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Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Retail Limits Spark Debate; Plan Would Affect Big-Box Store Sites

By Jim Ludwick
Journal Staff Writer
    Would new rules for retail stores turn Albuquerque into a town for rich people? Or would they simply make neighborhoods more attractive?
    And, in some parts of town, do enough people even care?
    Those questions surfaced in the debate Monday night about Council President Debbie O'Malley's proposal to immediately impose standards on the design of large retail stores.
    Councilors put off a decision, but proponents believe an agreement can be reached when the issue comes to a head at a meeting Dec. 18.
    O'Malley is proposing rules for the location and design of stores that are more than 60,000 square feet. The rules are meant to ensure that large retail centers are built where the road system can best handle the traffic. O'Malley says she also wants to improve the visual appeal, walkability and impact on neighborhoods.
    Several developers said Monday night those rules would be costly and even more demanding than those in resorts like Aspen, Colo.
    "The guidelines are so flawed, they would stop most retail development," said Lynne Andersen, president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties' New Mexico chapter.
    Others said there should be no such rules in areas like Southwest Albuquerque, where people are more interested in attracting business than they are in what that business looks like.
    Councilor Michael Cadigan was among those defending the idea, and he took on the critics. As O'Malley displayed photographs of attractive stores in other cities, Cadigan quipped that one of the photos was from "the very progressive resort city of El Paso. Notice all the skiers going by."
    He said the retail industry hasn't done a good job of "policing itself" by producing attractive, walkable retail centers in Albuquerque.
    Cadigan said he's "pretty confident that we can come up with interim guidelines" that will win council approval.
    It could take months for O'Malley's proposed rules to get through review by the Environmental Planning Commission and City Council, but her interim policy would take effect immediately. In essence, that would put the rules in place while the EPC and council work on the final version.
    The idea has drawn criticism from the Albuquerque Metropolitan Board of Realtors, the Commercial Association of Realtors, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the American Institute of Architects and retail chains such as Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Target Corp. and Lowe's Companies Inc.
    Brad Winter said imposing regulations immediately would be "a drastic measure. ... It's a very harsh thing to do."
    But he wouldn't rule out supporting the idea. He and some other councilors say it will depend on the details that emerge as O'Malley's proposal is discussed and amended.
    Don Harris and Ken Sanchez said they would oppose a moratorium on stores that don't comply with interim rules. Sally Mayer said the idea "doesn't make sense."
    But Cadigan said the process leading toward permanent rules "could take a very long time and may never result in anything." Imposing an interim policy "could add leverage and pressure to make sure permanent guidelines are adopted."
    O'Malley denied allegations from critics who said her proposal is solely aimed at a controversial Wal-Mart project under discussion for Osuna and Vista del Norte. She said the Wal-Mart project helped spur discussion of the topic, but "I think this is an intelligent approach to a problem that is citywide."
    She said standards are needed because large retail centers should be located in appropriate places, and not in neighborhoods that lack the capacity for handling them.