BARBED WIRE REPRIEVE
Council gives owners a reprieve from having to remove security measures
Albuquerque City Council OKs a two-year delay in enforcing ban on barbed wire.
Business owners in Albuquerque who use barbed wire and similar materials as a security measure to protect their property will get a temporary reprieve from a city requirement for their removal.
Albuquerque city councilors on Monday approved a two-year moratorium on enforcing a ban on barbed tape, razor wire, barbed wire and similar materials.
The approved resolution applies only to existing wire, however, and the city will not issue new permits for those materials except in areas previously zoned heavy commercial, industrial park, light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing or corresponding zones.
Robert Vick, owner of Vick’s Vittles Country Kitchen on Central SE, told councilors that business owners need the ability to protect their property “when the city can’t do that at this point.”
“We’re in a bad situation right now where there’s so much crime that’s going on to property owners that the police can’t get there,” Vick said. “They’re only taking care of violent crimes. They don’t have the time or resources to get to the other crimes that are going on that’s costing us
thousands and thousands of dollars.”
The council passed a ban in 2012 on barbed wire and similar materials in residential areas and where it’s visible in a public space in non-residential zones. The prohibition was reinforced under the Integrated Development Ordinance, which came into force this year.
Councilor Pat Davis, who sponsored the bill along with Councilor Brad Winter, said the moratorium will allow businesses more time to comply with city rules or to participate in the annual public Integrated Development Ordinance review process.
“Some businesses pointed out that it would cost thousands of dollars to comply in the 30- to 60-day process,” Davis said.
“Given our crime situation, that might not be tenable for everyone right away.”