Mesa del Sol
Community Planning Area (CPA) Assessment
About
The Mesa del Sol CPA encompasses an area bounded by the Sunport to the north, Kirtland Air Force Base to the east, Isleta Pueblo to the south, and parts of Broadway and University Boulevards to the west. Most of the CPA includes the 12,900-acre planned community of the same name, which is set to be developed over the next several decades. This planned community is growing slowly because of a commitment to provide jobs before developing extensive amounts of housing. In addition to the planned community, the CPA also includes the Tijeras Arroyo, which originates to the east in Tijeras Canyon, transects the northern portion of the CPA. The maps and data below provide an overview of some of the key information and metrics for the Mesa del Sol CPA.
The City of Albuquerque’s Community Planning Area (CPA) assessment process will work with residents and businesses throughout the city to describe what is working or not working in different parts of town and talk about how to enhance what is going right. We hope that community members will take ownership of the process and use the data on this page to guide conversations about future development, revitalization, and growth.
Demographics
Albuquerque is home to a diverse and growing population, and every CPA has its own distinct mix of people. Let's get to know Mesa del Sol residents a little better.
Community Assets
Albuquerque has a diverse history and culture, reflected in the public facilities; parks, open space, and trails; transportation network; and heritage sites and resources.
Schools and Community Facilities
The facilities and services that serve a community impact quality of life and access to resources and community benefits.
There are no APS schools in the Mesa del Sol CPA although many are eventually planned for the area.
The Mesa del Sol CPA has 1 cultural facility—Isleta Amphitheater. As an outdoor concert venue, Isleta Amphitheater hosts many acts that come to the Albuquerque.
The CPA also includes City facilities at Montessa Park, including a dog park, convenience center, and disc golf course.
Public art is another community asset that helps express the character and history of an area. Visit the City's public art webpage to find public art in the Mesa del Sol CPA.
Parks, Open Space, and Bikeways
Parks, open space, and trails for people to walk and bike contribute to quality of life, as well as the health of residents. There are no City parks in the Mesa del Sol CPA, but the planned community portion of the CPA proposes to include parks and a trail network. There are several neighborhood-scale parks and pocket parks throughout this community that are privately-owned.
The Mesa del Sol plans also propose to designate hundreds of acres as open space, including La Semilla which is on the eastern edge of the CPA.
The bike network in the Mesa del Sol CPA consists of a few existing bike lanes, including on portions of University, and many more proposed bike lanes and paved trails.
There are approximately 107.32 acres of open space per 1,000 residents in the Mesa del Sol CPA.
Transportation
Connections between the places that residents live, work, play, and learn is key to enhancing quality of life.
The Mesa del Sol CPA is served by ABQ Ride Route #222 (Rio Bravo/Sunport) and Rio Metro Route #208, which serves Valencia County, Isleta Pueblo, and Albuquerque. Visit cabq.gov/transit for resources about using public transportation.
University Boulevard is a primary route through the Mesa del Sol CPA. The CPA is also served by I-25 to the west, and there are future plans for a new interchange to serve this area.
Residents in the Mesa del Sol CPA predominately commute to work by driving alone (79%), and 12% of Mesa del Sol residents carpool.
There are approximately 6.5 miles of designated bike lane in Mesa del Sol, and nearly a mile of paved bike trail. Visit cabq.gov/bike for resources about biking in Albuquerque.
The Vision Zero Initiative addresses traffic safety in the city. Visit cabq.gov/visionzero for more information, including the High Fatal and Injury Network (HFIN) for the Albuquerque Area.
Community Health
How our communities grow and change has long term environmental, quality of life, and public health impacts. Growth patterns also affect our long-term ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, as well as the resilience and sustainability of our community.
Neighborhoods and Parks
Neighborhood Associations are one way that communities can advocate for their residents and have a voice in decision making.
There is 1 recognized Neighborhood Associations that represents a small portion of the geographic area of the Mesa del Sol CPA. The Mesa del Sol Neighborhood Association oversees the existing residential area in the planned community. Visit cabq.gov/onc for more information about neighborhood associations.
There are approximately 107.32 acres of open space per 1,000 residents in the Mesa del Sol CPA.
Air Quality
The City tracks air quality permits, which represent stationary sources of air pollution, including factories, refineries, boilers, and power plants, that emit a variety of air pollutants. This is one indicator of potential community health risks. There are many other factors that may impact overall community health that will be explored through the CPA assessment process.
As of 2019, there were 13 Air Quality Permits for sites in the Mesa del Sol CPA. Visit https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/contact-us to learn more about the Air Quality Program.
The U.S. EPA has a useful mapping tool ( EJ Screen ) to better understand environmental hazards and their impacts on different populations. In addition to air pollution, this map shows a wide range of pollution types and sources, and provides a wide range of demographic information that can be added as layers to the map. This context is important because low-income households and populations of color have historically borne a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies.
The NM Community Data Collaborative has a great gallery of maps and resources about community health.
Land Use and Development
Each CPA has unique assets, development patterns, businesses, and industries that contribute to the character of its neighborhoods, provide employment, and offer goods and services to residents and visitors.
There are a number of different ways that the City can help support economic development. See this Economic Development Incentives map for more information about some of these resources.
Land Use
From shaping housing options to determining air quality, land use shapes how community members experience a place.
The vast majority of land in the Mesa del Sol CPA is vacant. The next most common land uses in the CPA are Airport, Parks and Open Space, and Utilities. Residential and commercial land uses are some of the least common.
In 2019, all of the building permits issued were for residential uses.
Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) Zoning
Zoning regulations determine what kinds of development can happen on a given property, including uses and development standards.
The 3 zone districts in the Mesa del Sol CPA are Planned Community, Non-Residential, and Not Classified. The Planned Community portion of the CPA is controlled by the Mesa del Sol Community Master Plan, which establishes different zoning standards for areas within the planned area.
There were 7 variance requests in the Mesa del Sol CPA in 2019. There were no zone change requests.
Visit the IDO Interactive Map for more detailed zoning information.
The first assessment in the Mesa del Sol CPA will take place in 2027.
You can contact the team leading the Mesa del Sol Community Planning Area assessment by emailing MesadelSol-CPA@cabq.gov .
The City of Albuquerque has 12 Community Planning Areas (CPAs). Between 2021 and 2027, City staff and local communities are working together to gather data, inventory assets, and create an action plan for each CPA. The assessment process will help figure out what each community needs and how to get there. Visit the CPA website for more information
