Land Use
Sustainable Land Use in Mesa del Sol
Mesa del Sol occupies 20 square miles of land to the south of Albuquerque’s developed urban area. The New Urbanist design principles on which the Mesa del
Sol is based integrate sustainability into the design of the Planned Community. The compact, diverse, pedestrian-oriented land use pattern reduces infrastructure demands, uses land efficiently, protects open space, and reduces the need for single occupant vehicle trips.
Sustainability will influence the design of all systems in Mesa del Sol, including water use and stormwater management, energy use and generation, road design, park design, school locations, and building design standards. This will lead to regenerative systems, systems that replenish rather than deplete the earth.