By Jesse Jones
The Corrales Village Council unanimously adopted a new comprehensive plan May 13, amending key provisions after years of public debate over village character, housing density and representation.
The plan, shaped by months of committee work and community input, will guide future land use, development and policy decisions. Councilors struck language about transferable development rights, a concept critics said could lead to higher density and alter the village’s rural feel. They also removed outdated references to a cultural district.
Described as a living document, the plan can be updated over time. Councilors also acknowledged calls from descendant families for more recognition in village government, a concern likely to shape future revisions.
“I want to say thank you to the comp plan group,” Salomé Ward said during the Corraleños Forum. “Because they’ve given a shining example of community involvement and treating people with respect and really listening.”
Before approving the 10-year plan, councilors adopted several key amendments following years of public input and debate.
A major point of contention was the concept of transferable development rights (TDRs).
“I’m not for the TDR at all,” Theresa Lopez said. “I say that will open a door that we may not be able to shut, and the village could become even more crowded.”
Councilor Stuart Murray moved to strike all references of TDRs from the plan, echoing strong opposition from both council members and residents who feared they would lead to increased housing density and change the village’s character. Although TDRs appeared in previous plans, the council voted to remove them entirely. Councilors said the change does not affect references to cluster housing.
Murray also moved to cut a section tied to the Arts and Cultural District plan, calling it outdated and unnecessary. That amendment passed as well.
Later, Murray proposed a change that would have modified architectural guidelines to exempt the Corrales Road commercial area — labeled “neighborhood commercial” in the village code — but the motion died with lack of a second.
At the recommendation of village attorneys, language proposing the hiring of a planner for the Planning and Zoning Commission was removed from Corrales’ comprehensive plan before adoption. Instead, the plan refers to a “system of planning,” which leaves future Councils the option to create the position without requiring it.
Village Clerk Melanie Romero said state law bars one governing body from committing a future one to spend money. Including language that mandates hiring a planner could be interpreted as such a commitment, she said. Referring to a “system” instead keeps the option open.
The Council can propose a new position at any time, Romero said, noting it’s been done before with roles like the public works receptionist and Parks and Rec staff.
Councilor Zachary Burkett agreed the document wasn’t binding. “I don’t believe that this document commits us to anything,” he said. “If you look at the 1988 plan, it said we were gonna have a designated dirt bike area, which we do not — at least not that I’m aware of.”
One of the main topics during the meeting was the need for greater recognition and inclusion of descendant and Hispanic families in the village’s planning and decision-making processes.
Ricardo Blanco said the descendant/Hispanic population in Corrales has dropped from 80% to 20% since incorporation. He called descendants “stakeholders ignored or not considered at all” and criticized what he described as a reluctance to discuss race, ethnicity, or demographics.
Blanco said the draft plan made only minor language changes and failed to address deeper equity concerns. He urged the addition of an “individual descendant value” to the plan, along with more descendant input, cultural impact studies, and ordinance reviews to identify discrimination or disparate impacts.
Ken Martinez agreed, stating descendant families have become “invisible in village government and in decision-making positions” and do not feel part of the village they helped build. He noted that their history and contributions have been overlooked, but plans are underway to bring families together to celebrate and be heard.
“It’s time to hear the descendant and Hispanic family voices that in recent decades have not been included or heard,” Martinez said.
Councilor Stuart Murray asked if language for descendants could be added in a future amendment to the comprehensive plan. Mayor James Fahey responded that this could be done, calling the plan a “living document” meant to guide future decisions based on public input.
Legal concerns were raised by Village Attorney Ken Tager, who explained that the U.S. Constitution prohibits giving special treatment based on origin.
“You cannot treat people differently because of where they are from,” Tager said.
He added that while Corrales owes its founders a debt of gratitude, creating special rights could violate the Constitution. The 14th Amendment, one of the post-Civil War amendments, bars state and local governments from denying anyone equal protection under the law.
“Acknowledgement is important. It’s just creating special rights for people is unconstitutional,” Downes said.
Despite these legal concerns, Councilor Bill Woldman asked if the Council could hold a future discussion, outside of a work study, on how to make descendant families feel more included in the community. He suggested a town hall or similar open forum to facilitate the conversation.
Fahey said the Council could hold a special meeting or add the discussion to a regular meeting agenda to address the issue.
Chris Allen, chair of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, thanked the residents for their participation in the survey and meetings, especially the meeting with descendant families arranged by the Corrales Historical Society. She encouraged the Council to hold a town hall to hear directly from descendant families.
Allen also requested a motion to dissolve the committee, explaining they were eager to celebrate with their families without needing to post a public meeting. “Please dissolve us,” she said.
