[Neighbors] IDO Amendment-11: Liquor Retail in the MX-M Zone

[Charlie Bennett]

To:  Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee

Re: IDO Amendment-11:  Liquor Retail in the MX-M Zone

Greetings Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee Members
and Madam Chair, Jones:

In its drafting, the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) ignored
statistics regarding the effects on communities of density of retail
package liquor sales, thus, allowing increases in criminal behavior and the
continued deterioration of business corridors and residential neighborhoods
in favor of unregulated private property use protections regardless of
their parasitic effect upon quality of life and sustainable commerce.   As
a whole, our city realizes no gain from any business that inflicts this
burden upon its public.  It is merely a continuing liability that has shown
to have a detrimental effect on our City’s public safety resources,
diminishing our City’s reputation as well as its bond capability to the
extent that it contributes to a spiral of increasing debt.

Short of a much needed prohibition on retail package liquor sales in areas
of Albuquerque where it has been proven be harmful to public safety,
quality of life and sustainable commerce, Councilor Davis' amendment
“A-11”, revising “Table 4-2-1” on page 142 of the IDO,  “Allowable Uses to
make ‘Liquor Retail’ a Conditional Use in the MX-M zone, unless accessory
to a Grocery Store”.  This amendment would repair some of those harmful
effects allowed by the IDO and subsequent amendments to it.

I urge this Committee and our City Councilors to support Councilor Davis’
amendment that would restore some ability to its citizens to protect
themselves, their communities and their businesses from further injury
caused by the permissive use of retail package liquor within MX-M zones.  I
also urge that this Committee and our City Councilors consider the
 restoration of the 500 foot protections of “conditional use” to
residential zones, schools, churches and public parks that existed prior to
the enactment of the IDO.

Sincerely yours in community,
Charles Bennett
Resident and advocate of Albuquerque’s International District
505-331-4517
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