Shaping Our Future—Participation in Vision 2040

Vision 2040 is a regional planning process that will incorporate citizen input into developing a vision of what we want our county and city to look like in coming years.

The first round of public participation will involve a consensus-building process based on small group work and individual comments. Meetings will be held as follows:

The most important thing to communicate during the public input process is the elements you want to see incorporated into the new regional plan.

Listed below are ideas and considerations that have been suggested by the Quality Growth Alliance for quality growth and development in our area. Please use them as you see fit in the public participation sessions or as prompts to stimulate the development of other aspects of your own vision.

Considerations for Quality Growth in Our Area

General Principles 

1. the mountains, river, and farmland of the Mesilla Valley are essential to our identity and quality of life and must be preserved
2. we need to envision where we want to end up and not be limited by tools currently available to get there
3. in addition to the categories currently listed, Vision 2040 needs to address:

   conservation of natural resources, especially water
   drainage, runoff, and flood control
   integration of public school site selection into overall planning
   renewable energy

4. Vision 2040 should incorporate current plans for open space, trails, etc. as developed by citizen committees and adopted by local government entities
5. zoning should be done in sectors, based on the needs and wishes of that sector, within an overall regional vision
6. Vision 2040 planners should provide model ordinances to support the goals and vision developed in the course of this process
7. Vision 2040 planners should include process suggestions, including proven models involving extensive citizen input

Agriculture and Ranching

1. Vision 2040 should include a farm and ranchland preservation plan
2. use cluster zoning to help preserve farmland
3. encourage local food sources and community-supported agriculture
4. encourage rural development

Arts, Culture, and History

1. preservation of the Rio Grande corridor is essential to our area’s identity, culture and history
2. we should be thinking of urban restoration rather than urban renewal
3. encourage the creation of historical districts

Business and Economic Development

1. seek to preserve the quality of life factors that will draw high-quality industry to the area:

   the mountains, farmland, and river corridor
   historical and cultural sites like Mesilla
   good parks, schools, and recreational areas
   safe, well-maintained neighborhoods
   good transportation network to avoid gridlock
   integrated educational opportunities and workforce training
   affordable housing for employees

2. MVEDA-type support for small business
3. Enterprise Zones to attract people-oriented business (restaurants, retail shops) to downtown and other key areas
4. economic development should benefit people who already live here, not just those yet to come

Conservation and Recreation

1. incorporation of best standards and practices from around the country for providing parks, open space, and trails in new development
2. incorporation of plans for Rio Grande Trail into regional bike and trails system
3. mountain to river bike trails and wildlife corridors
4. use of Elephant Butte Irrigation District ditchbanks as bikepaths and walkways
5. ordinances that support the enhancement and donation of arroyos to the city or county in the process of new development
6. no platting or channelizing of arroyos
7. development of bird sanctuaries and nature preserves along Rio Grande

Housing and Social Services

1. housing for all income levels
2. integration of colonias into regional web of transportation and social services

Real Estate Development

1. discouragement of sprawl and leap-frog development
2. incentives for cluster development and other community-enhancing development
3. encouragement of walkable, mixed-use communities
4. encouragement and incentives for infill
5. redevelopment of colonias

Transportation

1. designation and development of major transportation corridors for mass transit and commercial development
2. connectivity of trails and bikepaths within a larger regional system
3. transit-oriented population centers, with neighborhood activity centers linked by transportation corridors and rapid transit

Utilities and Infrastructure

1. development of “green” building codes and procedures
2. LEEDS certified public buildings
3. encouragement of water reclamation and “purple pipe”
4. reasonable (e.g., 5 year) warranties for developer-provided infrastructure