Village of Los Ranchos 2010 Master Plan Summary (ARC Draft-11/99)
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1.1 Introduction
The Master Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee was appointed by the Mayor and Board of Trustees in December, 1998. They were charged to assist the Mayor and Board in developing the 2010 Master Plan for the Village of Los Ranchos. The primary objective was to formulate a growth strategy for the Village for the next ten years. The Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) was comprised of volunteers that were either residents, local businesses or property owners. All were interested in participating and developing a vision for the Village of Los Ranchos 2010 Master Plan. The Master Plan Committee met for the first time on December 1, 1998 and continued to meet weekly through November, 1999.
The first task specified in the work program was to solicit input on the existing 1992 Master Plan. This effort was conducted in December, 1998 and January 1999 to gain insight from interested persons as to their experience with the Master Plan, the strengths and weaknesses of the document. Flyers announcing the meetings were available at local businesses and at the Village Hall. In addition, public service announcements were published in the Albuquerque Journal Westside Edition. The informational sessions were held December 17, 1998, and January 7, 1999, and fifteen people attended the meetings.
The CAC met and discussed planning related topics in an effort to develop a comprehensive land use plan addressing issues of land use, transportation, housing, agriculture, open space, water, ditches, flood and drainage, historic, cultural, public facilities and services, commercial, village form. Local experts were invited to the CAC meetings in which professionals shared their expertise and educated the committee about issues.
As part of the public input process, four visioning workshops were held in the spring of 1999. Flyers inviting members of the public were distributed to each household by a local Boy Scout Troop. As with the informational meetings, flyers were also available at local businesses and the public service announcements were published in the Albuquerque Journal Westside Edition. Contributions made by meeting participants provided invaluable insights into issues affecting different areas of the village. The major points raised at the workshops included planning, transportation, infrastructure, environment, housing, noise, lighting, business economy, agriculture.
Meeting participation was one method the CAC utilized to gather public input. However, a questionnaire was mailed to residents and/or businesses of the village. An overwhelming response rate of thirty-six percent (36%) was attained (See the questionnaire results in the Appendix)!
To be efficient and give committee members an opportunity to contribute specific expertise, subcommittees were formed to address specific elements of the plan. Typically subcommittees met and discussed the vision of a particular issue and formulated that vision into a goal and objectives. Specific action steps were developed that would implement each goal. The CAC, as a full committee then reviewed each goal, objective and action step proposed and voted to accept, reject or modify the proposed language.
One subcommittee, the agricultural subcommittee, gained particular notoriety when they initiated a village-wide competition for a village flower. The Board of Trustees accepted the Hollyhock and Rose as the official flowers of the Village.
A consultant was hired to provide professional expertise to the CAC so to that a realistic Master Plan could be developed. The consultant participated in several workshops and meetings, reviewed survey results, analyzed growth trends and with all the input, helped develop a Master Plan. A pre-draft was released to the community in October, 1999 in a effort to gain additional input from residents, the business community and property owners alike and shortly thereafter a public hearing was held in November, 1999 where public comment was again accepted.
After a year of public involvement, many meetings and discussions about the Village and it’s future a new Master Plan was adopted in December, 1999. This document shall attempt to guide the Village to 2010.
1.2 Problem Statement
As identified by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, at imaging workshops, and through community surveys, the following issues and problems to be addressed in this Master Plan. Some of these issues may conflict. See the section relating to policies and goals for the actions that address each problem statement.
Village Form:
• What is Village character?
• How can the Village preserve its semi-rural character (trees and greenery, agriculture, ditches, low density but mixed lot sizes)?
• Can the identifiable entry ways into the Village be created?
Agriculture:
• How can the Village protect agricultural lands?
• What techniques can be used to promote small-scale agriculture and specialty crops?
Ditches:
• How can the Village preserve and maintain the ditch system for both irrigation and recreational use?
• What tools are available to prevent ditch closure and ensure access to irrigation?
Open Expanses:
• What methods are available to protect open expanses?
• Can the Village provide access to the Bosque?
Historic and Cultural:
• What is the best method to preserve Village historic and cultural resources?
Residential:
• How can the Village keep its neighborhoods free of excessive noise, traffic, and light?
• How can the Village retain existing residential uses and zoning densities while allowing mixed lot sizes?
• Should the Village limit apartments, and mobile homes?
• What is the best method to consistently enforce land use regulations?
Commerce:
• Can the Village attract small destination businesses as well as small businesses selling everyday items?
• How can the Village prevent ‘big box’ commercial development?
• Does the Village want to prevent commercial activity outside of Fourth Street?
• What can the Village do to improve the appearance of Fourth Street? Community Facilities:
• Can the Village provide needed community services and uses within Village budget?
• Can drainage in the Village be improved?
• When will Village-wide sewer infrastructure be completed?
Transportation:
• How can the Village encourage safe pedestrian and bicycle travel? • What policies need to be developed to preserve rural character of residential roadways?
• Can the Village limit traffic volumes and speeds in residential neighborhoods and near schools ?
• How can the Village make Fourth Street more pedestrian-friendly?
1.3 Master Plan Goals, Policies, Actions
Vision Statement:
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque is an incorporated historic village in the Rio Grande valley corridor. Its North Valley location provides a unique environment that includes trees, open ditch irrigation systems, small agricultural plots that allow for livestock, diverse neighborhoods and businesses, all in a relaxed, peaceful and friendly environment
Overall Village Goals:
• The goal is to reflect a village character through:
- relatively low density and diversified residential land uses
- density and intensity of village scale commercial development appropriate to village needs and primarily focused on 4th Street
- continued agricultural uses, including animal husbandry; and
- preservation of historic or archeologically significant features, traditional land use patterns and identifiable familiar vernacular characteristics (such as tripas, acequias, Buffalo Curve, and old buildings).
• The goal is to create and promote the village as a destination point where visitors and residents alike want to be and can take part in the village lifestyle.
• The goal is to plan for the future of the area based upon its three major corridors: Rio Grande Boulevard, Guadalupe Trail and Fourth Street; to preserve the unique character of each and to maintain and enhance the richness of architectural and land use types within a range appropriate to village scale.
Village Form Goal
The goal is to preserve and enhance the historic and “Valley” character of Village neighborhoods, roadways, mixed-use centers, and corridors.
Agriculture Goal
In recognition of the importance of agriculture to the history and character of this valley area, and in recognition of a limited and diminishing amount of land suitable for agricultural uses, a primary goal of the Village is to encourage agriculture.
Ditch Goal
In recognition of the importance and uniqueness of the ditch irrigation system in providing a renewable supply of water that sustains the diversity of life in the valley and its agriculture, the goal is to preserve and enhance the ditch irrigation system.
Action Steps for each goal and policy are found in Section 4.0.
Open Expanses Goal
In recognition of the value of visually accessible open expanses to the character, atmosphere, and welfare of this Valley area, the goal is to identify and encourage the preservation of open expanses, vegetation and wildlife to the greatest extent possible and in a manner appropriate to each sector of the Village.
Historic and Cultural Goal
The goal is to recognize and preserve Village history and culture and their importance within the Rio Grande Valley.
Residential Goal
The goal is to maintain residential development in keeping with the rural and diverse character of the Village.
Commercial Goal
The goal is to revitalize the 4th Street area as the Village’s major commercial and mixed use corridor through both public and private efforts.
Community Facility Goal
The goal is to ensure the existence and availability of all services necessary to the health, safety, and welfare of all Village citizens, while recognizing the scale and resource limitations of the Village government.
Transportation Goal
The goal is to preserve the village scale and valley nature of the roadways and to enhance possibilities for pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, mass transit, and other alternatives to vehicular traffic.
Implementation Policies
Policy 1:
The Village will revise its land use ordinances to ensure proper development review and administration.
Policy 2:
The Village will adopt design requirements for those areas of unique character to be preserved.
Policy 3:
The Village will cooperate with the Village business community to help promote existing and recruit new local businesses.
Policy 4:
The Village, through committees and organizations, shall take the lead in educating residents about important community issues.
Policy 5:
The Village will revise its review procedures for site plans, subdivision plats, and rezonings to conform to Master Plan goals.
Policy 6:
The Village will identify areas for acquisition through a variety of means.
Policy 7:
The Village will coordinate with other agencies and jurisdictions through joint powers agreements, information sharing, and participation in discussion.
Policy 8:
The Village will link its capital planning with Master Plan goals and objectives.
Policy 9:
The Village will seek funding from various sources to implement projects identified in the Master Plan.
Policy 10:
The Village will reorganize the administration of land use ordinances.
Policy 11:
The Village Planner and the Architectural and Planning Advisory Committee will be responsible for monitoring implementation and amendments to the Master Plan.
Policy 12:
The Village will review the Master Plan for applicability and effectiveness no later than 2002.
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