The City has committed to continually improving the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) through an annual update process.
Hearings
The City's official review/decision process has three steps, each of which includes opportunities for hearings and public comments:
Hearings
LUPZ heard proposed changes for the 2023 Annual Update on April 10, 2024. The committee heard a staff presentation, took public comment, and deferred to Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m.
LUPZ meetings are hybrid. The in-person option is held in the Vincent E. Griego Council Chambers, basement level of the City of Albuquerque Government Center, 1 Civic Plaza NW.
The agenda, Zoom information, and instructions for participation at the hearing are posted on Legistar's Calendar, once available.
At the May 15 hearing, LUPZ is expected to take additional public comment, discuss and vote on proposed LUPZ amendments, and then vote to send each of the 3 bills to the full City Council with a recommendation of Do Pass, Do Not Pass, or No Recommendation.
Comments
Written comments should be addressed to Chair Brook Bassan and emailed to City Council Clerk Michelle M. Montoya: mmmontoya@cabq.gov
LUPZ's Role
For each bill (Citywide + Small Area Changes) LUPZ will vote to recommend approval or denial, or LUPZ can pass the bill to full City Council with no recommendation.
Citywide Amendments
Proposed changes affecting properties citywide are included in O-24-13, which would adopt the EPC Redline Draft, except where modified by an amendment approved at LUPZ or the full City Council.
Small Area Changes
Proposed changes affecting properties only in a specific area are adopted as separate bills that must be heard as a quasi-judicial matter, in which Councilors act as judges instead of as legislators. For these items, the public must only interact with Councilors about these matters during public hearings.
City Council typically reviews the Annual Update at 2 public hearings in June. Staff gives a presentation, Council takes public comment, and Council votes on any amendments proposed by Councilors to the Redline draft or to amendments passed by LUPZ.
EPC Hearing #4: Drive-throughs in the Volcano Heights Urban Center
EPC heard the proposed small area text amendment to allow drive-throughs in Mixed-use zone districts in Volcano Heights Urban Center on February 15, 2024.
Meeting Materials
- Meeting materials are posted on the EPC webpage.
- EPC voted to recommend DENIAL to the City Council. [PR-2018-001843 / RZ-2023-00044]
- Video
The proposed change will now go to City Council for review and final decision.
Hearing #3: Tribal Engagement - NW Mesa Escarpment View Protection Overlay Zone (VPO-2)
EPC heard proposed changes to add tribal nations as commenting agencies for development proposals within 660 feet of the NW Mesa VPO-2 on January 18, 2024. EPC took additional public comment, added conditions, and voted on recommendations to City Council.
Meeting Materials
- Meeting materials are posted on the EPC webpage.
- EPC voted to recommend DENIAL to the City Council. [PR-2018-001843 / RZ-2023-00050]
- Video
- The entire hearing can be viewed in the videos below. The specific case start time is 2:01:48 in Video - Part 1 and the case end time is 00:26:47 in Video - Part 2.
Planning staff will revise the proposed tribal engagement memo to transmit to City Council based on EPC conditions affecting the citywide tribal engagement memo and a condition to limit referrals to tribal representatives within the NW Mesa Escarpment VPO-2 (not within 660 feet of VPO-2).
Hearing #2: Citywide, Rail Trail, & Volcano Heights Urban Center
EPC held a second hearing on January 11, 2024. EPC took additional public comment, added conditions, and voted on recommendations to City Council.
Meeting Materials
The Redline Draft of the IDO incorporates EPC's recommended conditions of approval for City Council to review and decide.
Hearing #1: Citywide, Rail Trail, & Volcano Heights Urban Center
EPC heard proposed changes on December 14, 2023 via Zoom. Staff gave a presentation, and EPC took public comment.
Meeting Materials
EPC Study Session
EPC held a study session on December 7, 2023 to learn about the proposed changes in the IDO Annual Update for 2023.
LUPZ Amendments
Councilors on LUPZ have proposed amendments to the EPC Redline Draft. LUPZ will review the proposed changes at hearings in April and May. See details above.
EPC Redline Draft
The Redline Draft of the IDO Annual Update 2023 incorporates recommended conditions from EPC's review. City Council will review the recommended changes and make a final decision on proposed amendments.
- Citywide text amendments would affect properties throughout Albuquerque (i.e. a legislative decision).
- Small area text amendments would only affect properties in specific areas within Albuquerque (i.e. a quasi-judicial decision).
- Note: EPC did not recommend adopting proposed changes for the following, so they are only noted in the Redline as a footnote. For the original proposal, see Proposed Small Area Changes.
- Drive-throughs in Volcano Heights
- Tribal referrals in the Northwest Mesa Escarpment View Protection Overlay Zone (VPO-2)
- Note: EPC did not recommend adopting proposed changes for the following, so they are only noted in the Redline as a footnote. For the original proposal, see Proposed Small Area Changes.
EPC Submittal
Planning staff submitted proposed amendments to the IDO from staff, Councilors, and the public to the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) for the 2023 IDO Annual Update on October 26, 2023.
Outdoor and Site Lighting
The City hired a consultant, Clanton Associates, to update lighting regulations in the IDO for the 2023 Annual Update.
Clanton & Associates, an award-winning lighting design and engineering firm, is an expert in regulating outdoor lighting and illuminated signs to comply with Dark Skies Ordinances. Clanton evaluated existing regulations in the IDO and prepared proposed amendments.
Proposed Amendments
Proposed lighting amendments include changes to multiple sections in the IDO. Section 14-16-5-8 is proposed to be replaced in its entirety with updated regulations.
Kickoff Meetings
Planning staff hosted a kickoff meeting for the public on March 30, 2023.
Existing Regulations
- Section 14-16-5-8 Outdoor and Site Lighting
- Section 14-16-4-3 Use-specific Standards
- Section 14-16-5-12 Signs
Small Area amendments must be reviewed/decided as a quasi-judicial matter, meaning City Councilors act as judges rather than as legislators.
For this reason, you may not contact your Councilor about these proposed changes outside of public hearings.
Rail Trail Design Regulations [new]
The City of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency is proposing a Small Area Text Amendment to add design standards for development on properties adjacent to the planned Albuquerque Rail Trail.
EPC recommended approval, so this proposed change appears in the EPC Redline and will be reviewed by LUPZ and full City Council as O-24-17.
LUPZ Amendments (See O-24-17)
Neighborhood Meeting
Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency staff held a pre-subittal Neighborhood Meeting via Zoom to explain the proposed changes and answer questions on Wednesday, September 20th, 2023.
Contact
CIARAN LITHGOW (they/them)
redevelopment project manager
p 505.810.7499
Volcano Heights Urban Center
Councilor Lewis submitted a Small Area Text Amendment on October 26, 2023 to allow drive-throughs in the Volcano Heights Urban Center.
EPC recommended denial, so this proposed change does not appear in the EPC Redline.
This proposed change will be reviewed by LUPZ and full City Council as O-24-11.
The proposed change deletes Subsection 14-16-4-3(F)(5)(f)10:
- "
This use is prohibited in the Mixed-use zone districts in this Center as mapped in the ABC Comp Plan, as amended."
Neighborhood Meeting
Council staff held a Pre-submittal Neighborhood Meeting on October 17, 2023.
Contact
Shanna Schultz, AICP | Council Planning Manager
Albuquerque City Council Services
(505) 768-3185
Northwest Mesa Escarpment VPO-2
Councilor Fiebelkorn proposed a Small Area Text Amendment in December 2023 to require the City to refer applications for tribal comment within 660 feet of the Northwest Mesa Escarpment View Protection Overlay (VPO-2) zone. This change would affect IDO Subsection 14-16-6-4(J).
EPC recommended denial, so this proposed change does not appear in the EPC Redline.
This proposed change will be reviewed by LUPZ and full City Council as O-24-12.
Additional information regarding public notice about this proposal:
The public notice sent about this proposed change to the City’s zoning code – the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) – will affect future development on your property. The purpose of this proposed change is to involve tribal governments and their representatives in the City development review and approval process. This change proposes tribal engagement for development projects within the Northwest Mesa View Protection Overlay Zone (VPO-2) as follows:
- Creates new definitions in the IDO for Tribal Land, Tribal Representative, and Indian Nation, Tribe, or Pueblo.
- Requires the Planning Department to send applications for development within the VPO-2 boundary and within 660 feet of the boundary to tribal governments and their representatives within the State of New Mexico for comment within 15 days.
- Requires an applicant to send notice of an application for an Archaeological Certificate (generally required for projects that are 5+ acres) and a treatment plan, if required, to tribal governments and their representatives.
This proposed change will be heard by the Environmental Planning Commission on January 18, 2024. If you would like to send written comments or attend the hearing, please see hearing details below.
Council Staff held a virtual pre-submittal Neighborhood Meeting at the end of November 2023.
Trainings
Planning staff held 2 trainings on September 28-29, 2023 about the Integrated Development Ordinance highlighting changes from the 2022 annual update.
Meeting Materials
Pre-EPC Submittal Public Review Meetings
Council staff held a pre-EPC submittal Neighborhood Meeting on November 28, 2023 to discuss a proposed change to properties in and near the Northwest Mesa VPO-2 requiring the City to refer proposed development applications to tribal leaders for comments.
See Small Area Text Ammendments for content details.
Planning staff held 2 meetings on October 12-13, 2023 to discuss proposed citywide changes before submitting to the EPC in late October.
Meeting Materials
Pre-EPC Hearing Public Review Meetings
Planning staff hosted a review meeting on November 17, 2023 to discuss proposed changes submitted to the EPC before the first EPC Hearing in December 2023.