Title
Update and Discussion on North Mesa Housing - Transportation and Utilities Study
Body
The 30-acre North Mesa tract, situated between Los Alamos Middle School and the North Mesa Sports Complex, was originally acquired by Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) in 1967 via a federal land transfer from the Department of Energy. While long reserved for future school facilities, the site’s purpose shifted in 2019 to address the community’s dire need for affordable workforce housing.
Between 2019 and 2022, Dekker, a land use planning consultant, developed the North Mesa Housing Study which was a conceptual land use plan that included extensive public dialogue. In November of 2020, LAPS and Los Alamos County (LAC) formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further explore development concepts for the site. The Housing Study determined that the site could potentially support a mix of housing types ranging between 210 and 360 low-, medium-, and higher-density housing units.
A feasibility analysis by EPS (2022-2023) found that the North Mesa site should target housing options and price points meeting the needs of LAPS teachers and others in the community workforce. This led to both the LAPS Board and County Council approving a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in December 2023, officially defining the roles, responsibilities, and timelines for development.
In addition, the County completed its Affordable Housing Plan which further supported the development of additional housing units throughout the community. The plan specifically recommends the need to develop between 1,300-2,500 new units of housing targeted to the “missing middle” with compact, efficient, and higher-density housing options. These additional units would constructed throughout the community. Strategies outlined in the plan include utilizing public and institutional land through public-private partnerships that lease or sell land in support of housing development.
In 2024...
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