BY LWV OBSERVER CORPS
Editor’s note: Members of the League of Woman Voters of Los Alamos Observer Corps have been providing LWV members with reports on certain meetings in the County for many years. These reports have been included in the LWV’s monthly newsletter and now, at the invitation of the Los Alamos Reporter, will also be submitted to the Reporter for publication. The video of the full meeting may be seen at https://losalamos.granicus.com/player/clip/4395?view_id=2&redirect=true
BY LWV OBSERVER CORPS
The regular session of the Los Alamos County Counciil held on Sept. 30 was attended by Councilors Theresa Cull (Chair), Melanee Hand, Suzie Havemann, Ryn Hermann, David Reagor, and Randall Ryti. Councilor Beverly Neal-Clinton was absent.
East Downtown Los Alamos MRA Plan
Council passed a resolution in support of the East Downtown Los Alamos Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Plan. The motion passed 5–1, with Councilor Reagor in opposition. Having this adopted MRA plan gives the County authority under State Statute to contribute public resources to private redevelopment projects to help catalyze reinvestment in East Downtown Los Alamos.
What’s in the Plan?
The 29-acre East Downtown Los Alamos MRA is centered around Mari Mac Village and includes additional commercial properties adjacent to Central Avenue and Trinity Drive, said Economic
Development Program Manager Anita Barela (Community Development Department). All 19 parcels within the MRA boundary are privately owned, she said. The MRA boundary was adopted by Council in May 2024.
Consultant Amy Bell (Anthropopulus Design + Planning) detailed the plan’s development, community engagement, and recommendations. Bell emphasized the plan’s potential strategic approaches to stimulate economic vitality, housing, and infrastructure improvements in the MRA.
The MRA Plan enables the County to use a variety of redevelopment tools to support revitalization of East Downtown Los Alamos, said Bell. These include:
● public-private partnerships (PPPs),
● creation of an MRA Fund,
● establishment of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, and
● negotiation of public benefits, such as small business support and affordable housing.
The plan itself does not put any of these tools into effect; rather it provides the legal basis for the County to start that process if the Council decides that is the way it wants to go.
Barela and Bell both stressed that participation by businesses and property owners in MRA projects and partnerships is strictly voluntary. County Manager Anne Laurent noted that she was aware of private owners who are looking to potentially submit project applications. However, any contribution of public resources to specific MRA projects must meet plan objectives, provide tangible community benefit, and undergo public hearing and approval by the County Council, said Bell.
Councilor Ryti highlighted the need for a community benefit-scoring matrix to evaluate how proposed projects submitted by applicants would advance plan objectives and provide community benefits. Councilor Reagor raised concerns about MRA boundary definitions and the inclusion of fully occupied buildings in the MRA. Local business owner Lisa Shin was also concerned about potential impacts on small businesses.
What’s Next?
CDD Director Elias Isaacson said that his department was focused on making available an MRA application, handbook, and websites for the East Downtown Los Alamos MRA as well as for the White Rock MRA within the next month. The application and handbook will include a Scoring Matrix to show how a project can meet community objectives of the MRA district. CDD plans to have a series of Q and A sessions to help refine both those documents before releasing them to the public, Isaacson said.
For more information on the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos, go to https://my.lwv.org/new-mexico/los-alamos.The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. Watch local media for announcements pertaining to the LWV’s monthly “Lunch with a Leader” and other events.