Several Albuquerque City Council candidates said Monday in front of a room filled with real estate and construction professionals that they were ready to cut city-rated impact fees to encourage activity in the face of rising development costs.
In a forum hosted by the New Mexico Chapter of NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association, District 5 candidate Dan Lewis described impact fees as an “anti-growth policy,” while his opponent, incumbent Cynthia Borrego, described the Impact Fee Ordinance – like many on the city’s books – is worth another look.
Several others also expressed willingness to review the policy in the November 2nd vote.
“Nothing is off the table for me,” said commercial real estate agent Lori Robertson, one of six candidates running in District 7 to replace Diane Gibson, who will not be re-elected. “We have to look at everything and just put some common sense into all of our policies and procedures.”
The city charges impact fees to cover roads, parks, and other infrastructure costs required by new developments. Fees vary by project type, but generally range from $ 3,300 to $ 3,700 for a new single family home, according to the planning department. Certain projects – including affordable housing and those in urban redevelopment areas – are exempt from fees. The city took in about $ 3 million in impact fees in the past fiscal year, according to a planning department official.
Acting District 3 incumbent Klarissa Peña said she had analyzed some new developments and to her surprise found that impact fees were only 2% of total construction development costs.
“Even so, I’m still keen to keep improving the impact fee system to make sure it’s fair,” she said.
However, some candidates do not support declining impact fees, with District 1 incumbent Lan Sena saying they ensure “responsible community development” and have been beneficial in their West Side district. District 7 candidate Tammy Fiebelkorn meanwhile said they were necessary to cover the city’s costs related to the new development.
“Somebody has to pay for it … and it shouldn’t be taxpayers,” said Fiebelkorn, an environmental economist who once joked that she was booed in her last speech at a NAIOP meeting.
The forum also covered issues such as homelessness, unemployment and crime.
Several candidates said they wanted to improve conditions within the Albuquerque Police Department. Borrego said the council had been adding funds to APD’s budget on a regular basis and she would continue to push for more.
Renee Grout, who tried to succeed District 9’s resigning councilor Don Harris, complained that APD had too many officials engaged in internal investigations and “too little investigations into criminals” amid reform efforts ordered by the US Department of Justice.
Retired APD official and District 1 candidate Louie Sanchez said the city needs to “change the culture of APD” and empower officials.
Lewis said he wanted a more active and visible force that would crack down on even minor offenses like loitering.
“We should see badges everywhere,” he said.
District 9 candidate Rob Grilley said it was “a simple statistical fact” that Albuquerque has too few officers for its size and that adding more is key, but it is only the beginning.
“We need to build and expand the social services that prevent tomorrow’s crimes and criminals,” he said.
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