Action: Approved

Date: May 23, 2002

Position on Proposed Planned Growth Strategy Ordinance

Position

The Board of Directors of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce strongly opposes Council Ordinance 0-02-39 and urges the Albuquerque City Council not to adopt the legislation. The Chamber is in favor of a growth plan that encourages responsible and balanced growth that includes both infill and planned communities on the boundaries. However, rather than an ordinance, we prefer passage of a resolution that receives the Planned Growth Strategy Report as a framework for planned growth and establishes committees to consider the proposed recommendations. This resolution should authorize a review of the Planned Growth Strategy Report by both City and County officials, including their respective planning staffs, and call for the appropriate components to be sent to the corresponding hearing committees for proper review. The Chamber also recommends the immediate formation of a committee to address the issue of impact fees.

The Chamber is deeply concerned about the lack of clarity in the language of the proposed ordinance 0-02-39 and the apparent numerous interpretations of the document. We believe that any time a proposed law is this ambiguous and perceived so differently by various groups, it must be delayed and re-evaluated. In these situations, the devil is always in the details. The potential for litigation due to the ambiguities in this ordinance could result in inhibiting any kind of planned growth in the Albuquerque area while the courts spend years addressing a solution.

Additionally, the Chamber has watched as the City of Albuquerque tries to address current fiscal constraints while formulating a budget. To limit growth through the passage of Ordinance 0-02-39 would create a significant loss in both property and gross receipts tax revenue. We question the rationale of the City Council in potentially eliminating a significant revenue source much needed by the city now and in the future by so severely restricting growth to the built communities.

While we propose additional review, the Chamber has no interest in seeing this issue “studied to death”. However, very little public dialogue has taken place on the Planned Growth

Strategy Preferred Alternative Report since its release in 2001. It is our belief that productive discussion by all the stakeholders regarding a measure this important and comprehensive in scope is crucial before enactment as a law. We believe that a resolution better serves both the community and the intent of the Planned Growth Strategy Plan.

Background

The Planned Growth Strategy Report and Preferred Alternative Report were recently issued by the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. This 750-page report is the product of 4 years work by a team of consultants together with key City and County staff. The second volume of the Planned Growth Strategy is a recommended Preferred Alternative. Six chapters address an urban growth land use plan; zoning and design guidelines using Traditional Neighborhood Development principles; financial requirements for infrastructure to address rehabilitation, deficiencies growth needs; development impact fees; concurrency approaches to insure that adequate infrastructure and other facilities, including parks and schools, are available to support new development; development and transportation linkages; housing affordability; legally-defined Planned Communities in the Comprehensive Plan Reserve and Rural Areas; as well as joint City–County–APS coordination.

City Council Ordinance was proposed and sponsored by City Councilors Michael Cadigan, Miguel Gomez, Eric Griego, Vince Griego and Hess Yntema. It was introduced to the entire city Council on May 13, 2002.

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