UPDATES:
- July 22, 2024 Added videos - 1) May 9, 2023 Regular Planning and Zoning Meeting, 2) August 23, 2023 BoT Special Public Hearing Meeting
- July 22, 2024 Added Litigation section at end
- July 24, 2024 Added Journal Article on District Court Ruling
- July 25, 2024 Added actual signed Ordinance 265 Amending VC Zone Code (January 2018)
- August 20, 2024 Added Judge Lujan Court Order in injunction cases (CV-2024-00118)
- October 23, 2024 SETTLEMENT REACHED (FOLR-Village-Palindrome-Nangeroni) - Link https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/67198d13ca44790a9616a29a/1729727763219/VLR_FOLR_Palindrome+-+REV+w+Highlight.pdf
Village Center StoryBoard
TIMELINE | DOCUMENTATION |
2002 The Village created the Village Center Zone to allow for a development pattern that included increased density, new housing options, economic vibrancy, and diversity.
The VC Zone Code was adopted in 2003
| 2010 Master Plan for the Village of Los Ranchos (adopted January 19, 2000) |
2007 The Village outlined the Village Center Zone Project Area.
The Board of Trustees declared the area a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) due to its under performing commercial activity, deteriorated buildings and large areas of vacant land
The Village actively acquired property in the zone over the succeeding 10 years |
2007 (February) 4th & Osuna Village Center Conditions Analysis & Designation Report
Link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63ebf25a9c44925eba614166/1676407388845/Fourth+%26+Osuna+Village+Center+Conditions+Analysis+and+Designation+Report+February+2007.pdf
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2018 (January) § 9.2.14 VC – Village Center Zone Code
Ordinance 265 Amending 2013 Codified Ordinances Chapter 9 Land Use Regulations, Article, Zoning and Zone Map, Section 14, VC - Village Center Zone, § 9.2.14
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Link to Zone Code: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/losranchosnm/latest/losranchos_nm/0-0-0-3067
Link to Actual Ordinance - Prior version deleted, new version approved, adopted by Governing Body and signed by Mayor Abraham, January 10, 2018 https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/c6ad2e99-f7e7-45a7-a57f-21ccd5de1669/Village%20Center%20Zone%20Code%202018%20signed.pdf
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2018 The Village adopted the Village Center Project MRA Plan (Resolution No. 2018-3-2) on March 14, 2018
The MRA Plan allowed for a public private partnership to develop the project. The New Mexico Metropolitan Redevelopment Code grants powers to the Village to promote developments within blighted areas and authorized the Village to rehabilitate and redevelop the area for public health, safety, and welfare.
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2018 (March) Village Center Project MRA Plan   
Link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63ebee899bb8451539c0974e/1676406414257/Village+Center+Project+MRA+with+MAPs+Final%5B1%5D.pdf
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2018 (April) The Village issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify and select an experienced developer with the adequate finances to acquire, consolidate, design, develop, operate, and eventually own the Village Center site |
2018 (July) Winning Proposal - Palindrome Communities
 
Link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63ebebe7d1763b439b83cf88/1676405755364/RFP+Response-FINAL.pdf
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2018 (November) The Village agreed to an MOU with Palindrome Communities LLC
The MOU designated Palindrome as the Village Center developer, summarized understandings, expectations, and intent as a framework for negotiating a binding development agreement to establish the terms for the acquisition, financing, and development of the Property
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2018 (November) Memorandum of Understanding with Palindrome Communities LLC
Link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63ebeb6f8fbd833dd0bed11e/1676405615548/1.MOU+VLR+and+Palindrome.pdf |
2020 (October) The Village approved the Purchase, Sale and Development Agreement with Palindrome with Development Timeline
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October 14 - 2020 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Watch BoT deliberation (30 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYLu4bQ596c&t=5595s
Link to Purchase, Sale and Development Agreement: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/62f6bd091ea0c37a35f7831e/1660337418402/Agreement+w+Timeline.pdf
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2021 (April) Village Center Project Requirements 
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2021 (April) Village Center Project Requirements - Signed by both parties July 2021
Link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63f3f2370dfbbb6b81a1a5fe/1676931639848/VC+Project+Requirements+4-21-2021+Signed.pdf |
2021 (April) Presentation to Board of Trustees on Progress
 
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April 14 - 2021 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Watch presentation to BoT (27 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KbjyzQrlHI&t=3485s
Link to presentation: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63ebfae4cedf5746c9c1547e/1676409576104/Presentation+Palidrome+BOT+April+2021.pdf |
2021 (October) Presentation to Board of Trustees on Progress 
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October 2021 Board of Trustees on Progress
Watch presentation to BoT (30 minutes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r58tgrUuTiQ&t=2602s
Link to presentation: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/618b049fd96c4d5d2a846aeb/1636500644350/Board+of+Trustees+Presentation+10-13-2021.pdf
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2022 (May) Sketch Plat Approval |
Link to document: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63f54d9c74e1d16c1d972dc5/1677020572294/Sketch+Plat+approval.pdf |
2022 (July) Preliminary Plat Approval |
Link to document: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63f54e060d7ceb7355d45f71/1677020678420/Preliminary+Plat+-+7-29-22+-+Signed+TJ+AS+Letter+of+Conditional+Approval.pdf |
2022 (August) Final Plat Approval |
Link to document: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/63f54e10dce0a657baf12cb1/1677020688699/Final+Plat+Approval.pdf
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2022 (August) Draft Site Rendering 
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Link to August 2022 Draft Site Rendering (full scale): https://static1.squarespace.com/static/600f5ed78afa7f5549aac790/t/64df9938d0a071068cd56901/1692375352686/2022035_TACH_SSW_Rendering_09-16-2022.pdf |
2023 (February) Site Plan Approved
2023 (February) Permits granted
2023 (February) Construction started
2023 (May) FOLR appeals Site Plan approval at P&Z. P&Z approved appeal and recommended BoT vacate Site Development Plans
2023 (July) FOLR written notice to Village alleging OMA violation
2023 (August) BoT approves Palindrome appeal of P&Z recommendation
2023 (September) FOLR appeals BoT ruling to District Court
2024 (May) District Court Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd rules in favor of FOLR that 1) Administrator and P&Z Director lacked legal authority to approve plans AND 2) Approvals should have occurred in an open public meeting
2024 (May) Village BoT voted NOT to appeal the ruling and to file for injunctive relief to stop the project
2024 (May) Palindrome filed motion to reconsider to Judge Barela-Shepherd [pending]
2024 (June) Village filed for injunctive relief to stop the project to District Court [DENIED - July 23, 2024 - see article below]
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May 9, 2023 Regular Planning and Zoning Meeting
Link to Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd’s ruling with background, timeline and findings:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62b4c68459c1534749f1ceff/t/66350025503b8d77637fba77/1714749477880/FOLRvVillage.pdf |
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LITIGATION - Under Development
January 3, 2024 Palindrome filed Petition for Injunction against Craig and Kueffer seeking to disqualify them from voting in BoT matters involving Palindrome, citing conflict of interest. (Case Number: D-202-CV-2024-00118 - Palindrome Communities LLC, et al., v. Joe D Craig, et al.)
June 6, 2024 Village filed lawsuit for injunctive relief (CV-2024-4849 App for TRO minus exhibits)
Link to filing: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/c6ad2e99-f7e7-45a7-a57f-21ccd5de1669/CV-2024-4849%20App%20for%20TRO%20minus%20exhibits.pdf
** The two cases were consolidated and both are pending before Judge Elaine P. Lujan. Next hearing date - Tuesday July 23rd at 9 AM **
District judge rules in favor of developer in two issues related to controversial Palindrome Project
Ollie Reed, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Tue, July 23, 2024 at 9:01 PM MDT
Court Order filed 8/16/24 in the injunction cases (CV-2024-00118) that were decided by Judge Lujan on July 23, 2024.
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Three other FOLR lawsuits:
1. 9/14/22 FOLR sued Village; Palindrome intervened. Complaint "to Remedy Violations of Due Process of Law." Set for Bench Trial (non-jury) on 11/18/24
2. 3/24/23 FOLR and others filed Complaint against Village and officers and staff "to Remedy Violations of Due Process of Law"
3. 6/11/23 FOLR members Nancy Nangeroni and Joe Craig filed Complaint against Village, BOT, Don Lopez and Palindrome "for Violation of Open Meetings Act." Consolidated into #2.
