’ll buy a lot in Los Lunas before they’ll spend six months here.”

Baldwin echoed his lawyer’s sentiments.

“The village must find a way to be more friendly for someone to get a business,” Baldwin said. “I’ve got thousands of dollars in attorney bills. This is why Sandbar Construction, a $20 million company, went to Albuquerque.”