Please read the September 2009 Newsletter

Annual Meeting

Volcano Cliffs Property Owners Association Inc. (VCPOA) is a corporation whose members pay annual dues in order to be represented by the Association. VCPOA represents the interests of the individual property owners whose property lies west of the Petroglyph National Monument and south of a line the extends west from Paseo del Norte and to the west south of State and Albuquerque Public Schools land.

The Volcano Cliffs land, consisting of about 3400 acres, was subdivided in the mid-60s and was approved by the City of Albuquerque as a sub-division in 1964. Agreements regarding annexation were drafted as early as November 1964. Annexation was finally accomplished in 1981. In the annexation process over 800 acres were committed to open space and other City requirements. The property above the escarpment west of the Petroglyph National Monument is about 2200 acres. In the time between the mid-60s and early 80s most of the lots were sold to many different individuals. As of this writing there are over 1200 landowners approximately 50% of which live in the greater Albuquerque area.

To briefly review the history of Volcano Cliffs Subdivision a number of facts stand out. The record indicates that VCPOA and its predecessors attempted in good faith to work with the City in order to create a mechanism for initiating quality development in the Volcano Cliffs area. Prior to 1980 the City made numerous representations to the landowners concerning annexation and zoning according to the Volcano Cliffs Master Plan; the representations to the zoning were not honored. The number, type, and complexity of requirements that the City has wished to see fulfilled before development would be allowed to begin in Volcano Cliffs have dramatically increased with the passage of time and continue to increase to this present day. Since the annexation in 1981 the property owners have received little or any benefit from the over $3,000,000 that they've paid in taxes to the City. These taxes have been a benefit to many other City constituents but not Volcano Cliffs property owners.

At the time of annexation the commitment was made:

"At such time as the City annexes the various tracts of Volcano Cliffs, it will provide as it has always done the full range of urban services, including roads, sewage and water which can be financed through special assessments districts."

(quoted from a 1976 letter from then Mayor Harry Kinney.)

Some progress has been made and some property owners have been able to achieve their dream of building a home. A Special Assessment District was approved in 2005 and of the 268 lots at this writing 62 homes are in the process of construction or already occupied. The property owners in this area provided land for the right of way for Unser Blvd which benefits many Albuquerque Westside residents.

The City Council passed the Volcano Heights Sector Plan on September 6, 2006. You can read the detail of this plan at www.cabq.gov/council and then click on Volcano Heights. This plan discriminates against the individual property owners in favor of the large builders. As a result this discriminator plan the VCPOA has filed several suits against the City to resolve the many problems with this plan.

Please contact the board members for the details of the issues addressed in the multiple lawsuits.