Grants P&Z wrestles with road names

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Grants Planning Commission heard three requests Tuesday for minor replats from Hammond Enterprises. Two were approved with little discussion but the request to divide one lot into two on North Quail Lane was tabled pending verification that the road was in fact in Grants.

Commissioners Ralph Chavez and Jamie Holton maintained that Grants ends at the Quail Run Trailer Court, while Code Inspector John Phillips said records indicated that North Quail Lane is in Grants. Subsequent investigation Wednesday confirmed that lane is within the boundaries of the city, Phillips said. A special Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be held at 5 p.m. on June 19 to take a vote on a lot replat on the disputed road.

Further confusion occurred when a proposed replat at 1601 East Roosevelt Avenue was introduced by Dominic Vigil’s representative. The commission briefly discussed whether the decision should be tabled until it was determined if the road was called Roosevelt Avenue or Los Pinos Drive but granted the replat since the request was tabled last time it was brought up. Commissioner Cecil Brown made the motion to grant the replat with the caveat that the road name should be verified. The commission noted that the street signs might need to be changed on the road if the name of record proved to be different from the signage. Road names and addresses are critical to emergency services in finding a location in a hurry.

Phillips said Wednesday that he checked with the Janice Sanchez in the Cibola Regional Communication Center and the streets are named in accordance with the emergency services records. Roosevelt does not become Los Pinos until the big curve on the east side of Sakelares Boulevard. The signs can remain the same as they are currently.

The commission requested that code inspector Phillips take action on the eyesore in the lot near the old Travel Lodge on Santa Fe Avenue. The lot is overgrown and the owner needs to be taken to task, they said. Phillips gave an update on the demolition of the Bradley Apartments near Future Foundations Family Center on Washington, saying the city could get at least part of the building down this year, but the budget of $160,000 might not cover it all.

Phillips said he would check into clean-up proceedings for the old gas station at Interstate Highway 40 exit 82 and Santa Fe and find out how much clean-up was needed and if there is any petroleum waste to be disposed of.

The monthly meeting was as well attended as ever, with the entire commission sitting on the bench, one citizen to address the commission and Code Enforcement staff present with updates. New part-time clerk department clerk Veronica McDermott  was a welcome addition to the often lonely business of approving and denying zoning requests and quibbling about boundaries.