By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
In its continuous efforts for economic development, Los Alamos County Council voted to approve the boundaries of a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) in the eastern side of the Los Alamos downtown district at Tuesay’s meeting.
The vote passed 5-1 with Councilor David Reagor opposed and Councilor Suzie Havemann absent.
Included in the MRA boundary are Mari Mac shopping center, former Hilltop House Hotel site, housing properties on the north side of Central Avenue and commercial properties on the southeast side of Trinity Drive, including a retainment pond next to the Smith’s. The area encompasses about 29 acres.
“This is an economic development tool made available by the state under the MainStreet program to catalyze projects and allow additional options for the developer to pursue,” Community Development Department Director Paul Andrus said. “It doesn’t affect the existing zoning in the area.” Nor does it affect land use.
County Manager Anne Laurent also emphasized that an MRA “doesn’t circumvent anti-donation, what it does is allow us to define an area that … through public/private partnerships and these other tools, the county could contribute (to the development project) and put it through this … public process.”
According to a presentation to council by groundworkstudio, the contractor hired to address this project, an MRA-allows for the contribution of public resources to private projects. These resources include a fund, a board or agency, a tax increment financing district, public/private partnerships and development incentives. MRA Designation does not raise taxes and it does not impact property taxes, according to the presentation.
The criteria for having an MRA include aged infrastructure, low occupancy rates and conditions of blight.
This isn’t Los Alamos’ first MRA. White Rock has an MRA and so far, its success is limited. Council learned during the presentation only one development plan has been approved. Still, it was reported that the White Rock MRA plan will be used as a template for Los Alamos’ designation. Councilor Melanee Hand made the motion to approve the MRA boundaries. She pointed out that this has been extensively discussed, adding that she feels the MRA is a “good thing”.
Throughout the discussions, Hand said that issues were raised. “Some of these concerns probably can be resolved with a little more information about how it works because it’s really a benefit to all of the owners of properties in that MRA boundary,” she said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that just because you are taking care of properties … that somehow it is not a blighted property … this allows for more opportunities for resources and partnerships so that you can do more enhancements of the properties.”
Vice Chair Theresa Cull seconded the motion. She explained that “there’s enough safeguards in the process and there’s still a lot of opportunity in the process to define this …”
She did express that including residential properties in the MRA did cause her some concern.
“I don’t want to see relatively affordable housing go away, but I also think this could be a good thing for those property owners …,” Cull added.
Chair Denise Derkacs clarified that inclusion within the MRA boundaries does not require property owners to do anything, but offers access to the tools available under the MRA designation. In his opposition to the MRA, Reagor pointed out that most of the public comments made Tuesday night were against the MRA.
“We can’t find a single person who showed up who is inside this boundary and advocate for it,” Reagor said.
Several homeowners who live in the boundaries of the MRA raised concerns about its impacts on them and if it would eliminate any affordable housing in the area.
Lisa Shin, who owns an optometrist office in one of the commercial properties inside the proposed MRA, said it wasn’t necessary for the property since it has a homeowners’ association.
With the boundaries approved, the next step is to create an MRA plan. To do this, public engagement will be solicited, and community workshops will be held. Once the plan is developed and if adopted, the next step would be implementation.