Council tees up rezoning for Westland housing, Menaul redevelopment, In-N-Out and Target development on Gibson

Several major land use items are on the Albuquerque City Council agenda Monday, Nov. 17, including rezoning near the University of New Mexico’s South Campus, along with updates to a struggling commercial corridor and a Westside master plan vote.

Councilor Nichole Rogers will introduce Ordinance O-25-101, which would rezone about 35 acres of UNM-owned land in the Gibson Town Center area to commercial use. Currently zoned residential or low-intensity mixed use, the site sits near planned projects including a new Target, In-N-Out Burger and the Lobo Landing development. 

The bill would allow UNM to sell the land for retail, restaurant or office uses. Planning staff said the change would rule out housing though a mixed-use zone could better serve the community.

Ordinance O-25-100, also scheduled for introduction, which would rezone about 30 acres in the Menaul Metropolitan Redevelopment Area to mixed-use medium intensity. Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn sponsored the measure to support the 2022-23 corridor revitalization plan. 

The zoning would allow multi-family housing and hotel-to-housing conversions according to city records and several property owners back the change.

Both of the new zoning bills are scheduled for public comment and final action on Dec. 15, if councilors approve that schedule tonight.

The council will take final action tonight on Resolution R-25-203, sponsored by Councilor Louie Sanchez, to convert 60 acres in the Westland Master Plan from education to residential for 212 single-family homes.

The council will also consider accepting the Northwest Mesa Community Planning Area Assessment Report, which covers the area from Montaño Road north to the Sandoval County line. The report will guide future zoning and capital improvements.