Former planning chair warns City Planning Commission about proposed citywide ADUs, urges consolidation of planning functions

James Arthur Lyle, a former chair of the City Planning Commission, used the meeting—s public-comment period to criticize the city—s Downtown/Uptown implementation plan and to urge a reorganization of local planning functions. "This is a terrible plan," Lyle said of provisions that would expand accessory dwelling units, add zero‑lot‑line ADUs and relax setback and parking rules. "If you own a piece of property, someone can build an ADU right next to you without getting permission, frankly, from anybody. What that bottom line is going to do with your home is it's going to devalue your property. Bad, bad, bad planning." Lyle said the plan would allow ADUs citywide and described proposals to remove on‑site parking requirements in parts of the plan, saying that change would push parking onto streets in several mature neighborhoods. He said six neighborhoods would be affected and warned that many streets are not designed for on‑street parking. Lyle also urged the commission to consider reorganizing city planning functions. "It makes imminent sense that El Paso does not have two planning entities," he said, asking the commission to consider moving urban planning under the City Planning Department so the city would have a single, accountable planning entity. Why it matters: Lyle framed his remarks around property‑owner impacts and neighborhood character, two issues that intersect with land‑use rules the commission advises on and that will be considered by City Council if the commission forwards recommendations. The comments came during the meeting—s public comment period and did not trigger any formal action by the commission. Speakers at the meeting did not offer a formal staff response to Lyle—s recommendation; no motion or direction to staff was recorded. The Downtown/Uptown implementation plan was described in Lyle—s remarks as having been accepted previously by City Council; Lyle characterized the plan—s urban‑design and zoning elements as the source of the ADU and parking proposals he criticized. Ending: The commission moved on to its agenda after the public comment period; no formal follow‑up or referral was recorded on the transcript for Lyle—s request to reorganize planning functions.