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Council narrows appeal-cost provisions after hours-long debate, approves amendment capping fees and exempting low-income appellants
Summary
After extended debate and multiple amendments, Albuquerque City Council passed O-25-73 amending the Integrated Development Ordinance to cap appeal-related cost awards at $1,000 and to exempt individual appellants or neighborhood entities meeting hardship or social-vulnerability criteria; the final vote was 6'to—3.
The Albuquerque City Council voted 6'to—3 on March 17 to amend the city's Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) to limit appeal-related cost awards and add exemptions for low-income appellants and certain neighborhood entities.
The measure, O-25-73, was introduced by Councilors Grout and Rogers as a response to concerns from neighborhood groups that legal and attorney costs can bar ordinary residents from defending neighborhood interests in land-use appeals. Councilor Grout opened the final-action discussion saying he sponsored the ordinance to respond to "what I heard from neighborhood associations and neighborhoods" who are burdened by legal fees.
The council approved a sequence of amendments during the meeting: - Amendment 1 (moved by Councilor Lewis; seconded by Councilor Champine) imposed a $1,000 cap on costs and fees recoverable by a prevailing…
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