Building a Better Las Cruces 

There has been considerable controversy recently over the pace and kind of growth currently occurring in our area.  In the past year alone the City of Las Cruces has annexed almost 20 square miles of surrounding land, including over 4,000 acres in the Presidios project on the East Mesa. 

The City of Las Cruces is going to grow.  We have a good climate, friendly people, a beautiful landscape, and a great university.  We sit at the crossroads of two of New Mexico’s major highways and within an hour of a major airport.

The larger question is whether we have the vision to make this growth work for the benefit of the people who live here, or whether out-of-control development will destroy the very things that have made Las Cruces such a special and enjoyable place to live.

Can we protect our relaxed lifestyle from the stresses of traffic jams and long drives across town?  Can we protect our unique natural and agricultural areas from destruction by air pollution and leapfrog development?  Can we improve our schools, provide quality affordable housing, and create the kinds of jobs that will allow our children to stay here if they choose after graduation?

The answer is clearly yes.  We can do these things.  But they will not happen if we continue our current developer-driven, no-questions-asked policy of growth at any cost.  Achieving our goals requires that we learn from the successes and failures of other cities which have experienced the challenge of rapid growth, and to develop a shared plan and vision for the kind of city we want to have.

That vision should include the following elements:

•   An active commitment to “smart growth” principles, including walkable neighborhoods, neighborhood parks and schools, and the inclusion of open space, bike paths and walkways, and natural areas as integral parts of new development

•  Cooperation among  city, county, and state entities to insure orderly development along a timeline that allows citizen, neighborhood and stakeholder participation in the process

•  Modification of ordinances and zoning codes to reflect current best practices and requirements for new subdivisions, especially as developed by other communities who have successfully negotiated rapid growth

• Recognition that economic development and quality of life go hand in hand.  Industries with high-paying jobs are attracted to livable communities

• We need to pay as much attention to the revitalization, health, and livability of existing neighborhoods as to the building of new ones

• We need to protect our mountains, foothills, and river corridor for our own enjoyment and as a precious resource to be passed on to future generations

Las Cruces is growing up fast, and we can no longer let the future just “happen” based on the preferences of a few developers and the cooperation of a compliant city council.  The time has come for all of us – elected officials, city and county staff, and members of the public – to work together in shaping our community.   Exciting times lie ahead for Las Cruces, if we provide the leadership and will to direct our own future.

We can do Better together! 

Ken Miyagishima

Mayor of Las Cruces