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Alamogordo commission publishes ordinance consenting to county MRA limited to Patriot Point parcel
Summary
The commission voted to publish a first-reading ordinance consenting to Otero County's proposed metropolitan redevelopment area for the Patriot Point parcel only, reserving the right to set conditions (including a start/groundbreaking deadline) before final adoption.
The Alamogordo City Commission voted 7-0 on Nov. 18 to publish for first reading an ordinance consenting to Otero County's request to designate a metropolitan redevelopment area (MRA) for Patriot Point, narrowly limited to the parcel proposed for multifamily housing.
Chris Muirhead, public finance attorney, explained the mechanism: if the county creates an MRA and the parties agree, the developer could receive a seven-year abatement on the incremental property tax on the improved value (property taxes continue to be paid on the undeveloped base value). Muirhead described the tool as a legal avenue often used to incentivize multifamily housing where industrial revenue bonds are not available for residential projects. He cautioned that the statutory language uses outdated "blight" terminology that can create perception issues, and said the commission can and should narrow the legal description and add conditions before final approval.
Commissioner Josh Reardon moved — and Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald seconded — a motion that limited the publication to the Patriot Point parcel rather than the broader swath originally proposed by the county. Commissioners asked staff to include conditions before the second reading, such as a deadline to start construction (a suggested date discussed in the meeting was Dec. 31, 2026) and any other performance milestones the commission wishes to require. The motion to publish the ordinance with a Patriot Point-only legal description passed 7-0.
Staff said the county must still hold its hearings and adopt a metropolitan redevelopment plan; the commission's narrow consent limits the county's actions to the area the city approves. Commissioners were reminded they could create their own city MRA if they wanted broader redevelopment authority under city control.
Next steps: staff will redraft the ordinance legal description to the Patriot Point parcel and include any conditions the commission requests before the second reading and final vote. The county will continue its hearings and, if it designates the area, the city and county will coordinate plan details.
