ReVision Growth:
False Dichotomies in Growth Narratives

Thursday, May 19, 2022

free and open to the public

AIA MEMBERS EARN 2.0 LU/HSW

APA MEMBERS EARN 2.0 AICP CM credits

ASLA MEMBERS Earn 2.0 HSW LACES Credits

Moderated by Julia Goldberg, senior correspondent at the Santa Fe Reporter where she previously served as editor for 11 years. Julia’s writing on the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire recently appeared in the NY Times and her reporting on COVID-19 was recognized with the Society of Professional Journalist’s top award.

We invited a number of experts as primary panelists:

  • Miguel Angel Acosta Munoz // community leader and Co-Director of EarthCare 

  • Michael Barrio // Executive Director Santa Fe Housing Action Coalition

  • Zane Fisher // writer, critic, educator, and Founder/CEO Extraordinary Structures

  • Lucy Gent Foma // educator, writer, dancer, and Lead Planner Santa Fe County

  • Joseph Montoya // Executive Director Santa Fe County Housing Authority

  • John Rizzo // tech entrepreneur and developer behind NM Innovation Triangle

  • Jesse Roach // engineer, hydrologist and Director City of Santa Fe Water Division

  • Daniel Werwath // community development professional and ED at NM Interfaith Housing Santa Fe Housing Trust

FASF board members also participated:

  • Gayla Bechtol and Deirdre Harris // architects in practice here in Santa Fe

  • Lisa Gavioli // land use project management and planning professional

  • Carlos Gemora // regional and community-based urban planner in both government in private practice

  • Anthony Guida // architect and City of Santa Fe Historic Districts Review Board Member

Over the last two years you may have participated virtually in our ReVisioning History panel discussions on planning, housing, preservation, and sustainability (all of which are archived here and on YouTube)

The intent of ReVision Growth’s panel discussion is to continue those conversations with an even greater emphasis on the future, and a specific focus on overcoming the challenges, real and perceived, that keep us from getting to a more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable Santa Fe.

When it comes to these issues, we recognize that all of us—design and planning professionals, policymakers, and citizens alike—may be operating on conventional wisdom, outdated information, conceptual biases, and even lived-experience that erroneously limits the options that can be considered for solving the challenges of our built environment.

These entrenched points of view result in huge blind spots and polarization of public discourse. The ReVision Growth discussion is not an early neighborhood notification meeting, nor is it a planning commission hearing. It is a bit of a safe space for talking about ideas. Excerpts from the ReVision Growth discussion are catalogued below.

Round 1: Housing Market

Which conversations are missing from the current narrative?

“We still have a local government that was designed in 1600s to benefit white male land owners. People with housing have asymmetric power.”

What would be a fair process for applying change to neighborhoods?

“The Early Notification Network (ENN) process is incredibly flawed. Neighborhoods don’t have power to weigh in. Inherently biased and leans towards anti-development. Don’t get to hear voices of those who need housing/have needs. Whole outreach strategy by developers and city is flawed. Need to do more sooner. ”

“I don't agree. I think it is also inherently anti-neighborhood biased. No one wins and everyone loses. The developer eventually wins because they have more to lose the more time passes the more money they spend. Without a process and a plan the cheapest land in the least well-off areas get developed.”

How might we approve or reject housing development without being pro- or anti-growth?

“Choices in approving housing should not be based on input process, but data driven instead.”

What does a more equitable process look like?

“Think about it through lens of personal well being and satisfaction. Notion of “do we want Santa Fe to allow everyone to feel like they have a place here?” … Process needs to be less myopic about look [style] and more about community building. ”

What role should elected officials play in development? How should they relate to constituents?

“Need to be more forthcoming about issues in general and less afraid of what constituents will be supportive of.”

“Tying to political realm is short sighted. Politicians can help educate residents about long term plans rather than project by project.”

“…speaks to idea of educating communities even when (and especially when) there isn't a specific, hot project in the works.”

Community engagement was done during the Midtown process, but nothing is binding. What do you think about collecting information and not following through on it?

“Biggest breach of faith is to do blue sky planning without financial framework. Does not do service to do planning that is not grounded in financial constraints.”

How do we get the city and county working together again?

“Following on previous comment, improve how planning and engagement happens. We set up outreach efforts that focus on visioning, but we need engagement to be grounded in problem solving.”

Round 2: Sustainability

Where are our blindspots?

“If you are concerned about water and energy but coming out against multi-family and infill you are a hypocrite.”

Can climate change be tackled while providing housing for all?

“Pretending like we don’t have growth and encouraging commuting from Rio Rancho, etc., is unsustainable growth.”

Round 3: Community Character

What is the most important character to preserve?

“Our natural setting. My bias: design can make a difference. Preserve our natural setting.”

“Core characters need to be reflected/taken care of. We need to preserve the way we think of ourselves.”

To what degree should neighborhoods have say in how it is changing?

“Talking about broad crisis – it’s the responsibility of every portion of community to contribute to solutions. Neighborhoods have huge role. Community benefit agreements that are really useful. Take the time to talk to communities involved.”

“Need equitable policies for whole region, rather than development by development.”