The Las Cruces City Council, at its Monday, June 21, 2021 regularly scheduled meeting, unanimously adopted a Resolution approving an affordable housing grant agreement between the City and Tierra Del Sol Housing Corp. for the development of infrastructure of the proposed Skylark subdivision, at 5401 Central Road.
The City recognizes the need to provide a diverse range of affordable, clean, and safe housing options through private and public partnerships. Tierra del Sol, a nonprofit affordable housing developer in Las Cruces, and a qualified grantee, will design and construct an affordable housing development with approximately 19 single-family lots.
The initial concept design includes a two-acre public park that will be designed and constructed by the City's Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the Public Works department. The park will be built near the Mesa Grande neighborhood, in City Council District 5. The park could be built within the next year.
As much as $100,000 in City funds will be used to pay for the planning, design, engineering, construction, acquisition, or installation of infrastructure improvements. This project will be funded through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, in accordance with the Affordable Housing General Oversight Ordinance.
Development of the affordable housing subdivision is supported by various adopted City Council plans including the City's Affordable Housing Plan, the 2021 to 2025 Consolidated Plan, Elevate Las Cruces, Strategic Plan, and Economic Development Department Strategic Plan.
Additionally, during Monday’s meeting, City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution approving a real estate purchase agreement of a 4.8277-acre parcel, at 1101 W. Amador Ave., for $1,155,000. The property is adjacent to the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope campus.
The City will purchase the parcel from Brewer Oil. In accordance with City and state regulations, the property was appraised by two local appraisers in April 2021. Recent sales of land adjacent to the Community of Hope campus confirm the negotiated purchase price is in alignment with current fair market values.
City staff evaluated the property and has determined the site to be the preferred location for future expansion of the Community of Hope campus. The property is the only remaining parcel of vacant land available for development near the Community Of Hope.
City Council also approved the following Resolutions and Ordinances:
Resolution No. 21-186, a winegrower liquor license application for FARMesilla, a limited liability company at 1840 Avenida de Mesilla. A public hearing was conducted before City Council considered the application.
Resolution No. 21-189, repealed Resolution 21-136, Las Cruces International Airport Rates and Fees for the 2022 to 2024 City fiscal years and replaced the previous Resolution with a revised rates and fees schedule for the airport, which becomes effective July 1, 2021.
Ordinance No. 2976, amends Ordinance 187, as amended by Ordinance 241, for the dedication of a Municipal Local Option Gross Receipts Tax.
Ordinance 2977, amends Ordinance 1394, for the dedication of Municipal Local Option Gross Receipts Tax.
There were 10 items on the Consent Agenda for Monday’s Council meeting, and all of them were approved.