‘Traffic is a 900-pound gorilla in the Village’

Published March 12th, 2025 at 3:02 pm

By Jesse Jones

At the latest Corrales Council meeting March 11, residents expressed their opposition to the proposed Arts and Culture District (ACD) economic development plan, saying increased tourism and infrastructure changes could threaten the village’s rural character. The discussion highlighted ongoing tensions over balancing preservation with economic and infrastructure needs.

The council also had updates on Meadowlark Lane and Academy Drive repairs, infrastructure funding and reports from the Corrales Equestrian Advisory Commission and the Corrales Farmers Cooperative.

“There remain overt conflicts between the Comprehensive Plan and the proposed ACD,” Patrick McClernon said. “The comprehensive plan is for the village, while the ACD plan is directed towards visitors, creating the inherent conflict the overwhelming desire with respondents is to remain rural, inviting additional visitors to the village to enhance the economy is in conflict with the quality of life.”

The Corraleños Forum was loaded with residents voicing concerns over the Corrales MainStreet Arts and Cultural District plan. The state designation, meant to support areas with strong cultural and artistic assets, has sparked debate at council meetings and in online community groups.

According to Angela Gutierrez, Corrales MainStreet’s executive director, the designation could open funding opportunities, double tax credits for historic properties and boost tourism. The district would cover the existing commercial zone, including the Old Church and Casa San Ysidro, to highlight their cultural and historical significance.

Some residents worry the designation could lead to overdevelopment and change the village’s character. Critics fear it could be used to push growth. 

Gutierrez said the authorization does not bypass planning or zoning processes, and any proposed developments would still require community input, administrative review and compliance with village ordinances. She said the cultural plan is a resource for supporting the creative economy, not a directive for specific projects.

According to multiple Corraleños, the ACD, a plan to boost tourism, threatens the village’s rural character. They cited a recent reckless driving incident that delayed the last Council meeting and expressed concern that more visitors unfamiliar with local roads would increase traffic and safety risks.

“Traffic is a 900-pound gorilla in the village,” said Fred Hashimoto. “Most villagers are somewhat adept at coping with this, but out-of-towners not so. They speed and are not used to the terrain. Our intersections are dangerous with utility poles and structures obstructing the line of sight.”

“How will we respond?” Hashimoto asked. “Hopefully, not with a program which will encourage more visitors, tourists and traffic on an accident waiting to happen.”

During her public comment, Theresa Lopez said  Corraleños originally thought the incident was caused by someone speeding through the village, given the extent of the damage. A week later, the police confirmed that the driver was cited for careless driving and not a health problem or intoxication.

According to residents, the council should finalize and approve the Comprehensive Plan before considering the ACD to ensure it reflects community values. They expressed concern that the ACD conflicts with the plan, which they believe better represents the community’s desire to remain rural.

According to Village Clerk Melanie Romero at the last council meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission will review a revised comprehensive plan at their April meeting after requested changes are made for a “clean document.” A meeting with committee chair Chris Allen and Laurie Stout

The P&Z Administrator is scheduled for March 14 to finalize the document. Due to the large file size, the updated plan will be shared via a link on the Village’s IPRA portal. 

She said the earliest the Council could review the plan would be at the second meeting in April. However, the Comprehensive Plan Review and Discussion is tentatively scheduled as a future agenda item for April 8, while the Adoption of MainStreet’s ACD Plan is set for March 25.

Meadowlark is coming…

Village Administrator Ron Curry gave an update on the Meadowlark Lane project.

“Meadowlark is coming and probably that’s been said for 20 years or so,” Curry said. “Meadowlark has a problematic, troubled past. If you go back, there are thousands of fingerprints on this project going back 25 years.”

According to Curry, the Meadowlark project is moving forward after years of delays, with nearly finished plans to fix past issues, including faulty piping that didn’t meet “Buy American” specifications and led to a lawsuit. 

The drainage pipe is currently nonfunctional because it lacks an outlet at the end. The pipe will be fixed to ensure proper flow and pathways will be added on both sides of the road to avoid right-of-way conflicts and prevent more delays.

During construction, the road will be fully closed to speed things up, but there will be flexibility as the work progresses. Homeowners will be notified about any changes to access, and efforts will be made to minimize disruptions.

The project should take 2 to 6 weeks, with road closures possibly varying between full closures during the day and partial openings at night, depending on the contractor’s schedule. The goal is to have the plans ready by the end of May, with work starting around the beginning of June.

He said the community would be kept informed about website updates and other notifications to address concerns.

The council approved a map application for Academy Drive. Steve Lesku, the Public Works Director, explained that the focus shifted from Coronado Road to Academy Drive because Coronado did not meet the criteria for map funding, as it doesn’t connect to a state road.

The council raised concerns about drainage. Lesku assured that the design would address these issues, potentially using a nearby school’s holding pond for drainage. Further design work is still needed.

Get involved

The next Village Council meeting is at 6:30 p.m. March 25 at the Village of Corrales Council Chambers, 4342 Corrales Rd.