FOUR HILLS VILLAGE NEWS
Self-Styled "Wiener Bandits" Smoked Out
[July 17, 2010] Two vandals were caught in a sting by IPS, a private security service, and released to their parents. These two kids had been scrawling juvenile
graffiti on cars in the ring road for several nights. FHV Covenants
[June 8, 2010] For more information on FHV covenants, please see our detailed discussion (PDF). In a nutshell, we are
advised that FHV covenants are not enforceable, based on past related court actions. However, City ordinances, which may contain the same prohibitions as those in the
covenants, are enforceable by the City of Albuquerque only. Any resident may request enforcement of City ordinances.Currently, our R-1 zoning permits chickens, goats, horses and sheep in FHV. Therefore, it will be hard to get the courts to prohibit these animals. Prohibition is particularly difficult if (1) the enforcement action is selective and does not try to remove all covenant-prohibited animals, or all covenant-prohibited RVs, etc., (2) the enforcement has been neglected for several years (the former lawyer for the FHVHA kept a donkey and a goat on his property for many years), and currently residents are keeping poultry, birds and a goat , and (3) an enforcement action has already been denied by the court (which happened in the mid-eighties in FHV).
Furthermore, lawsuits are not necessary. The City’s animal laws already prohibit keeping animals in such a manner that they create noise, emit odors, or otherwise cause a nuisance in one’s neighborhood. We all want a nice neighborhood, and if someone is not being a responsible animal owner it is appropriate to call the City, and the City will visit the homeowner and, potentially, issue citations if the matter cannot be resolved through other means.
Of course, anyone can sue anyone over anything. Residents can go to court, acting either individually or in groups (associations), so the associations in FHV can take someone to court. It all boils down to who is willing to pay to go to court, and whether an individual or association is willing to cause the ill-will and disruption that lawsuits engender.
Note: This article was written in consultation with attorneys, however, the FHVNA is not pretending to give legal advice, we are just passing on the best information we have.
Manzano Open Space Upgrade
[June 4, 2010] The City of Albuquerque Open Space Division is upgrading approximately 765 feet of existing T-post and smooth-wire fence that runs north and south of the
Stagecoach Road entrance to the Open Space. The wire and metal fence will be replaced by a more aesthetic two-rail wooden fence. Work is schedule to start in early June
and is expected to be done witghin five weeks. During construction, small portions of the Open Space will be closed to recreational use, but the majority of the area will
remain open as usual. FHV Zoning
[March 10, 2010] In an R-1 residential zone, the following are listed as permissive uses: Agricultural animal keeping, for noncommercial purposes, as follows: rabbits and similar animals, poultry, pigeons. Cows, horses, goats or sheep, provided the number of animals does not exceed one cow or horse for each 10,000 square feet of open lot area, or one sheep or goat for each 4,000 square feet of open lot area, or equivalent combination, provided the lot has an area of at least 21,780 square feet. Animals shall be so controlled that they cannot graze on any other premises. Animals under four months old are not counted.
Curb Painting Scam Alert
[August 23, 2009] We received the following notice from the City warning us about a curb painting scam. Please be advised.
We have received questions from residents who received a "Painting Notice" on their doors advising them that ABQ Curbs would be in their area to
paint street numbers on curbs so home owners can avoid a $500 fine from the city. This is not a city service and you are not obligated to accept this
service if you do not want to pay for it.
The City Ordinance states, "To insure the uniformity and regularity in the numbering of buildings and houses, all numbers shall be placed in the front of buildings or houses and in so conspicuous a manner that the number may be easily discernible and read from the street."
You will therefore not be fined as long as your house number is clearly visible. Please visit the Attorney General's website www.nmag.gov to learn about current scams in your area or to report consumer fraud.
Please pass this information along to your neighbors.
Thanks,
Agripina Neubauer
Crime Prevention Specialist
Foothills Area Command
(505)332-5240
aneubauer@cabq.gov
The City Ordinance states, "To insure the uniformity and regularity in the numbering of buildings and houses, all numbers shall be placed in the front of buildings or houses and in so conspicuous a manner that the number may be easily discernible and read from the street."
You will therefore not be fined as long as your house number is clearly visible. Please visit the Attorney General's website www.nmag.gov to learn about current scams in your area or to report consumer fraud.
Please pass this information along to your neighbors.
Thanks,
Agripina Neubauer
Crime Prevention Specialist
Foothills Area Command
(505)332-5240
aneubauer@cabq.gov
[April 25, 2009] Information on ways to provide security in FHV.
Security Updates
The association has recently learned that residents can create their
own crime statistics report from APD by neighborhood association (see the one we
created up to December 2008 
). For a comparison with other Albuquerque neighborhoods, the Journal provides a
map of weekly arrests). As always, we'll be exploring
new ideas to improve safety in our community.