CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-25-121 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Klarissa J. Peña, Joaquín Baca, Louie Sanchez
RESOLUTION
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Requesting A Masterplan For The Historic Route 66 Area Of The Historic Atrisco Land Grant To Improve Public Rights-Of-Ways, Establish Future Land Uses, And Create Development Concepts For City Owned Land, All Based Upon Cultural, Historical, Recreational, Environmental, And Economic Development Goals (Peña, Baca and Sanchez)
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REQUESTING A MASTERPLAN FOR THE HISTORIC ROUTE 66 AREA OF THE HISTORIC ATRISCO LAND GRANT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, ESTABLISH FUTURE LAND USES, AND CREATE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS FOR CITY OWNED LAND, ALL BASED UPON CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, RECREATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
WHEREAS, the master plan and projects associated with this Resolution will be conducted within the approximate boundaries of Tingley Dr. to the east, the Arenal Main Canal to the west and north, and Gonzales Rd. to the south, as shown in Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, modern settlement in the Rio Grande valley as part of the Atrisco Land Grant along the Camino Rael, that laid west of the river, predates the foundation of the Villa De Albuquerque and includes Route 66 the world’s first long distance automobile corridor; and
WHEREAS, Bernalillo County, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) and the Water Authority developed the Atrisco Acequia Madre Development Plan in 2024, that provides a conceptual development vision for the City and MRGCD owned land near 40th Street and Central Ave.; and
WHEREAS, to this day the area is culturally, historically, recreationally, environmentally, and economically significant to the health, welfare and safety of the residents of Albuquerque and Central New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the neighborhoods and business corridors of the Atrisco Land Grant area that developed around Historic Route 66, would benefit from a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve the area’s overall conditions, attract goods and services, redevelop blighted properties, infill vacant land, enhance cultural amenities, improve recreational assets, beautify the area, and celebrate its rich culture and history; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution F/S R-216, Enactment 82-2001. The Resolution found, among other things, that blighted areas exist in this area of the City and that rehabilitation, conservation, development and redevelopment of the area designated as the West Central MRA is necessary in the interest of the public health safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2017 via R-16-108 (Enactment No. R-2017-026), contains numerous policies that guide improvements and development to enhance, protect and preserve distinct communities; and
WHEREAS, specifically, Policy 4.1.4 aims to enhance, protect and preserve neighborhoods and traditional communities as key to our long-term health and vitality; and
WHEREAS, Policy 4.1.2 aims to enhance, protect and preserve neighborhoods and traditional communities as key to our long-term health and vitality; and
WHEREAS, Policy 7.3.2 encourages efforts to establish and strengthen district identity with centers, business districts, and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Policy, 8.1.2 encourages economic development efforts that improve the quality of life for new and existing residents and foster a robust, resilient and diverse economy.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT. To develop a master plan for the areas of the Atrisco Land Grant near Route 66 the City shall:
a. Make recommendations and establish policies to improve the overall conditions of the area, to include, but not limited to historic, cultural, recreational, and economic conditions; and
b. Plan within the following boundaries:
i. Land west of the Rio Grande, East of (the ditch) north of Sunset Gardens (and south of the Ditch); and
ii. All publicly owned parcels by the City, County, State, and MRGCD; and
iii. Public right-of-way, including the Central Ave. bridge; and
iv. Community facilities and public amenities east of the Rio Grande.
c. The creation of the Master Plan shall be overseen by Council Services staff. Council Services staff shall engage staff from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, Parks and Recreation Department, Planning Department, Municipal Development Department, Arts and Culture Department, Economic Development, and other necessary City Departments, to participate in the study; and
d. Engage community stakeholders to inform the master plan; and
e. Engage necessary public agencies with activities in the area.
2. The master plan’s recommendations and policies shall:
a. Provide strategies for presenting the historical and cultural heritage of the area as an asset for the Albuquerque Community, the State of New Mexico and those persons who visit Albuquerque; and
b. Seek to eliminate problems created by blighted conditions; and
c. Conform to and coordinate with the Albuquerque & Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, the Southwest Mesa CPA Report, and any other applicable plans or policies; and
d. Indicate strategic capital improvement and programmatic activities to be carried out in the area including, but not limited to, proposals for land acquisition, public right-of-way improvements, development or redevelopment of land strategies and site-specific concepts, tactical urbanism interventions, recreational improvements, arts and culture improvements and events, commercial activities, and other public improvements; and
e. Determine if the existing West Central Metropolitan Redevelopment Area plan requires an update due to the area’s existing conditions and City land use policies and regulations.
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase of this Resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Resolution. The Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Resolution and each section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word or phrase thereof irrespective of any provision being declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid.
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