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Santa Fe County Adopts Sustainable Growth Management Plan11-30-10 | News

Santa Fe County Adopts Sustainable Growth Management Plan

The Sustainable Growth Management Plan will replace the 1999 Santa Fe County Growth Management Plan. Promoting green building and development techniques are high on the list.

With a 5-0 vote on Nov. 9, 2010, the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution adopting the Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP). The vote was taken following a public hearing and comment period.

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The Sustainable Growth Management Plan is deemed a comprehensive plan for Santa Fe County, providing a framework for policy and decision making. It is based on input from more than 100 meetings, including workshops, charrettes, public hearings and study sessions involving citizens, nonprofit organizations and community groups.

The plan aims at meeting the needs of current residents, but also preserving the county?EUR??,,????'?????<

A key feature of the plan is bringing more opportunities for community participation, including a number of community-centered organizations through which citizens can work together more effectively.

The board emphasized the plan will ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The Sustainable Santa Fe Commission comprises volunteers that advise the city council on sustainability issues. The commission was responsible for development of Santa Fe?EUR??,,????'?????<

Strategies

Strategies of the plan include:

Change hydrologic zoning to a more sustainable and comprehensive zoning
system.

New development will demonstrate the availability of adequate facilities and
services at adopted levels of service, including adequate water supply.

Clarify zoning regulations and streamline development review.

Create rural historic district overlay zones for historic and cultural landscapes.

Support the use of pervious asphalt, pervious concrete or other pervious material
to build new, or resurface existing, access roads or parking lots.

Protect vegetation and wildlife, including rare, native species, threatened and endangered species.

Preserve scenic views.

Develop programs and incentives for energy efficiency, water conservation,
renewable energy use and storm water capture in new development.

Support the development and use of sustainable, renewable energy production and distribution infrastructure and reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy use.

Promote sustainable development through green building and development techniques. To that end, the county has partnered with the city, Santa Fe Community College, the Santa Fe Business Incubator and local energy to develop a Center for Community Sustainability to encourage the development of green jobs.

For more information, visit www.santafecounty.org/growth_management/sgmp