September-October 2007
(Publication date: November 1, 2007)
Revitalization of East Central is still moving forward through the City’s Planning Department. The three interrelated aspects are the initiation of the Sector Development Plan, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area process, and the extended moratorium/interim design rules, all of which have passed the City Council.
Sector Development Plan. This will be “a broad, inclusive community effort that covers multiple issues.” A report covering the August focus group meetings summarizes the concerns and issues expressed. Community values include crime and safety, aesthetics, healthy businesses, good transportation and transit, parks and open space, landowners who care for their properties, restaurants and entertainment, and a good image in that order of priority. Key issues are clearly related, with beautification and cleanup, policing, less dense residential development, retail diversity, pedestrian-friendly environment, improving the Gateway, dealing with the homeless population, medical facilities, and several other challenges in that order. The current proposed plan boundaries are (approximately) Virginia Street on the west, Copper to I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and Kirtland AFB on the south. A contract scope of work will be developed to address these and other concerns. The contract will be in place by the end of the year.
Metropolitan Redevelopment. The Albuquerque Development Commission deferred hearing the MRA by 90 days at the August meeting to allow additional refinement of the area and more public meetings. Notification of the October 29 public meeting was insufficient, however, it was generally agreed to (a) initiate the Sector Plan prior to implementing the MRA plan, (b) expand the area as shown below, and (c) with some conditions, proceed with designation of the area, deferring hearing for two weeks after the planned November 21 ADC meeting to allow for additional public input.
Moratorium/Interim Design Rules. Business owners who testified at the August ADC meeting complained that they were prevented from expanding their existing businesses or were kept from constructing new commercial buildings. Those complaints were echoed at the October MRA meeting, with the additional comment that the legislation had been extended through October 2008. Residents and the Planning Department representatives are sympathetic, and there may be recommendations to amend the existing legislation.
Closure of I-40. Increasing concerns about area-wide traffic congestion as a result of snow and accidents has resulted in several meetings with State, County, and City representatives to discuss the issues and consider options to minimize the negative effects of closing I-40. Some ideas include timely information (signs, KKOB announcements, frequently updated web site), coordinated traffic control (State, County, and City reps in a consolidated control center), priority clearing of one traffic lane, diversion onto NM 333, detouring trucks off I-40 farther to the west (e.g., Louisiana, Wyoming), and manual control of city traffic lights. Further discussions will be held.
Fiscal Advisory Committee has identified appropriate projects that might be funded by City, County, or State in future budgets. Projects that will enhance the appearance, livability, and economic health of our community were prioritized and provided to elected officials. They include complete Southern Blvd, complete Steven Moody Drive south of Southern, install gates and signage to cope with I-40 closures, redesign I-40/Tramway/Central interchange, provide landscaped pedestrian islands on Central ($625,000 already earmarked), purchase Open Space in the Tijeras Arroyo, redesign La Luz de Amistad park (Central at Tramway), widen NM 333 east of Tramway, and widen Juan Tabo south of Central in that order.
Web site. Is now operational at www.eastgatewaycoalition.org. Please provide suggestions as to content so that this may be a more useful and attractive site.
Neighborhood Task Force. The final report has been forwarded to the City Council. It recommends an independent Office of Neighborhood Coordination, legislation to govern restrictive homeowner associations, and no changes concerning neighborhood associations.
City Council and Committee Meetings:
The meeting dates for the City Council; Finance and Government Operations committee; and Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee are posted at http://daystar2.cabq.gov:81/calendar/#current. Agendas are not normally posted until Friday afternoon prior to a Council meeting on the following Monday.
Next Coalition meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 24, 2008, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center.
Roger Mickelson 323-9273 fhvhaRoger@aol.com
(Publication date: November 1, 2007)
Revitalization of East Central is still moving forward through the City’s Planning Department. The three interrelated aspects are the initiation of the Sector Development Plan, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area process, and the extended moratorium/interim design rules, all of which have passed the City Council.
Sector Development Plan. This will be “a broad, inclusive community effort that covers multiple issues.” A report covering the August focus group meetings summarizes the concerns and issues expressed. Community values include crime and safety, aesthetics, healthy businesses, good transportation and transit, parks and open space, landowners who care for their properties, restaurants and entertainment, and a good image in that order of priority. Key issues are clearly related, with beautification and cleanup, policing, less dense residential development, retail diversity, pedestrian-friendly environment, improving the Gateway, dealing with the homeless population, medical facilities, and several other challenges in that order. The current proposed plan boundaries are (approximately) Virginia Street on the west, Copper to I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and Kirtland AFB on the south. A contract scope of work will be developed to address these and other concerns. The contract will be in place by the end of the year.
Metropolitan Redevelopment. The Albuquerque Development Commission deferred hearing the MRA by 90 days at the August meeting to allow additional refinement of the area and more public meetings. Notification of the October 29 public meeting was insufficient, however, it was generally agreed to (a) initiate the Sector Plan prior to implementing the MRA plan, (b) expand the area as shown below, and (c) with some conditions, proceed with designation of the area, deferring hearing for two weeks after the planned November 21 ADC meeting to allow for additional public input.
Moratorium/Interim Design Rules. Business owners who testified at the August ADC meeting complained that they were prevented from expanding their existing businesses or were kept from constructing new commercial buildings. Those complaints were echoed at the October MRA meeting, with the additional comment that the legislation had been extended through October 2008. Residents and the Planning Department representatives are sympathetic, and there may be recommendations to amend the existing legislation.
Closure of I-40. Increasing concerns about area-wide traffic congestion as a result of snow and accidents has resulted in several meetings with State, County, and City representatives to discuss the issues and consider options to minimize the negative effects of closing I-40. Some ideas include timely information (signs, KKOB announcements, frequently updated web site), coordinated traffic control (State, County, and City reps in a consolidated control center), priority clearing of one traffic lane, diversion onto NM 333, detouring trucks off I-40 farther to the west (e.g., Louisiana, Wyoming), and manual control of city traffic lights. Further discussions will be held.
Fiscal Advisory Committee has identified appropriate projects that might be funded by City, County, or State in future budgets. Projects that will enhance the appearance, livability, and economic health of our community were prioritized and provided to elected officials. They include complete Southern Blvd, complete Steven Moody Drive south of Southern, install gates and signage to cope with I-40 closures, redesign I-40/Tramway/Central interchange, provide landscaped pedestrian islands on Central ($625,000 already earmarked), purchase Open Space in the Tijeras Arroyo, redesign La Luz de Amistad park (Central at Tramway), widen NM 333 east of Tramway, and widen Juan Tabo south of Central in that order.
Web site. Is now operational at www.eastgatewaycoalition.org. Please provide suggestions as to content so that this may be a more useful and attractive site.
Neighborhood Task Force. The final report has been forwarded to the City Council. It recommends an independent Office of Neighborhood Coordination, legislation to govern restrictive homeowner associations, and no changes concerning neighborhood associations.
City Council and Committee Meetings:
The meeting dates for the City Council; Finance and Government Operations committee; and Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee are posted at http://daystar2.cabq.gov:81/calendar/#current. Agendas are not normally posted until Friday afternoon prior to a Council meeting on the following Monday.
Next Coalition meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 24, 2008, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center.
Roger Mickelson 323-9273 fhvhaRoger@aol.com
