The Las Cruces City Council cleared the way Monday for a neighborhood pizzeria to start serving alcohol and gave property deals a little more breathing room, signing off on a longer shelf life for appraisals. Councilors also accepted state grant money and reshuffled parts of the city’s long‑range capital plan during the June 1 session.
The license, a Restaurant A permit allowing on‑premises consumption and patio service, was granted to NYP Slice House, LLC at 3290 Rinconada Boulevard after a required local hearing that drew no public comment, according to the City of Las Cruces. The request had already won preliminary approval from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, which forwards applications to local governing bodies for this review, per state licensing rules. The New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department explains that local hearings are part of the process before the director completes final action.
Grants and the CIP changes
Council accepted two budget amendments that folded in $29,867 for fire department equipment and nearly $1.43 million for the city’s IT department from the state Office of Broadband Access and Expansion to build out core high‑speed infrastructure, as reported by Las Cruces Today. Members also amended the city’s six‑year capital improvements program to add about $2.82 million for intersection upgrades and almost $5 million in gross receipts tax funding for citywide work such as park maintenance, parking‑lot repairs, and roof preservation, while pulling a $360,000 police‑academy roof project from the resolution.
Appraisals: speed and savings
Councilors voted to change the municipal code so appraisals done by qualified independent New Mexico appraisers can be reused for 12 months instead of six. City officials say the shift will trim redundant costs and help move real‑estate transactions along more quickly. “Extending the allowable timeframe to 12 months provides additional flexibility,” the city said in its meeting recap, while still allowing staff to order updated appraisals when market conditions require it. The City of Las Cruces noted the six‑month limit sometimes forced duplicate work and delays.
Legal and practical implications
The code amendment is a city‑level change to municipal purchasing and real‑estate practice and does not alter state liquor or appraisal law, but it could shave costs on projects that require property valuation or conveyance. Under state rules, the ABC forwards applications to local governing bodies, and the local hearing is mandatory before the division finalizes a license; if a governing body fails to hold a hearing, the department may step in, according to the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.
What this means for NYP Slice House and other businesses
NYP Slice House operates at 3290 Rinconada Boulevard and already lists pizza‑and‑drink pairings on its online ordering page, suggesting the owner may begin serving alcohol once the state signs off on final approval. The local green light is one step in a multi‑stage process that has historically constrained new liquor offerings and license transfers in New Mexico, as reporting on how tightly the state manages liquor licenses explains, as per Hoodline. The restaurant's ordering page lists its address and some menu pairings.
The council’s actions were covered by local outlets, and the full meeting video is posted by the city for those who want to watch the entire back‑and‑forth. KTSM reported on the June 1 votes.
