Central Avenue DOZ Proposal
Central Avenue Neon Sign Design Overlay Zone
The City of Albuquerque is proposing a Central Avenue Neon Design Overlay Zone (CAN DOZ), which would cover properties with frontage along Central Avenue from 106th Street to east of Tramway Boulevard. This proposed Design Overlay Zone is intended to incentivize the refurbishment of existing neon signs and the development of new neon signs for properties along historic Route 66.
CAN DOZ is one strategy for revitalization along Central Avenue through the use of Neon signs to promote Route 66 history and identity for locals and visitors. The CAN DOZ incentivizes signs that contain at least 50% neon to be up to 50% larger, up to a maximum of 250 SF, up to 35 feet tall, except for in front of a residential portion of a building. An accompanying text amendment to the General Sign Regulations proposes to waive permit fees for signs that comply with the CAN DOZ as another incentive.
This proposal is the first piece of the City’s Route 66 Action Plan that was the subject of several town hall meetings in 2012 where this and other ideas were presented to the community for comment. The idea to incentivize neon along Route 66 was one of the best-received ideas, which resulted in the CAN DOZ.
The CAN DOZ is proposed to provide special design guidance for signage along Route 66, but without unduly interfering with other design controls that may exist with existing zoning and/or sector development plans. The Design Overlay Zone details can be reviewed at the City Planning Department offices in downtown Albuquerque at the Plaza del Sol Building, located at 600 2nd Street NW. Alternatively, the proposal and its specific language can be viewed at Planning Department’s web page: www.cabq.gov/planning
On February 14, 2013, the Environmental Planning Commission unanimously voted that a Recommendation Of Approval be forwarded to City Council. We expect the CAN DOZ to be heard by the City Council this Spring 2013.
Nob Hill/Highland Sector Development Plan: Text Amendment
The City of Albuquerque is proposing a text amendment to the Nob Hill/ Highland Sector Development Plan (NHHSDP), which would add free-standing pole mounted sign as an allowable signage type in the General Regulations of the NHHSDP (page 103). This proposed text amendment is intended to allow business owners the option of a sign that can be free-standing and pole mounted. These free-standing signs would be regulated by the O-1 zone which limits the size of the sign to 75 square feet and to a height of 26 feet or the height of the tallest building on the site, whichever is lower.
This NHHSDP text amendment is part of a larger strategy for revitalization along Central Avenue. It is directly related to the encouragement of Neon signs along Route 66 to promote the history and identity of the road, via a Central Avenue Neon Design Overlay Zone (CAN DOZ). This proposed DOZ is intended to incentivize the refurbishment of existing neon signs and the development of new neon signs for properties along historic Route 66.
The text amendment to the NHHSDP is proposed to provide another option for business owners to promote their business while still following sign regulations on height and location. We expect the text amendment to the NHHSDP to be heard by the Environmental Planning Commission on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at a public hearing, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Plaza del Sol hearing room in the basement of 600 Second Street NW.
General Sign Regulations: Text Amendment
General Sign Regulations proposes to waive permit fees for signs that comply with the CAN DOZ as another incentive.
Contact: Russell Brito, Manager – 505- 924-3337 – fax 505-925-3339
