Planning and Zoning Commission reviews draft municipal-use zone for village-owned properties

The Planning and Zoning Commission of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque met in a working session to review a draft municipal‑use zoning district intended to govern village‑owned properties. Staff presented an August 27, 2024 draft and showed photos of Village properties to illustrate typical uses such as the fire station, Fourth Street parking and open space.

Planning and Zoning Director Hill told commissioners the draft (changes shown in green) aims to capture essential public uses and urged an iterative review process rather than immediate action. "This is a project I think every community needs to take on," Hill said, framing the draft as a tool to clarify government functions on Village land.

Commissioners focused on how the municipal‑use zone would apply. Commissioner Baldwin asked whether adoption would rezone Village parcels all at once or allow case‑by‑case application; Hill said the draft would substitute existing zoning (not serve as an overlay) and that any non‑government purchaser would not retain access to the municipal zone without a future rezoning.

Commissioner Edward and others pressed practical questions about site constraints and functionality — for example, whether ingress/egress and parcel configuration would permit higher‑intensity C1 uses or require replatting. Staff responded that land configuration and Village needs determine what is feasible and that some parcels may not require any change where existing zoning already matches the use.

Several commissioners also raised stewardship and policy concerns. Commissioners asked for clearer documentation on the Village’s intent when acquiring land, with Commissioner Martinez urging that the Board of Trustees or mayoral office provide a short (three‑ to five‑year) outlook so PNZ and the public understand intended uses. Baldwin recalled that one parcel had been purchased for open space and said that public transparency about purchase purpose would be useful.

Commissioners recommended formalizing a surplus‑land designation process and an annual public review of Village‑owned property uses. Staff agreed to prepare a report on past purchases and to consider adding an annual, calendared item to present current uses and intended uses for Village properties to PNZ and the Board of Trustees.

Other technical code items tied to the zoning work surfaced during the session: lot setback distances in light of recent Ordinance 299; how the proposed municipal‑use zone should respect surrounding context (setbacks, character areas in the master plan); and the need to separate bed‑and‑breakfast rules from short‑term rental language in future code edits.

Director Hill said the staff intends to bring detailed documentation and scheduling proposals back to commissioners at a subsequent work session and to proceed to public review when the commission and staff have addressed the outstanding policy questions. The session closed without action; staff will provide supplemental documents ahead of the next meeting.

The working session was informational only; no zoning decisions were adopted.