REQUESTING NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING ASSISTANCE THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO SMALL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

WHEREAS, municipalities and counties are faced with difficult and complex issues and decisions as they plan their futures, and often have few resources available to aid them in those decisions; and

WHEREAS, planning, land use and subdivision and extraterritorial zoning are important issues about which local government policymakers need to have knowledge; and

WHEREAS, small and rural communities in particular need access to land use planning and zoning assistance and resources; and

WHEREAS, local governments would benefit from technical assistance and support in the areas of land use planning and zoning, and the land use planning and zoning resources and assistance available to local governments are currently inadequate; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico universities could serve as valuable resources to local governments by providing necessary assistance in the area of land use planning and zoning;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state's universities be requested to develop outreach programs to provide land use planning and zoning assistance to local governments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the boards of regents of eastern New Mexico university, New Mexico highlands university, New Mexico state university, western New Mexico university and the university of New Mexico.