Albuquerque proposes change to zoning to add more housing

ACTION SEVEN NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. ALBUQUERQUE CITY LEADERS CALLING IN A HOUSING CRISIS. NEARLY HALF OF RENTERS SPENDING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING. RIGHT NOW, CITY COUNCILORS ARE DISCUSSING AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS. ONE ON THE TABLE ARE CASITAS, BUT SOME NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS HAVE DOUBTS. BUT BELIEVE ME, NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE. ANDRES VALLE JOINS US NOW LIVE WITH HOW THIS CAN GET DONE AND WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO MAKE THIS AN OPTION. DOUG DARLENE, THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD MEAN THIS HOUSE IS LIKE THE ONE RIGHT BEHIND ME WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BUILD A CASITA. THIS WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO OCCUPY THAT PROPERTY, AN IDEA THAT HAD MANY RESTRICTIONS BEFORE. SO RIGHT NOW, APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF OUR OF THE CITY IS ZONED R ONE WHERE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ARE NOT PERMITTED OR OR ARE RESTRICTED IN OR PROHIBITED R-1 ZONING IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME WHEN DETACHED HOUSE PER LOT AND THOSE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS ALSO KNOWN AS CASITAS, AREN’T ALLOWED TO BE BUILT ON THOSE TYPE OF PROPERTIES. NOW THE MAYOR IS PUSHING FOR THAT TO CHANGE. THERE’S NO CAP OR LIMIT ON THESE. WE ANTICIPATE THAT BECAUSE OF THE ZONING RESTRICTIONS AND THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, THAT THERE WILL BE SORT OF A SLOW UPTICK IN WHERE THESE, YOU KNOW, START GETTING BUILT AND PERMITTED. ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS PUSHING TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY WHEN BUILDING ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. PRESIDENT JULIE DRAKE ASKING TO HAVE HER VOICE HEARD. IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT A NEIGHBOR CAN STOP YOU FROM PUTTING IN A CASITAS, BUT IT MEANS IF THEY WANT TO, THEY CAN COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. DRAKE ASKING THE CITY TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO BE THE MEDIATORS AND GIVE THE FINAL SAY. IF NEIGHBORS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH PROPOSED BUILDING PERMITS, NEIGHBORS ARE NOT AGAINST CHANGES, ARE NOT AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE. AND IF PASSED, THE CITY IS STILL PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON CASITAS, LIKE ONLY ALLOWING THEM IN THE BACKYARD, ALSO MAKING THEM A MAX OF 750FT. IT ALSO HAS TO MATCH THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE OF THE HOME. REPORTING NORTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE ANDRES VALLE KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. BUT THE NEIGHBORHO

A proposed change in zoning could add more housing across the Duke City. It's all part of Mayor Tim Keller's housing board initiative.The changes would allow for up to 1,000 accessory dwelling units, also known as "Casitas" to be built in property owner's backyards. As well as turn single-family homes into multi-family units like duplexes. Right now, there are many restrictions in R-1 zoning areas when it comes to adding on to a property. R-1 zones are single-family homes. One detached house on a single lot. "Right now, approximately two-thirds of our of the city is zoned R-1 where accessory dwelling units are not permitted or are restricted and or prohibited," said city of Albuquerque Planning Department Principal Planner Michael Vos.The mayor's push to approve this could help Albuquerque's current housing shortage.But some community members feel like they weren't given enough notice and want their voices heard, Julie Dreike, the president of the Embudo Neighborhood Association. "The notices that currently have gone out about this change went to neighborhood associations. But there are vast areas of the community that didn't get those notices," said Dreike.If passed, the city does not have a limit on how many permits they will give to those seeking to add to their property. "There's no cap or limit on these. We anticipate that because of the zoning restrictions and the cost of construction, there will be sort of a slow uptick in where these, you know, start getting built and permitted," said Voss.Dreike is pushing for honest and transparent conversations between homeowners if permits were to be granted."It doesn't mean that a neighbor can stop you from putting in a casita, but it means if they want to, they can come to the table and talk to you about that," said Dreike.The city is still putting restrictions on casitas by only allowing them in backyards. Being a max of 750 square feet and must match the original design of the house."Believe me; neighborhoods are not against affordable housing. We want to participate and be able to communicate," said Dreike.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

A proposed change in zoning could add more housing across the Duke City. It's all part of Mayor Tim Keller's housing board initiative.

The changes would allow for up to 1,000 accessory dwelling units, also known as "Casitas" to be built in property owner's backyards. As well as turn single-family homes into multi-family units like duplexes.

Right now, there are many restrictions in R-1 zoning areas when it comes to adding on to a property.

R-1 zones are single-family homes. One detached house on a single lot.

"Right now, approximately two-thirds of our of the city is zoned R-1 where accessory dwelling units are not permitted or are restricted and or prohibited," said city of Albuquerque Planning Department Principal Planner Michael Vos.

The mayor's push to approve this could help Albuquerque's current housing shortage.

But some community members feel like they weren't given enough notice and want their voices heard, Julie Dreike, the president of the Embudo Neighborhood Association.

"The notices that currently have gone out about this change went to neighborhood associations. But there are vast areas of the community that didn't get those notices," said Dreike.

If passed, the city does not have a limit on how many permits they will give to those seeking to add to their property.

"There's no cap or limit on these. We anticipate that because of the zoning restrictions and the cost of construction, there will be sort of a slow uptick in where these, you know, start getting built and permitted," said Voss.

Dreike is pushing for honest and transparent conversations between homeowners if permits were to be granted.

"It doesn't mean that a neighbor can stop you from putting in a casita, but it means if they want to, they can come to the table and talk to you about that," said Dreike.

The city is still putting restrictions on casitas by only allowing them in backyards. Being a max of 750 square feet and must match the original design of the house.

"Believe me; neighborhoods are not against affordable housing. We want to participate and be able to communicate," said Dreike.

Albuquerque proposes change to zoning to add more housing

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