Thursday, November 12, 2009

EAST GATEWAY COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS NEWSLETTER


East Gateway Coalition of Neighborhoods Newsletter
September-October 2009
(Publication date: November 12, 2009)


Revitalization of East Central Avenue. The Sector Plan boundaries are Virginia Street on the west, Copper Avenue and I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and KAFB on the south as shown below; the smaller Metropolitan Redevelopment Area is a darker shade.

(East Central MRA and Sector Plan Map included in original Email).

The East Central Sector Development Plan is in final edit, with reviews by the Planning Department and most other city agencies that will be affected by the many design and zoning proposals from Wyoming on the west, I-40 on the north, and the city limit on the east and south. These reviews seek to produce a cohesive, readable plan that would be submitted to the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) early in December. There are no further public meetings scheduled, although there is a possibility that narrowly-focused discussions could be held to resolve concerns of groups of residents and business operators according to Paula Donahue, the Planning Department coordinator. Paula can be reached at 924-3932 or PDonahue@cabq.gov.
General information and the draft plan can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. Note that this posted draft plan is being reviewed, although the changes may be moderate in some regards—the contents will follow a similar outline.
The EPC will likely examine the plan application in January, and we anticipate that at least one closed “study session” and two public hearings will be conducted. Following the EPC review, the plan will be forwarded to the City Council and referred to the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee prior to reaching the full City Council. The entire process may result in a decision (to approve the plan) in the March-April 2010 timeframe, depending on the plan’s relative priority amidst other legislative issues.
Public review of the plan can therefore begin about December 3, and public comment (testimony) can be offered at the two EPC hearings, the LUPZ hearing, and the City Council meeting. We should all stay involved, read the plan in December, and prepare and present any formal comments early next year. Remember, if you don’t participate, you shouldn’t gripe about the final results.
In parallel, work continues on the Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan that is based on a narrower area along Central Avenue. A summary of the process can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/amra/currentprojects.html. According to Gabe Rivera, the Planner, the contractor is conducting additional economic and market research this month. Gabe will conduct a “walk-around” survey of businesses over the next month, planning for a third public meeting in December. Gabe can be reached at 924-3479 or JGRivera@cabq.gov.

Mitigating I-40Closures
Winter storms, icy roads, and accidents have created incredible traffic backups in the East Gateway area for many years. Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort, Representatives Kathy McCoy and R.J. Berry, and local officials have tried to ensure that responsible authorities (e.g., NM Department of Transportation, State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, Albuquerque Police Department) are planning to divert the heavy traffic from I-40 onto parking areas without impeding residents’ necessary movement to and from homes and stalling emergency service response vehicles.
Gates blocking access to eastbound I-40 have been installed. Electronic warning signs have been set up and tested. Ideas have been proposed for turnarounds or temporary exits from I-40. Discussions have been held—far too many discussions—without preparation of a coordinated plan to cope with the hundreds of 18-wheelers that frequently have filled shopping center parking lots, clogged major collector roads (like Central Avenue), and completely halted local residential traffic, including emergency vehicles responding to accidents, medical emergencies, and fires.
Recognizing that I-40 carries an enormous volume of traffic, that winter storms will happen, and that major accidents will occur, it is apparent that more planning needs to be done. To that end, we’ll ask our elected officials to demand that responsible agencies create and test plans to minimize the negative effects of I-40 closures. Additionally, the East Gateway Coalition of Associations will ask those officials and responsible agencies to provide relevant information and to summarize emergency plans early next year—at the Coalition meeting at 6:30 on January 14 at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center (Southern and Elizabeth SE).

Coalition Meetings
· The January 14 meeting is our Annual Meeting. In 2010, representatives of member associations need to elect the Vice President and the Treasurer for a two-year term. As noted above, we hope to have a panel presentation of solutions to the long-standing I-40 closure problems.
· Please provide your recommendations for future meeting themes to Roger Mickelson, 332-9273 or fhvharoger@aol.com