The City of Socorro on Dec. 12 adopted the master plan for Gateway Industrial Unit 1 and approved related plats and variances that pave the way for a large logistics development northwest of Gateway Boulevard West.

City planning staff described the property as about 60 acres, located at 16400 Gateway West Boulevard, currently zoned ICMUD, and proposed to host two logistics-type buildings with a combined building area of about 805,000 square feet. The planning and zoning commission had voted to recommend approval; staff presented a traffic-impact analysis and a development schedule that shows project completion targeted for November 2025.

Council approved the ordinance on second reading to adopt the master plan and then approved the preliminary and final plats and a variance reducing required off-street parking ratios (staff recommended approval; the planning commission had previously approved the requests). The record shows staff answered questions on traffic, access from Gateway Boulevard West, and site amenities including ponding areas.

Separately but related, council approved a variance to reduce the minimum right-of-way on a segment of Inglewood Drive from the city standard of 70 feet to 62 feet to match an adjacent segment in the City of El Paso. Staff said pavement width and sidewalk dimensions would remain the same and that the reduction affects the parkway (landscaped) area — approximately 4 feet on each side — while improving alignment and continuity for 18-wheel truck access tied to nearby logistics uses. The representative for the developer and the design firm (Robert Romero of Romero & Associates) said the change affects about 450 feet of roadway.

Council approved the gateway master plan, the plats, the parking variance and the Inglewood Drive right-of-way variance by voice votes. Staff said the unified development-code rewrite will revisit cross-section standards and that final construction plans and any required design documentation will be reviewed during permitting.