Updates on Planning and Zoning Related Legislation

General Legislation

O-16-11, October 26th LUPZ Meeting | If adopted, O-16-11 would adopt a new article in the zoning code to be known as the “Vacant Commercial Building Ordinance.” The intent of this ordinance is to better track vacant commercial buildings for a variety of reasons. First, the ordinance would outline minimum aesthetic requirements for vacant commercial buildings that don’t exist in the code today. Second, it would create a registry that every vacant commercial building would need to sign up for with basic information such as a local contact in case of an emergency. There would be financial penalties for vacant commercial buildings on the registry who aren’t meeting the minimum aesthetic standards outlined in the bill. The bill will also give the City more options to deal with deteriorating or blighted buildings via condemnation. Overall, the sponsors of the bill hope this will deter buildings from deteriorating and becoming blighted, thus negatively affecting surrounding properties and property values. This was heard at the June 15^th LUPZ hearing, and was deferred to the August 10^th LUPZ hearing, and again deferred at the September 14^th LUPZ hearing. A committee substitute will be heard at the October 26^th hearing.

R-16-93, November 7th City Council Meeting | Adoption of R-16-93 would designate a new Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) to be called the Coronado Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. The boundary of the Coronado MRA includes the privately owned property located at 9201 Pan American Freeway. The Area is the former site of a City owned landfill that operated from 1956 to 1963 before being closed to make way for development in the area. In 1982, Philips acquired a portion of the property and built an 11.5 acre semiconductor facility that operated until 2002. Since Philips’ departure from the property over 14 years ago, this blighted area has not redeveloped. This resolution was heard at the September 14^th hearing at which a recommendation of ‘do pass’. At its first Council hearing on October 5^th, it was deferred 30 days to the November 7^th hearing.

R-16-94, November 7th City Council Meeting | Adoption of R-16-94 would approve the Coronado Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan created for the Coronado Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, established by companion resolution R-16-93. The Coronado MRA is unique in that the request for a boundary designation and request for the adoption of an MR plan are happening simultaneously. This was requested by the property owner and MR Agency so that remediation and other efforts could get started before the end of the year. A SWOT analysis was performed for the subject site to identify the area’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). This type of analysis is useful for uncovering opportunities that the MR Plan can utilize to help redevelop the area. The SWOT analyses lead to a handful of recommendations for the area, which can be found in the plan. This resolution was heard at the September 14^th hearing at which a recommendation of ‘do pass’. At its first Council hearing on October 5^th, it was deferred 30 days to the November 7^th hearing.

District-specific Projects and Legislation

District 4 | Coronado Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, as described in R-16-93 and R-16-94 above.

Other Council-related Projects

ABC-Z Project (Comprehensive Plan Update and Integrated Development Ordinance)

Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan

A revised draft of the Comprehensive Plan has been published on the project website. The Comp Plan has begun the adoption process and had its first hearing by the EPC on August 4^th. The second hearing occurred on August 25^th and went through a one week continuance to September 1^st. At the September 1^st hearing, the EPC recommended approval to the City Council with findings and conditions.  The Comp Plan will be before the LUPZ committee on October 26^th, which will be the first of two LUPZ hearings before it will hit Full Council.

Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO)

The IDO will replace the City’s zoning code, subdivision ordinance, and other land use regulations, and is being drafted in three modules. The project team has been working on revisions to all three modules and will be presenting the consolidated draft to the public later this month at the following times and locations:

• Thursday, Oct 20 | 1-2:30 PM | Alvarado Transportation Center Training Room
• Thursday, Oct 20 | 6:30-8:00 PM | Don Newton/Taylor Ranch Community Center
• Thursday Oct 27 | 6-7:30 PM | Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center

Modules

• Module 1:  Zones and uses – See draft on abc-zone.com for review and comment. 
• Module 2:  Dimensional standards (building heights, setbacks, landscaping, parking requirements, etc.) – See draft on abc-zone.com for review and comment. 
• Module 3:  Required review and approval processes for development, draft available on the project website.
• Consolidated Draft: The consolidated draft of the IDO, including revisions to all three modules, will be available on October 20^th.

The project team has released an interactive Zoning Conversion Map. This map allows the user to look, parcel by parcel, at the existing and proposed zoning of a particular lot. The public can comment on a particular parcel to let the team know if the proposed zoning is appropriate or not. The map can be found here: http://abc-zone.com/ido-zoning-conversion-map

Relevant Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations

Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee (LUPZ) | September 26, 2016 | 5:00pm | Council Committee Room, 9th Floor - Suite 9081

City Council Meeting | November 7, 2016 | 5:00pm | Vincent E. Griego Chambers - Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center

ABC-Z Public Meeting | See schedule above for October meetings regarding the Integrated Development Ordinance