Project Pages
Defining a Sustainable Community
Thinking about what a sustainable community means led us to create a definition to clarify our vision. You can learn more about that, and further information about what others are doing in the area of sustainable communities here.
An Evolutionary Process
Our method for creating a sustainable community is based on an evolutionary method that seems revolutionary to many. The fact is, it has a long tradition of use. Find out more about the first steps in the planning process and the evolutionary method.
The Master Plan
The owners intend to develop the property in tune with fabric of the local community. The County Comprehensive Plan of Rio Arriba County guided their approach. The Plan's emphasis on agriculture fits well with the owner's goal of creating a sustainable community. A focus on agriculture is reflected in the Land Use proposal as a result.
Master Plan Submission
The primary study the County requested was a Hydrology Study. That is now complete and available to the County. You can read more about the approval process and the status of our submission here.
Land Use Proposal
Our best estimate of the way things will break down is as follows:
Aerial of Development Area
- Land for Managed Grazing Program: 3,200 acres
- Cooperative Land: 800 acres
- Agriculture Zone for Greenhouses: 93 acres
- Residential Land: 650 acres
Total 4,743 acres
FURTHER DETAILS:
1. MANAGED GRAZING PROGRAM: 3,200 acres: The entire southern half of the property (see Maps) and much of the northern half, particularly large pastures will be managed for grazing and wildlife habitat. (Managed grazing link). Yellow Hills Ranch intends to incorporate the Monero Mustangs into its grazing program.
2. COOPERATIVE LAND: 800 acres: Each residential parcel will be surrounded by other land, the "cooperative land". This land is available from Yellow Hills Ranch, who will grant a perpetual exclusive right of use to the cooperative land (more details) for agricultural purposes.
3. GREENHOUSE AND OTHER AGRICULTURE: 93 acres: This land is for an agricultural area consisting of approximately 93 acres with close access to State Road 112 in the northeast area of the property. This area is set aside for greenhouses and other more intensive agricultural projects.
4. RESIDENTIAL LAND: 650 acres: Residential parcels will consist of a building pad of between 2 and 5 acres. Each parcel will have an exclusive right of use to additional land around it, described above as the "cooperative land".
The Residential Land
This land is a buffer around each residence, a corridor for wildlife, an agricultural amenity and a productive part of the mix at the Ranch. Here is a page to explain more about how the forest garden will be implemented at the Ranch.
Making a decision about the number of residential units, and what price, is critical. These choices define the character of the community. This link leads you to a page that describes our method for deciding the density to propose.
Looking NE: workforce housing site at first tree line
Ranch frontage on right State Rd 112 headed east