Carlsbad approves land rezone for potential business expansion south of the city

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
·2 min read

A zone change approved July 25 by the Carlsbad City Council could see more commercial development in the southern part of the community.

Councilors approved rezoning nearly 18.5 acres of land at 3201 Boyd Drive from Rural Residential (R-R) District to Commercial 2 District (C-2).

The city defines R-R as areas accommodating agricultural, ranching and natural resource uses and very low-density residential uses, until other development is appropriate.

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Community and regional-scale and commercial uses are part of C-2 ordinances, according to the city's zoning codes.

C-2 uses are regulated to be compatible with surrounding uses and existing infrastructure, per zoning codes.

In a memorandum written to city councilors from Planning, Engineering and Regulation Department Director Jeff Patterson, the zone change meets land use and economic development rules set by the city.

Patterson said there are some properties to the east and west of the property owned by Valley Trucking that are residential and some properties to the north and south that are commercial.

A screen capture from the July 25, 2023 Carlsbad City Council meeting shows nearly 19 acres of land rezoned for commercial development south of Carlsbad.
A screen capture from the July 25, 2023 Carlsbad City Council meeting shows nearly 19 acres of land rezoned for commercial development south of Carlsbad.

The Carlsbad Planning and Zoning Commission approved a replat of the property to four separate tracts during a meeting June 5, according to minutes from the meeting.

The commission approved the zoning change during the June meeting. City Council approval was needed last month to make the zone change official.

The land along Boyd Drive appears right for more commercial development in southern Carlsbad, according to government and business officials.

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The property is near the recently opened West Bypass Road, which connects U.S. Highway 285 with U.S. Highway 62/180.

Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns said the West Bypass Road was constructed with the intent to relieve heavy truck traffic in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad Department of Development (CDOD) Marketing and Business Development Director Jeff Campbell said south Carlsbad has seen its share of commercial development over the years and more could be on the way, based on a report issued by the economic development organization for late June and July of this year.

In the report, he said some brokers and developers from Albuquerque are getting close to developing another commercial project on the south side.

“I have helped them find properties, owners, and other resources to help with projects across the years,” Campbell wrote in the report.

He said CDOD noticed the community is growing south along U.S. 62/180.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad approves commercial development rezoning south of city