More Commentary

• Commentary: Bill aims to help American Indians in urban areas
• Commentary: Albuquerque Public Schools just can't admit they let down the children of Navajo Elementary
• Commentary: Volunteer vets provide animal care to New Mexico's pueblos and reservations

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Last Wednesday's editorial ("Brickbat: eyes vs. growing stomach," Tribune, Sept. 12) regarding SunCal Companies' "New Urbanist vision" on the region's West Side highlights the challenges local communities can face when experiencing periods of rapid growth.

As a community builder, SunCal understands that responding to these challenges with fiscally responsible solutions is paramount to ensuring the smart, sustainable and comprehensive planning for the region.

The solution often rests with public-private partnerships between developers and local governments to ensure the creation of high-quality, mixed-use developments that become positive additions to the community.

Fortunately, Albuquerque's tax-increment development district ordinance provides the legislative tool that accomplishes this goal.

Tax-increment development districts have become the financial underpinning of regional smart growth, through the fair funding and efficient development of infrastructure before new homes are built.

This legislative avenue provides for responsible growth, while protecting government finances by passing on the costs of the infrastructure only to those who will use and benefit from it - not to taxpayers across the entire city.

In keeping with the spirit of tax-increment development districts, local leadership should continue to encourage the creation of communities that become social, environmental and financial assets to the region - not burdens or liabilities.

As a result of this type of progressive legislation, SunCal and others can fulfill a shared vision to build communities that will enhance local quality of life and responsibly foster the economic progress of the region.

Steadman is president of the New Mexico Division of SunCal Companies.