Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
CLOVIS — After raising many of the same questions the Planning and Zoning Commission had a week prior, the Clovis city commission also provided unanimous approval to requests paving the way for a new subdivision near 21st Street and Humphrey Road.
By an 8-0 vote Thursday, the commission granted a zone change from Residential Single Family 170 to Residential Single Family 7 for what is proposed as the Colonies Subdivision on a 101-acre tract of land northwest of the 21st-Humphrey intersection.
The numbers in the zoning distinctions specify the minimum size of a lot in thousands of square feet. The Colonies Subdivision will have lots of at least 7,200 square feet and at least 70 feet in width.
District 3 Commissioner Fidel Madrid asked how the new subdivision would impact traffic. City Manager Justin Howalt noted city code requires the developers conduct a traffic analysis before performing any work. The study may require items like deceleration lanes, Howalt said, but the city doesn’t require developers take on the task of widening roads.
The city has intended to place a roundabout at 21st and Humphrey to improve traffic flow and eliminate the issue of Humphrey not lining up at 21st Street, but the estimated $1 million to pay for the work is not in the city’s budget.
Howalt noted the city probably has $50 million in road projects to tackle, but noted the silver lining is an indication of community growth.
District 2 Commissioner Gary Elliott asked how the subdivision would impact drainage issues near the area. Howalt said the lots would have their own drainage solutions and likely alleviate some of those issues.
District 3 Commissioner Helen Casaus noted concerns with the 9% protest rate. Building Safety Director Pete Wilt and Howalt noted protest rate is determined by the properties held by anybody who objects in the vicinity, with one property owner responsible for two-thirds of the protest.
Howalt said many of the questions at the planning and zoning meeting came from residents concerned as to what quality of homes would be built in the subdivision. The city largely leaves such matters up to the developer as long as they align with the zone requirements. But he noted the developers are planning to address home quality with lot-specific covenants so each house built closely matches the homes it neighbors.
Developer Chris Rolston and Engineer Chad Lydick both attended the meeting, but neither was called on to answer questions. After receiving an answer regarding the protest rate, Casaus moved for approval.
In other business at the meeting:
• Constance Williams, a field representative for Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, spoke of the various services offered at the Clovis field office, which is hosted by the Eastern Plains Council of Governments at 418 Main.
Williams said she is doing much of her work from home due to the pandemic, and said she could be reached on her personal number at 575-201-8065.
• The commission noted a special meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. The only item on the agenda is a resolution adopting the final 2020-21 budget.
The $58.86 million budget is up from last year’s $56.4 million. Personnel services represent 42% of total expenditures, with no salary increases included in the budget. Taxes represent 85% of the general fund revenue.
• The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Aug. 6 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.
