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Council seeks code clarification after staff debate whether developers must install gas lines
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Summary
City staff debated whether the development code should continue to require natural gas infrastructure for new subdivisions. Utilities advised following existing code; sustainability and housing highlighted climate goals and affordability tradeoffs. Council asked staff to clean up code language so developers clearly have the option to build without extending gas in typical residential zones and to return with an energy‑transition consultant report in July.
City staff and councilors debated whether new subdivisions should be required to install municipal natural‑gas infrastructure at a work session on April 13, with staff from Community Development, Utilities, Sustainability and Housing presenting technical, policy and equity tradeoffs.
Community Development Director Chris Favor reviewed code language on adequate public facilities and noted the code currently lists natural gas among utility improvements. Utilities Director Adrienne Whitmer said the utility’s position is to follow the development code and to avoid creating a situation where one group of users is disenfranchised. Whitmer also said the gas system is used for emergency generation at water and wastewater facilities and noted utilities’ ongoing work on a decarbonization/energy transition plan.
Sustainability Officer Jenny Hernandez reminded council that city policy and the city’s climate action goals aim to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions over decades and that retrofits are costly. Housing Administrator Natalie Green said natural gas in new construction can lower monthly utility bills today but may raise infrastructure costs for developers in greenfield areas; she cautioned that all‑electric homes can cost more to build up front without guaranteed operational savings unless they meet efficiency standards.
Developers and industry representatives urged clarity. Developer Muscato noted that developers had successfully marketed all‑electric subdivisions (he cited Metro Verde) and argued the code as written already allows choice; Zia Natural Gas and a utilities regional manager urged preserving customers’ ability to choose gas and noted requests for extensions outside city limits. El Paso Electric described grid investments and off‑peak programs to support electrification.
Council discussion centered on preserving developer choice while avoiding long‑term infrastructure mismatches. City Attorney Brad Douglas recommended clarifying and harmonizing code language because different code sections refer to gas inconsistently. Councilors generally supported directing staff to draft ordinance language to make gas optional for typical residential zoning (NH1–NH3) while being cautious about limiting commercial or higher‑density areas where future commercial users might need gas service. Staff said an energy‑transition consultant’s final recommendations are expected in July and that they will return with a proposed code cleanup.
No ordinance was adopted at the work session; the council directed staff to prepare code language clarifying that developers can choose not to install natural gas in new subdivisions (subject to narrow exceptions to preserve future commercial capacity) and to bring the consultant report and implementation options back for council review.
