County amends zoning code to allow food-truck courts, secondary dwellings and shooting ranges

Bernalillo County commissioners approved three zoning-code amendments Jan. 14 after public hearings and staff presentations.

1) Mobile food-establishment courts: The commission added regulations to permit multiple mobile food vendors on a single lot (a food-truck court) where infrastructure—parking, restroom and sanitation facilities—meets code. Staff said the change aims to provide economic opportunity for food vendors and food access in industrial or underserved areas; the amendment passed with no adverse agency comments.

2) Secondary dwellings (accessory dwelling units): The code was amended to allow secondary dwellings permissively on lots that meet the underlying zone’s size and setback requirements (A-1, A-2, R-1) and conditionally on lots that do not meet all requirements. Conditional approvals can grant limited relief for setbacks or unit separation in exchange for administrative review and site-specific findings. The change excludes manufactured/mobile homes and requires conventional or modular construction, staff said.

3) Indoor and outdoor shooting ranges: The county added definitions and use rules for indoor shooting ranges (conditional or permissive depending on zone) and permitted outdoor ranges as special uses only in designated rural areas on a minimum 40-acre site. The amendment includes requirements to follow state and federal regulations, a required noise study to ensure compliance with county noise rules, and site standards to prevent impacts on nearby residential areas.

Staff said outreach included mailed notice to registered neighborhood associations, a County Planning Commission review and a 30-day comment period; no adverse public comments were received during the final review period. Commissioners approved the amendments unanimously.