Coalition of Conservatives in Action (CCIA)

CALL TO ACTION: City’s Draft Zoning REMOVES Single Family Neighborhoods

Dear Las Crucens,

Although there are many improvements in the newly revised zoning code proposal, there are still some things that you may be concerned about. For instance, apartment complexes would be allowed in any neighborhood.

If this is important to you, please email or call your City Councilor. Please be ready to attend and/or speak when City Council will be voting on this in early 2025 (schedule not yet released). See below for more information and potential talking points.

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🧐🧐🧐 LISTEN CLOSELY: This is the husband of a Las Cruces City Councilor, explaining his rationale for GETTING RID OF SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.
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CITY VOTING TO END SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS BY ALLOWING APARTMENTS AND BUSINESSES – Sarah Smith

Revised Zoning Code Proposal

The proposed zoning code is still much better than the original draft from many months ago.

  • No longer allowing cannabis dispensaries, bars, restaurants, large retail stores, or large grocery stores in some of the neighborhood districts (previous version would have allowed cannabis, bars, etc with no buffer in residential neighborhoods)
  • No longer imposing a maximum parking allowance for businesses (previous version would have severely restricted how much parking was allowed)

However, there continue to be issues with single family residential areas no longer being allowed.

  • With the way the code is currently written, apartment complexes would be allowed in ALL neighborhoods. CLARIFICATION FROM CITY STAFF:  “The density varies through each of the residential zoning districts, and it is based on the intensity and the character area. In a NH-1U, the density is 40 dwelling units per acre whereas in a NH-1S the density is 16 dwelling units per acre.  This will allow for flexibility within residential neighborhoods and provide the missing middle housing.“
  • For instance, neighborhoods in Sonoma Ranch and High Range would generally allow apartment complexes with 16-30 dwellings per acre. Neighborhoods closer to downtown Las Cruces would allow apartment complexes with 50-60 dwellings per acre. The overall city map is a patchwork of different zones, but you can look up the proposed zone for your neighborhood at realizelascruces.com. Click on “Documents” and scroll down the map where you can search by address.
  • Local grocery stores, cafés, museums, and libraries would also be allowed in all neighborhoods.
  • Local retail stores and gas stations would be allowed in any neighborhood with a special permit.
This chart shows how many apartments would be allowed per acre in each zone. DUA = dwelling units per acre.

For your reference:

Redline version of newest proposed code: RLC_Development_Code__2024.10.15__-_Track_Changes.pdf

Proposed zoning map: Draft_RLC_Zoning_Districts.pdf

TWO WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

Potential talking points are at the end of this post. Make sure to send individual emails instead of one group email if you want a response. Please be respectful in your communications for the maximum positive impact.

PLEASE EMAIL/CALL CITY COUNCIL

All email addresses: 

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHOW CITY COUNCIL THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT AND/OR MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT

There will be a City Council work session in early 2025 where this will be voted on. The schedule has not yet been released.

POTENTIAL TALKING POINTS

Here are some potential talking points about the updated proposed Zoning code. Please do NOT copy-paste these verbatim. Your communications will be most effective if you add in your own words as well. Please be respectful to make the most positive impact.

  • The new code removes single family residential zoning altogether. This is wrong. There are many people and families who want to live in neighborhoods with only homes (with no businesses, apartments, etc).
  • There need to be some areas of town that maintain the ability to have homes only, without the noise and traffic that come along with businesses and apartment complexes.
  • The traffic of having large apartment complexes, restaurants, and grocery stores in neighborhoods can pose a big safety hazard for young children and the elderly.
  • To support the varying needs of our community, the City needs to allow both mixed use areas as well as family neighborhoods.

Thank you for taking action on this!

Sarah Smith, CCIA 1st Vice Chair

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