development plan for large northeast section of las cruces completed

A policy document intended to provide Las Cruces officials with a road map for the future development of a large and mostly residential section of the city is on its way to the Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Apodaca Blueprint focuses on a multi-block area to the east of the 25-acre Apodaca Park that, like much of Las Cruces, has seen significant growth in recent decades.

The result of more than six months of public input meetings, workshops, and online surveys, the document recommends a series of approaches that Las Cruces may want to adopt as it contemplates future residential and commercial development in the area.

Among the many subjects the Apodaca Blueprint tackles is the question of affordable public housing construction.

Noting that there are already five affordable housing complexes in the Apodaca area, the document states: “High concentrations of affordable housing within constrained geographical areas can produce cumulative negative impacts on the stability of surrounding neighborhoods.”

“A policy of affordable housing dispersal should be practiced instead,” the Apodaca Blueprint continues, “with a ratio of no greater than one subsidized or affordable housing unit per ten total dwelling units.”

The document additionally calls for the future development of public trails; social spaces such as courtyards and plazas; greater transit access; and possible future public/private partnerships regarding the construction of storm water detention areas.

The Apodaca Blueprint was developed by the City of Las Cruces with the technical assistance of the Richardson, Texas-based Halff Associates, an engineering and architectural consulting firm.   

By Garry Boulard