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Board upholds Planning & Zoning approval for bed-and-breakfast at 501 El Paraiso after residents appeal
Summary
The Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Board of Trustees denied an appeal of a Planning & Zoning Commission decision to allow a bed-and-breakfast at 501 El Paraiso NW, concluding the application met existing code though trustees said the B&B ordinance needs revision.
Mayor Pro Tem Frank Reinow opened a quasi‑judicial hearing Nov. 19 on an appeal of the Planning & Zoning Commission’s September approval of a bed‑and‑breakfast at 501 El Paraiso Road NW. Planning consultant Brennan Williams told trustees the staff review found the application met the specific standards in the zoning code and that the Planning & Zoning Commission had voted unanimously to approve the request.
Appellants Diana Clark and Camille Vados, who live on El Paraiso, urged trustees to reverse the commission’s decision. Clark said she was “very unhappy” with turning a neighborhood property into a business and raised safety concerns, noting the village lacks its own police and fire departments for local enforcement. Vados cited parking, square footage and ADA access questions and said neighborhood covenants restrict leasing. Both asked the board to “fix the problem” in the code before allowing more similar approvals.
Applicant Margaret Disk told the board she will live on the property and act as operator. She described the accessory unit as about 554 square feet with a sink and refrigerator but no stove, said she expected one occupant at most and characterized the unit as modest and intended for limited, word‑of‑mouth rental arrangements.
Trustees questioned whether the lot and building footprint complied with density limits, whether the operator must reside on site, how a bedroom would be designated in a compact casita, and how staff tracks and enforces B&B approvals versus guest houses. Brennan Williams explained the department’s calculations showed the property did not exceed allowed floor‑area ratio, that B&B rules require the operator to live on site, and that the planning department maintains records and investigates complaints.
After deliberation members agreed the application met the requirements in the current zoning code but repeatedly flagged broader shortcomings in the village’s short‑term‑rental and bed‑and‑breakfast rules. The board voted to deny the appeal (thereby upholding the Planning & Zoning Commission’s approval). The roll call outcome recorded was: Trustee Benavides — yes; Trustee Kiefer — no; Trustee Radnovich — yes; Trustee (other trustee) — yes.
Trustees said they will ask staff to review and recommend code changes to address enforcement, definitions and time‑of‑stay limits so future applications are clearer and neighbors’ concerns can be addressed.
The board indicated its written ruling will follow within the 15‑day period required by village rules. The hearing record restricts consideration to evidence presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission; trustees emphasized that while they can propose code changes, the current approval met existing standards.
