The most important question we need to ask our planners, government and community leaders is: "Is Las Vegas sustainable?"

If we continue the growth and development patterns of the past, the answer is almost certainly no. Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development usually is framed as a balance between the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a community.

Obtaining that balance in the face of our tremendous growth will be a long-term and complex challenge. The Las Vegas District Council of the Urban Land Institute is up to the challenge and looks forward to establishing a meaningful dialogue with community leaders about sustainability and other important issues that face and yes, threaten our community.

Over the next four weeks, we will examine some of these issues in detail and, hopefully, stimulate discussion as we work together toward finding real solutions.

The Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit education and research institute, is nationally regarded for providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 36,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. Here in Las Vegas, we are preparing for the Institute's annual fall meeting and the arrival of the best and brightest in the real estate profession, nationally and internationally.

Our economic growth has been strong, but it is being threatened by our ability to provide an affordable community. It is becoming much harder to draw key people to our community as we struggle to provide an acceptable quality of life. We may need to rethink and reframe our economic future and create a vision for our community that allows us to remain economically vibrant while maintaining balance with the environmental and social aspects of our society. This is easy to say and difficult to do. Is economic diversification a realistic goal? Can we continue to keep developing multibillion-dollar Strip projects? These are questions we need to consider as we evolve a consistent vision of our community that will serve our children and grand children.

Managing natural resources effectively always is a challenge, but we have several environmental issues of particular concern: Air quality, water availability and quality, and environmental habitat, all have the ability to impede our sustainability as a community.

With respect to the social aspects of Southern Nevada, we are ranked very low in many categories as compared to other states. Providing quality education, adequate recreational space, adequate transportation infrastructure, and community infrastructure such as museums, zoos, gathering places, walkable communities and other community services, are all areas that require attention. We have been playing catch up for years. How do we adequately meet our current needs and then the needs of future generations?

This is a great and challenging time to be in Las Vegas. The good news is that there is a strong general awareness and positive action in our community with respect to many of these issues and we have good examples of action being taken. From the first LEED certified building at Molasky Corporate Center to the sustainable village that Pulte is developing in Summerlin to new urbanism at Inspirada to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve to the Performing Arts Center, there is evidence that our community is not only aware, but is being proactive. As the issues become more complex we need to look for best practices to help us find our way. What ULI does best is reach out internationally for bext practices, and with a current refocus on issues affecting the western states, it is positioned well to facilitate positive discussions for our community.

The Urban Land Institute's annual Fall Meeting is in Las Vegas this year and will be held at the Venetian Oct. 23-26. Further information is available at uli.org.