In an effort to balance development with that quieter lifestyle, subdivision regulations have recently been instituted for some of the county's smaller communities. Jim Service, senior planner for the county's planning and zoning department, says Elk Meadows, a controversial small development near Bandelier will soon be under construction. A master plan has been approved for five phases of Diamond Tail, a 1,700-acre development north of Placitas. Sandoval's development reaches over the Sandia Mountains, off N.M. 14. Service says developers donated a lot in the subdivision for a county fire and sheriff's substation, to be built within the next two years.
Commercial projects are on the horizon, too.
Bernalillo will see construction of a new office complex thanks to the Zia tribe, which owns 19.5 acres in town. Peter Pino, tribal administrator, says a 50,000 square foot complex will be built on eight acres and include medical office and clinic space, two restaurants and space for city and county needs. In addition, the Zia's own land near San Ysidro as a tribal resource, which could be developed into a mall complex in the future. Golf is big business in Sandoval County and its about to get bigger. Roger Martinez, General Manager of Santa Ana Golf Corp., says expansion plans are in the works not only to add to the number of holes on their course on Santa Ana Pueblo, but to add a full service pro-shop and men and women's locker rooms.