[ABQalex]

The far North Valley NIMBYs have once again filed an appeal of the proposed New Mexico United stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park. Let's see what new procedure they will come up with as not being followed to delay things further and get another remand or do-over of votes.

They're already adding an environmental spin and supposed concern about landfills this go 'round. They also are now going after one of the EPC members as well. I expect they'll eventually recruit some tribal members to add Indigenous rights into the mix somehow as well.

I've highlighted in bold near the end of the article a statement made by the head NIMBY in this case showing just how deranged and ruthless these people are. Notice also that they absolutely will not tolerate any sort of noise nearby or sounds of people having a good time.

These people are the most miserable, unreasonable pieces of sh!t on Earth. I cannot say enough how much I absolutely despise NIMBYs.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...on-fiesta.html

Neighbors near the proposed site of the New Mexico United stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park have again appealed the development, prompting another review by the city's land use hearing officer.

On April 26, Pat Hauser, president of the Maria Diers Neighborhood Association, filed an appeal with the city's LUHO challenging the Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission's (EPC) unanimous decision on April 11 to amend the Balloon Fiesta Park master plan to allow for stadium construction.

The LUHO, Steven Chavez, previously reviewed the case in February after neighbors appealed EPC’s first approval. Chavez will likely review the case again, Vincent Higgins, City of Albuquerque public information officer said.

As of today, a date for the LUHO hearing has yet to be set, Higgins added.

"The [LUHO] will review the case and hear arguments from both sides, before making a recommendation to the [Albuquerque] City Council, who then makes the final decision," Higgins said. "If the plaintiff still feels like they have a case, they can go to district court to have it heard, but normally, the [City] Council is where it stops."

Hauser’s appeal expresses concerns over an increase in noise, traffic and light in the area that could come from the proposed stadium. In addition, he voiced concerns about the environmental impacts caused by the potential expulsion of methane gas from the Nazareth Landfill, which closed in 1972 and is located on the east side of Balloon Fiesta Park.

Silvia Bolivar, senior planner for the City of Albuquerque, addressed these landfill concerns at the EPC's Nov. 16 hearing.

"The area will further be protected because the stadium's development will address concerns related to the Nazareth landfill by implementing measures to mitigate landfill gasses in coordination with environmental health," Bolivar said during the hearing. "Staff has carefully considered the applicant's arguments and finds that the request is adequately justified."

Additional landfills within the Balloon Fiesta Park include the Los Angeles Landfill, which is located to the south of the park.

Alongside the annual nine-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Hauser said the park is already utilized more frequently than the "17 games a year" outlined in United's lease agreement, which the City Council approved in November 2023.

Hauser, who lives just 2,200 feet from the park, said he can hear “young people playing soccer and cricket,” almost five days a week. Current events scheduled to be held at the park this year include the USA Cycling Collegiate Nationals, New Mexico Wine Festival, USA Youth Archery Nationals and the Latin Explosion Festival.

“If I can hear children playing soccer and their parents cheering, you can only imagine what 10,000 drunk and screaming soccer fans are going to sound like in our backyard," Hauser said. "Having lived here for 57 years, I think change is good to some degree, but it's also cumbersome in other aspects of it. Those of us that live in rural Albuquerque have a different outlook on what is good and what is bad."

In addition to those concerns, Hauser said he appealed the EPC's April 11 decision because Renn Halstead, an associate architect at FBT Architects and a voting member of both the EPC and the pro-growth group Generation Elevate New Mexico, or GENM, did not recuse himself from the hearing. GENM is a membership-based organization aimed at educating people about supporting what it sees as "pro-growth" development.

The New Mexico United soccer stadium was the first project GENM's nine-person board chose to support.

Halstead could not be reached for comment.

Should the city reject his appeal, Hauser pledged to continue opposing New Mexico United's proposed stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park, stating the project wouldn't happen "over my dead body." In a letter sent to the EPC on March 10, he suggested alternative locations for the stadium, including Mesa del Sol, West 9th St., Paseo Del Volcan, Pueblo of Sandia and near University Stadium at 1111 University Blvd. SE.

Additional neighborhood associations opposing the stadium project are the Wildflower Neighborhood Association, North Edith Corridor Association and the Alameda North Valley Association.

"New Mexico United is committed to being a great community partner, which is why we continue to engage with members of various communities on this transformative, privately-funded stadium project,” David Wiese-Carl, vice president of media and impact for New Mexico United, said in an email statement when asked about the second appeal.