Deming Ranchettes, Deming, NM (Columbus, Hope: appointed, 2009, power lines)

[PiscesLadyToo]

Originally Posted by RainforestTV

I am writing to you to share some ideas in regards to new ordinances that Luna County has enacted as of July 2006.

Recently I discovered that the property I had purchased in Deming Ranchettes was no longer buildable due to the change in Ordinance 37 which Luna County approved in July 2006. This ordinance requires a minimum of 2 acres for development. This leaves hundreds, if not thousands, of land owners with properties that they cannot develop without greatly increased costs. As a lower income woman I was naturally upset, but I am the type of person who looks for solutions instead of getting stuck as a victim.

The only solution is for property owners to work together on this so that it is a win-win situation for everybody. Please feel free to share your ideas or comments. My property is located in Unit 30 on Acoma street.

Property owners have the following options:

1) sell to the owners next to them so they acquire the two acres;

2) buy from the owners next to them to acquire the two acres;

3) join forces with neighbors to build a duplex, triplex, or a quadriplex which opens up into everyone's backyard respectively. Well drilling costs and septic tank costs can be shared;

4) create an intentional community, or an ecovillage, with shared housing, transportation, work duties, organic gardens, etc;

5) build an apartment complex or house on the cental lot and split the profits of the sale or rental income between all owners.

Land can be swapped between neighbors who do not share the same goals, property development ideas, or lifestyle choices.


christine from california

Hi, Rainforest,,,,,,I own land in Deming Ranchettes. Was thinking about moving there from South Carolina. Your message frightened me. How can I find out about this new ordinance in Deming. I have owned the land for about 45 years and if I can't build on it for some reason , I need to know. Do you have any resources to recommend that I could research this further? Thanks for your help.

[Allan Miles]

Ordinance 37 is just another example of regulatory abuse of power which is totally out of sync with foresight for future homesteading. I presently own 2 lots in Unit 20 which I planned on passing to one of my grandchildren. One half acre in my opinion is a reasonable size for a homestead. The proposed ordinance 37 will certainly create great dissention and totally upset the applecart for many landowners. I am totally opposed to ordinance 37

[PiscesLadyToo]

Hi, Christine, I also own property in Deming Ranchettes. Have owned it for about 45 years. I also am low income lady on disability and soc. sec. and wanted to retire there and build a mobile home. Well, guess that is impossible now,,but I am like you, get lemons, make lemonade....Wonder if we could get enough owners together to complete some of those options you talk about, and how to go about contacting them. I am in South Carolina and have to move, but now I don't know where to go. Let me know if you hear anything that might help us all in our indevor to get around this situation. Thanks Sandy

[PiscesLadyToo]

Hi, Brucifer, just saw that you were going out to your land over Labor Day. Did you find out anything important? I'm trying to re-locate from South Carolina and retire but looks like no one can build on anything less than 2 acres.

[PiscesLadyToo]

Hi, Allan, i agree, one half acre is plenty to homestead on. However, haven't they already passed the ordinance making 2 acres mandatory? I can't build on my land either, that i have owned for 45 years. What a disappointment.

[PiscesLadyToo]

I have a lot in Unit 4 Block 8 Tract 32 that is going up for sale if I find out that I can't put a mobile on it.

[Kokopelli]

My husband and I purchased a 1/2 acre lot in Deming, in 2000, and we paid $600 for it. Last I checked, they were asking $1200 for 1/2 acre lots in the same area, but that was about 2 years ago...

As for the blowing wind, yes it does get windy here...mostly from the West....But it's not constant...The blowing dust does bother me, but that's not the main reason we're moving!!

And as for the earth being red, I honestly can't say I've seen red earth in or around Deming. If you go up into the Gilas, then the earth turns a bit red. And as for it being cracked, well you must have been here after a long drought. The earth here is a high-clay mixture, and after it rains it turns into "caliche", which can readily bog down your vehicle if you get in too deep!! This is why we chose to buy land on the West side of the Floridas. The earth on the East side is all caliche, and is prone to flooding, so I've heard.

Taxes on our land run about $11/yr. now - Used to be $7!!
And they have recently moved the County Clerks' office. It is now housed inside the court house. Sorry, don't have the number offhand, but I will look it up tomorrow and post it here.

I have some photos that I'll post here too tomorrow. The view of the Florida's is truely a sight to behold at sunrise! (Not to mention the red hue that is reflected on them at sunset!)

Beautiful country. That's for sure. But like I said, there are lots of reasons we've decided not to make this our home!

[Brucifer]

PiscesLadyToo,

Sorry about taking so long to back to you. The property I have is in Sunshine Valley Ranchettes which are different from the Deming Ranchettes. As far as I can tell, DR is scattered all over the place. The map I have shows numbered squares which look to be different subdivisions. I would suggest the first thing you do is get in contact with Luna County and ask for the plot map of your Track. They will probably also send you an area map like the one I have that shows how to get there. While you are talking to them, ask also for a listing of the adjancent Track owners. You can contact them and see if they would be interested in selling their land to get your 1 or 2 acres. If Ord. 37 has dampened your thoughts about moving to Deming, you at least have a list of people that might be interested in buying.

As far as I know, there are three options to build for you:

1. Rush right out there and slap everything in place before the law goes into effect in January.

2. Acquire an adjoining lot to get 1 acre and spend more money on installing the 'advanced' septic system.

3. Acquire 3 more adjoining lots to get 2 acre minimum.



I don't know what your budget is, but it might be a toss-up between spending the money on the advanced septic, or trying to get the 3 other lots.

IMO, the first thing you need to do is get the exact location of your property and determine if town is too far away for your needs. Also, if there aren't a lot of neighbors around, will you be comfortable living in a rural location? If I am reading the map correctly, you are about a mile west of Rockhound State Park.

Brucifer

[nmbound]

Originally Posted by Allan Miles

Ordinance 37 is just another example of regulatory abuse of power which is totally out of sync with foresight for future homesteading. I presently own 2 lots in Unit 20 which I planned on passing to one of my grandchildren. One half acre in my opinion is a reasonable size for a homestead. The proposed ordinance 37 will certainly create great dissention and totally upset the applecart for many landowners. I am totally opposed to ordinance 37

1/2 acre may seem like a lot of land, but that puts your well awlfully close to your neighbor's septic system. Guess I would want more buffer myself.
For what it is worth........

[Tom In Maine]

Over time you'll find that 2 acres is about the minimum you will want for a lot. 1/4 acre is way too small unless you want to reach out your window to knock on your neighbors front door. I guess it all depends on how you lived in the past, I was raised in the country and now live on 40 acres which , to me, feels about right but I imagine if I was raised in the city that would be a rediculous lot. I purchased 2 acres in the valley, I'm not sure if I can live on 2 acres or not but I'm going to try lol. Anyways, for you people ready to throw in the towel, there's an old yankee saying; If there's a will there's a way so instead of giving up find a way to make it work. If you own a small lot you don't have to run out there and start building, what you DO have to do is some paperwork. The first thing you want to do is apply for a building permit and septic installation permit and water well permit.It does not matter if you do these things now or 10 years from now because there's no time element involved but what this DOES do is grand-father you to the old ordinances in affect now. Once your permits are State approved you're all set.