20-02-2025
City of Las Cruces approves ‘Realize Las Cruces' building plan
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Las Cruces City Council approved a series of changes to zoning and building ordinances to modernize the City's development code for the first time in roughly 25 years.
Council members met on Tuesday, Feb. 18 to repeal some chapters of the municipal development code and replace them with updated guidelines, known as Realize Las Cruces, that will 'usher city growth for years to come,' the City of Las Cruces said in a news release.
'The newly adopted development code streamlines and simplifies regulations and better aligns with the policies and actions of the Elevate Las Cruces comprehensive plan,' the City said.
The following benefits of the updated codes and Realize Las Cruces include:
Increased housing densities to address shortages in the current housing inventory.
Ability to regularly update zoning documents.
Greater flexibility in building height and carport designs.
Increased flexibility in land uses and site designs for expanded housing opportunities.
Adoption of multi-model transportation standards.
Encouraged growth and redevelopment in the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area sites.
Technical Manual to increase efficiency for the design process so future updates to the codes can be completed in a timely manner.
According to the City, Realize Las Cruces includes an eight-month grace period in which applicants can submit development plans using either old or new codes.
In addition, City Council members approved the City's Technical Manual that's associated with the municipal code update.
The manual removes design standards from the Development Code and puts them into a smaller manual that can be updated regularly.
You can watch City Council Tuesday's meeting in its entirety on the City's YouTube channel.
Councilors will meet in a work session at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24 at Council Chambers, located at 700 N. Main St.
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