Council Approves Impact Fees, Funding for New Bike Park

City Councilors met in regular session June 2, 2025, and approved updates to park development fees and a grant to fund a new Bike Park that will be the first of its kind in the region.

The updates, based on a study by TischlerBise, a firm contracted by the City that specializes in analyzing the cost-of-growth to local governments, will update the Land Use Assumptions, Capital Improvements Plan and Park Impact Fees to reflect the recommendations learned through the study.

Specifically, an increase in impact fees was deemed necessary to help maintain the quality of services that are provided. The PIF currently sits at $2,600 per unit and is a one-time fee paid by new development, not existing residents or businesses. The park impact fees help fund capital improvements that provide additional capacity.

The last review of Park Impact Fees was in 2019 and the $2,600 fee has not been changed since 2013. The new fee schedule approved by Council, excluding providing for neighborhood parks through the subdivision process, will now allow for a maximum allowable fee to be calculated by residential unit size: $2,029 for units 1,300 square feet or less; $3,681 for units 1,301 to 2,100 square feet; and $5,671 for units 2,101 square feet or more.

All Councilors were present for Monday’s meeting and the resolution passed unanimously.

Councilors also approved a resolution that accepted grant awards for various City departments, including one for Parks and Recreation that will lead to the development of a bicycle park at the East Mesa Public Recreation Complex. The park will be funded by a grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department with matching funds from the City.

Steven Bingham, Parks and Recreation Director, believes the Bike Park will diversify the City’s parks system and will have an economic impact on Las Cruces with out-of-town visitors traveling specifically to utilize the park.

The Bike Park will include facilities for all biking interests and skill levels including a National Interscholastic Cycling Association course, a Pump Track, a Gravity Trail or drop zone, and dirt jump areas. It will be the first bicycle park of this type in the region.

In other business, Council also approved a liquor license with on-premises consumption at Dona Ana Community College, at 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd., and approved the transfer of ownership and change of location of a dispenser liquor license for the new Allsup’s convenience store at 4202 Engler Rd.

Monday’s Council meeting, along with all other Council meetings and work sessions, can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.

City Council will next meet in a regular meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, June 16, 2025, at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.