New PAD ordinance to help Belen in developments

BELEN—In an effort to allow for diversity in economic and residential planning in the Hub City, the Belen City Council recently approved an ordinance allowing for multiple zoning in a single development.

The council approved the Planned Area District Ordinance, which fosters flexibility in the design, construction and processing of residential, commercial and industrial projects that exceed the limitations of conventional zoning.

Steven Tomita, the city’s development services director, said this has “been a long time coming,” pointing out that the ordinance sets a limit at a minimum of 30 acres.

“It’s worth while, because it has a special feature,” Tomita said. “Anything that is allowed in the comprehensive plan is allowed in the PAD.”

Tomita said PADs can become very complex and detailed, the developer must submit an entire master plan of all the three different components — commercial, residential and open space.

“The development can even include tiny houses,” Tomita said. “The developer would need to come with the design, architectural style. They’ll also need to have sufficient water and sewer, and if it’s big enough, they might have to set aside land for a school site.”

According to the ordinance, the PAD seeks to achieve several objectives, including:

• Promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city; encourage creative approaches in land development and combinations of land uses

• Preserve and utilize open space effectively

• Promote the city of Belen in order to enhance the city’s strong sense of community

• Establish a unique, distinctive character for the development; and

• Ensure the PAD is accompanied by a formal development agreement

Tomita said a PAD application will not be accepted or approved by the planning and zoning commission until a neighborhood meeting is held.

“We have three PADs ready to come before the planning and zoning commission,” Tomita told the council.

Belen Mayor Robert Noblin asked how common Planned Area Districts are in cities the size of Belen. Tomita said they’re becoming more common, especially now that Tiny Homes have become popular.

Tomita also said some of these developments, because of the size and amount of effort needed to begin, could be cost prohibitive for some developers.

“That’s why they need an engineer or planner to develop a PAD,” he said. “The smaller the project, the less complex.”

Councilor Rudy Espinoza said once a PAD is put together in an organized plan, the city will experience growth.

“We’re in a very critical place,” Espinoza said. “We are pro-growth, but we need to manage it. I’m grateful to be on the ground floor.”

When asked by Councilor Frank Ortega about specifics of the three potential PADs coming to the Hub City, Tomita said he is not able to disclose it publicly at this time.

“This is about controlled growth,” Noblin said. “This what I feel is beneficial with the Planned Area Districts, because we have some say about what’s going to go in.”

“We’re allowed, as a city, to negotiate,” Tomita said. “You need more open space, with dedicated roads. You can negotiate parts, such as sidewalks.”

While no one spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting, the council unanimously approved the ordinance, which is now law.

In other recent action, the council:

• Approved the city’s 2024 audit, conducted by Cordova CPAs, LLC

• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Rio Communities and Valencia County for the joint operation and management of Sen. Willie Chavez Park

• Approved applying for local government road funds to construct improvement to LaLa Street; and planning and design of storm water crossing at Don Luis Trujillo Boulevard, near the De La Reina subdivision

• Appointed Rob Raucci to the Belen Public Library Board of Trustees, along with reappointing June Romero and Holly Chavez

• Approved the third-quarter budget adjustments

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Belen Historic Downtown Partnership and the Belen Art League concerning the Belen Scarecrow Festival held in October