During a NAIOP luncheon on May 30, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham emphasized the need to modernize the state’s zoning and permitting processes to foster economic growth and meet the increasing demand for housing.
Drawing attention to successful local partnerships, Lujan Grisham cited the rapid completion of a new fire station at the Pueblo of Sandia.
The 11,300-square-foot project, funded and built in less than a year, exemplifies the efficiency that can be achieved through collaborative efforts, Lujan Grisham said. Station 39, which broke ground last August, was constructed by Albuquerque-based Jaynes Corp. It opened May 30.
“[The station] is a model that we should be undertaking everywhere [and it represents] an effective state, federal [and] local government partnership,” she said.
When speaking about the importance of good partnerships, Lujan Grisham also alluded to the future construction of a new high school in Rio Rancho and plans to open a new behavioral health triage center near 2400 Marble Ave. NE.
“We are investing in the things that create the development and vision for a state that we need,” Lujan Grisham said.
Grisham also talked about the urgent need for more housing, especially workforce housing.
In February, the state legislature approved House Bill 195, which amended the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving Loan Fund (OERF), a loan program that provides financing for building or renovation projects, to allow for workforce development housing projects. As a result of the bill, a total of $125 million was appropriated toward the development of housing, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Currently, New Mexico has a shortage of 32,000 homes, Lujan Grisham said.
“The legislature did five times more funding in this last legislative session than they’ve ever done for housing,” she said. “Using the Opportunity Enterprise Fund and other vehicles, we are thinking out of the box about making sure that workforce housing gets built.”
The governor highlighted the potential for ways to better utilize New Mexico’s 9 million acres of state-owned land for commercial or residential purposes through improved infrastructure and streamlined procedures.
Last summer, the City of Albuquerque began implementing measures to improve its own permitting processes by teaming up with Tyler Technologies Inc. (NYSE: TYL) to create a geographical information system (GIS) where developers and citizens can apply for development approvals, building permits, access electronic plan reviews and receive digitally issued permits. The new software is expected to be released this fall.
“Imagine the power of the state to demonstrate that you can have fair, safe [and] good environmental standards, that you can get a building from start to finish up in a year, or even better, a fire station in eight and a half months.” Grisham said. “We need to modernize our zoning and permitting processes.”
Source: “Gov. Lujan Grisham calls to modernize permitting practices at NAIOP luncheon”
