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Corrales council approves 'clean and lean' order for long‑running nuisance at 744 Old Church Road
Summary
After months of complaints from neighbors about tires, inoperable vehicles, and combustible debris, the Corrales Village Council approved Resolution 25‑46 authorizing a contractor cleanup and the placement of a lien if owners do not complete remediation within the statutory notice period.
The Village of Corrales voted to approve Resolution 25‑46 on a 5–0 vote, authorizing a "clean and lean" cleanup of Tract 93B (part of 744 Old Church Road) after staff and neighbors described decades of hoarding, multiple abandoned vehicles, piles of tires and combustible brush that officials said pose a public‑safety risk.
Planning and zoning administrator Lori told the council that the property has a long enforcement history and that a recent site visit found unpermitted structures, a window air conditioning unit on an unpermitted "tough shed," piles of sticks and more than 20 inoperable cars. "There will be no more events, gatherings, parties at this property, indoors or out, until appropriate commercial certificates of occupancy for the café, bar, short‑term rentals ... and a final fire inspection and business license have been obtained," Lori said, paraphrasing the enforcement letter staff sent to the owners.
Neighbors urged decisive action. Pamela Whitney, who lives next door, told the council the property is "an eyesore" and a health and safety hazard, citing the number of tires and the risk of a prolonged toxic fire. Multiple residents described rats, long‑standing piles of material and at least one recent outdoor fire that worried nearby homeowners.
Kimberly Delaney, who said she is Mr. Silva's caregiver and lives at the property, said crews have been working for about three weeks and removed multiple dumpsters' worth of material from the frontage; she asked for time to continue the cleanup and said some cars are being restored rather than abandoned. "We've gotten rid of two rollaway dumpsters already," Delaney said, adding that some items are being repaired or sold.
Councilors and staff discussed practical and legal issues: securing items of value before contractors arrive, the costs of contracting to haul semi‑truckloads of debris, procedures for handling vehicles (VIN checks and county salvage/title processes), and whether the village can impose escalating fines or seek revocation of permits. Village staff said the governing process includes a short statutory notice period (10 days after required publication/posting), solicitation of bids, and then hired contractors would perform cleanup if owners do not make a meaningful commencement of remediation.
Village counsel described the lien process: the village pays cleanup costs, records a lien against the property and may renew the lien every four years; the village can also accept direct payment to clear the charge. Chief and public‑safety staff said the cleanup would be done with coordination for on‑site security and to avoid unsafe burning practices.
The resolution passed after a lengthy discussion intended to balance urgency and fairness: staff will issue legal notices, solicit contractors and attempt parallel efforts by owners to complete remediation before the village contracts work. If contractors perform the cleanup, the village will record the costs as a lien against the property under the village's authority and applicable statute.
Votes at a glance
• Resolution 25‑46 (Clean and Lean — Tract 93B / 744 Old Church Road): Approved by roll call (councilors present voted yes).
