Welcome & Introductions

JACKIE FISHMAN, AICP

Principal-in-Charge

JOHN SHEPARD, AICP

Senior Planner CHARLENE JOHNSON Planner RICHARD RUNYON Grants Administration STEPHEN A. MAHNKE Engineer JOE JARVIS

Public Works Director

Who is Consensus Planning?

• Small planning and landscape architecture firm in Downtown Albuquerque

• Planning and design services for public and private clients throughout NM since 1991

• Other recent projects:

Alamogordo Comprehensive Plan Tularosa Downtown MRA Plan Roswell Comprehensive Plan Aztec Comprehensive Plan Raton Comprehensive Plan Clayton Comprehensive Plan

Union County Comprehensive Plan Carlsbad Comprehensive Plan

Why Should Communities Plan?

• Helps communities prepare for the future

• Identifies problems and points the way to solutions by taking a

measured, systematic approach

• Provides the rationale for establishing priorities

• Provides the basis for decision-making on growth and development, and capital expenditures

• Provides opportunities to educate and engage in community building

What is a Comprehensive Plan?

• A Comprehensive Plan is a long range, general policy guide

• It provides a written and graphic description of existing conditions,

community vision, and a “road map” for the future

• It ensures the community vision is achieved through sound decision-making regarding future growth and development

Have you read or are you familiar with

the 2004 Comprehensive Plan?

Comprehensive Plan Elements

LAND USE

COMMUNITY FACILITIES & SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOODS TRANSPORTATION HAZARD MITIGATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION

IMPLEMENTING

THE VISION

Framing the Planning Process

• What has changed since the 2004 Comprehensive Plan?

• What are the community’s

concerns, needs, and priorities?

• How do we maintain what residents cherish about the community and build upon its strengths?

• What is the vision for Ruidoso Downs in 20 years – how

Public Outreach - Guiding Principles

• Involve citizens of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds

• Engage and communicate with community stakeholders

• Make the process interactive

• Practice active listening

• Engage elected officials and cultivate champions of the Plan

PLAN INITIATION July 2020 KICK-OFF MEETINGS August 2020 RESEARCH & COMMUNITY SURVEY Aug-Nov 2020 1st _{PUBLIC MEETING} November 18, 2020 DEVELOP GOALS, OBJECTIVES, & LAND USE

SCENARIOS Dec-Jan 2021 2nd_{PUBLIC MEETING}

February 2020

DEVELOP STRATEGIES & COMPLETE ADMIN. DRAFT

Nov-Feb 2021 REVISE & PREPARE

PUBLIC DRAFT March-April 2021 3rd_{PUBLIC MEETING}

April 2021

FINAL REVISIONS & PLAN May 2021 IMPLEMENTATION 2021-2030

Planning Process

Community Survey

• Total of 36 questions:

Tenure

Quality of Life services and amenities Employment and economic development Growth and development

Tourism

Transportation and infrastructure Housing

Demographics

• Ran from September 30th _{to October 28}th

Key Takeaways: Profile

• 53% of respondents are female; 54% are between the ages of 50 and 74

• 51% of respondents have lived in Ruidoso Downs for more than 20 years

• 42% of respondents have a total annual household income of less than $30,000

• 45% of respondents have ‘some college/associate degree/vocational certificate’

Key Takeaways: Quality of Life

• 95% of respondents said they are very likely or likely to live in Ruidoso Downs for the next 2 to 5 years

• Of the 5% who would consider moving, reasons are for higher quality of life

amenities elsewhere or because family lives elsewhere

• 68% of respondents believe the quality of life in Ruidoso Downs is good or

excellent

• Favorite aspects of Ruidoso Downs are small town atmosphere, natural

Key Takeaways: Quality of Life

• Asked what their favorite amenities are, most common choices included:

Lincoln National Forest

City parks

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack

• Asked what City services or facilities that should be improved or expanded, most common choices included:

Improving landscaping and street trees

Adding a dog park

River trail development

Improving streets is another top priority

• 89% strongly agree or agree that the visual appearance of Ruidoso Downs should be improved

Key Takeaways: Health Care

• 75% of respondents said their health care needs are being met in Ruidoso

• When asked what health care services Ruidoso Downs is

lacking, general health care practices and dentistry

Key Takeaways: Employment &

Economic Development

• 49% of respondents are employed

• Of the 51% unemployed, 87% are retired and 9% are stay at home parents or caretaker

• Of those that said they “need more job training”, 83% said training in computer technology would help them find a job

Key Takeaways: Employment &

Economic Development

• Largest employment categories are retail services (15%) and hospitality (11%)

• Asked what areas of economic

development Ruidoso Downs should focus on, most common choices

were:

Outdoor recreation (65%)

Restaurants (49%)

Tourism (44%)

Key Takeaways: Growth & Development

• 42% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree that Ruidoso Downs has adequate commercial retail and business services

• Asked what commercial services are needed, most common choices were:

Restaurants (56%)

General retail (53%)

Key Takeaways: Growth & Development

• Asked where they go to shop instead of Ruidoso Downs, most common choices were:

Alamogordo (82%)

Ruidoso (76%)

Roswell (62%)

• 61% of respondents agree or

strongly agree that Ruidoso Downs should encourage infill development

• 41% of respondents agree or

strongly agree that Ruidoso Downs should encourage mixed-use

Key Takeaways: Tourism

• Asked how important the tourist

economy is to Ruidoso Downs, 68% believe the tourist economy is very important

• Asked what are the most important tourism opportunities to Ruidoso

Downs, most common choices were:

Ruidoso Downs Racetrack (93%)

Lincoln National Forest (73%)

Ski Apache (60%)

Key Takeaways: Transportation & Infrastructure

• Asked what modes of transportation

respondents use, most common choices were:

Personal car or truck (98%)

Walk (21%)

Bicycle (8%)

• Asked what types of transportation and infrastructure improvements the City

should focus on, most common choices were:

Improve/maintain streets

Improve/add sidewalks

Improve/maintain landscaping

Key Takeaways: Housing

• 65% of respondents agree or strongly agree that Ruidoso Downs should

expand its supply of affordable housing

• 85% of respondents own or are purchasing their own home

• Of the 15% that rent, most haven’t purchased a house because they cannot afford the down payment or the mortgage

Key Takeaways: Housing

• Asked what types of housing are needed, respondents, most common choices were:

Single-family detached homes (63%)

Senior housing (51%)

How would you describe Ruidoso Downs to

someone who has never been here and was

thinking about moving to Ruidoso Downs this

year?

Visioning

What are the top three special aspects about

Ruidoso Downs that should be preserved for

the future?

What are the top three aspects of Ruidoso

Downs that should be changed or improved in

the future?

Imagine it’s 2040, how would you now

describe Ruidoso Downs to someone who has

never been here and was thinking about

moving to Ruidoso Downs?

Project Contacts

JACKIE FISHMAN, AICP

Consensus Planning, Inc. 505-764-9801

[email protected]

PROJECT WEBSITE