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EDITORIAL: It's an intriguing proposal. A 56-page "concept report" envisions the area west of the volcanic escarpment as a model for West Side edge-of-the-city development, with village centers and places where people can walk.
The village center at Paseo del Norte and Unser, for example, would have retail outlets and offices, while residential neighborhoods would have interconnected trails.
Ideally, jobs and housing would balance so people won't have to drive far— if at all— to get to work. And the plan changes the area's name. "Volcano Heights" is more appropriate than "Volcano Cliffs" because the latter was 1,700 small, vacant lots platted in the 1960s, while Volcano Heights is projected to house 30,000 people.
This is an area that includes 3,420 acres of escarpment and the five volcanoes within Petroglyph National Monument. And it's surrounded by about 7,000 acres of open space.
It's a unique part of Albuquerque that merits a unique approach to planning. As planning team coordinator Signe Rich says, "It's recommending a new kind of development."
About 150 people showed up during three days of planning meetings in January, most of whom own property in the area, and their views were incorporated into the plan. More public input is being solicited, and transportation studies will be done.
A plan guiding development of this area is long overdue. To give it a chance, the City Council should extend the six-month moratorium on building in the area, which expires next week. A concept plan such as this deserves consideration before any development takes place.
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