Tuesday, November 27, 2012

NOTICE OF SPECIAL JOINT SANTAFE COUNTY/CITY MEETING



Notice of a meeting concerning the ongoing City/County Annexation developments has been published. We are attempting to find out what the “Amendment No. 1 To The Annexation Agreement Between The City Of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County” agenda item is, it may be an extension to the original agreement which expires in May of 2013. We encourage all homowners in Area 1 of Phase III attend.

November 29, 2012 5:30 PM
Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave.

Notice of Special Joint Santa Fe County / City Meeting

November 29, 2012 at 5:30pm -7:30pm
Agenda

I. Call To Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval Of Agenda 

Amendments
Tabled Or Withdrawn Items

IV. City County Joint Services And Annexation Discussion (Continued From August 15, 2012)

A.
Annexation
1. Road Transfer Agreement For Phase II (Discussion And Possible City/County Action). (Adam Leigland, Ike Pino)

2. County Of Santa Fe And The City Of Santa Fe Mutual Aid Agreement For Law Enforcement Services. (Discussion And Possible City/County Action) (Sheriff Garcia, Pablo Sedillo III, Chief Rael)

3. Amendment No. 1 To The Annexation Agreement Between The City Of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County (Discussion And Possible City/County Action) 

4. Public Comment 

5. Next Steps

B.
Future Meetings 

1. City/County Issues 

2. Next Meeting 

V. Adjournment

Santa Fe County makes every practical effort to assure that auxiliary aids or services are available for meetings and programs. Individuals who would like to request auxiliary aids or services should contact Santa Fe County Manager’s Office at (505) 986-6200 in advance to discuss specific needs (e.g., interpreters for the hearing impaired or readers for the sight impaired).

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

" For it to work, though, the process must be transparent and accessible, bringing together potential residents and current homeowners every step of the way"



Santa Fe New Mexican editorial, November 11, 2012

"We agree — but want to caution both government officials and folks at Homewise to go above and beyond to include neighbors in planning and discussions about developments in the area. We like that affordable housing is spreading to different parts of the city — that means a more diverse mix of children in schools, for example, and helps unite our community. For it to work, though, the process must be transparent and accessible, bringing together potential residents and current homeowners every step of the way."

Thursday, November 8, 2012

NEXT IN NOVEMBER



In light of the recent developments, it is time we all started watching the County/City as issues surrounding the "presumed" annexation of our area are discussed.

Next meetings:

Board Of County Commissioners
November 13, 2012 2:00 PM
Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave.

County/City Special Annexation Meeting
TBA Nov 27



Stay tuned, stay informed, Be ready!!

Friday, October 26, 2012

HERE IS THE LATEST



As published in the October 25 edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican:

Homewise buys land near Aldea subdivision

Santa Fe nonprofit that builds affordable housing recently made a large land purchase on the city’s northwest side.

Homewise closed a deal in September to buy 238 acres on both sides of N.M. 599 near the Aldea neighborhood, Executive Director Mike Loftin said.

The agency’s plans to build affordable housing in that part of the Santa Fe urban area is in line with a community vision to economically integrate the city, said Loftin. Both the city and the county adopted “inclusionary zoning” rules in the last decade that require some homes in each subdivision to comply with rules on affordability.

“We think this is our last chance to be able to do something on the north side, because if the housing market bounces back, we will be priced out,” he said.

The purchase includes an already-platted subdivision north of the bypass called Tessera, with 74 lots that have roads and complete infrastructure. The nonprofit will first focus on building single-family homes there.

In the second phase of development, Homewise will tackle another 78 lots there were approved more than 10 years ago by Santa Fe County, but won’t see construction for a number of years, he said.
The third section of the newly purchased land is 92 acres south of N.M 599 in an area slated for future annexation by the city of Santa Fe. Although a Homewise project there is also years in the future, neighboring residents are already concerned that the area’s new “rural residential” zoning will create too much density. Any housing proposed for the tract would have to undergo the city’s development review process and comply with its rules.

According to county records, the land in the 1990s was owned by Christian Brothers of Santa Fe, who owned and operated The College of Santa Fe. In 1998, the Christian Brothers got approval to divide lots on both sides of the bypass. By 2001, Michael Hurlocker had bought the land and secured development permission to put 166 lots on 146 acres north of the bypass.
Loftin said Hurlocker sold 14 of the lots but only a handful of homes were constructed. Homewise now owns the balance of the developed lots.

Wide streets with curbs and gutters at the Tessera subdivision wind around a ridge connecting with Aldea, a fairly dense subdivision with a variety of housing types. Tessera lots are identified with numbers; however, the only buildings there appear to be a pair of contemporary-looking homes that sit together at the end of a cul de sac. Electric boxes are idle and street signs direct nonexistent traffic.
Hurlocker envisioned the Tessera development as a “community of single-family contemporary homes,” but those plans apparently fell through. His website still lists a price range for lots there ranging between $99,000 and $210,000. Hurlocker did not respond to a request for comment this week. He told several people that he decided to “give the land back to the bank.”

Homewise bought the land from Los Alamos National Bank and now plans to build both market-rate homes and housing that qualifies for government-assisted, first-time homebuyer programs, Loftin said. The nonprofit understands the nature of the area and wants to build some houses that are closer to other, more pricey homes already there, he said. Homes will range in size from 1,000 square feet to 2,000 square feet, he said.

“Given the surrounding community, we knew that we have to build a bigger, more expensive home because we don’t want to have a negative effect on our neighbors. We want to show that affordable housing can fit in anywhere,” he said. “It is not this thing to be avoided. It is something that can contribute to a great neighborhood.”

Ann and Tom Woodward were among the first families to move into a single-family unit in Aldea about seven years ago. They said Thursday that they support plans to put affordable housing in nearby Tessera.

"We really think this is terrific," Ann Woodward said. "We think it would be useful for all the communities out here."

While low-cost housing has been relegated mostly to the southwestern side of the city during a building boom over the last two decades, Homewise recently completed an affordable-housing development on the city’s southeast side near Quail Run and is working on homes in the PiƱon Ridge area on the west side.

Sid Monroe, secretary of the Coyote Ridge Homeowners Association, which abuts the southern side of the new Homewise land, says he and many of his neighbors are worried that city rules, which will allow more homes per acre, will eventually change the character of the region. Mostly, however, he said they don’t want to miss opportunities to weigh in on whatever is proposed.

“We are just going to stay on top if it,” Monroe said. “We kind of got burned during the annexation process and we just don’t want to be blindsided and have Homewise do a development plan and ask for early annexation and change in zoning and us be totally caught unawares.”

Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 at jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.





Saturday, October 20, 2012

ALERT!!

 
 
 
ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS IN AREA 1
 
MAJOR CHANGES ARE HAPPENING INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE LARGE UNDEVELOPED TRACTS OF LAND IN AREA 1. MAJOR CHANGES ARE HAPPENING INVOLVING DENSITY TRANSFERS AND MULTIPLE DWELLINGS PER LOT CONTRARY TO R1 ZONING THAT WAS ADOPTED.
 
 
 
WE NEED TO RE-ORGANIZE AND FORM A COALITION OF HOMEOWNERS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION. YOUR RIGHTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ARE AT STAKE!
 
CHECK BACK HERE FOR UPDATES AS SOON AS WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

CITY/COUNTY MEETING AUGUST 15



The next Joint Santa Fe City/County Meeting takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, August 15 at the

County Commission Chambers, County Administration Building, 5:30 to 7:30

Agenda is posted here:

http://www.co.santa-fe.nm.us/documents/agendas/agendas/JointCityCountyAgenda8-15-12.pdf

Please attend and participate in the future of YOUR neighbohood!


Friday, July 20, 2012

WHAT NOW?




We attended last night's joint City/County meeting on the status of the stalled Phase II and III annexation. We'll try to summarize the meeting here for our neighborhood homeowners and interested parties.

Reading between the lines, the situation seems to be this: both the City and County feel obligated to complete the annexation, as it resulted from a Court-mandated settlement. The major stumbling block is money - how to pay for the services required.

Presentations were made by the City and County attorneys, the City Police Chief and County Sheriff. Unfortunately, although the City and County Fire and EMS department patiently waited, the meeting was adjourned without their testimony.

Unfortunately, there was NO discussion of finances,  just a push to "get it done". Not one word about how much it will cost to bring roads up to grade, plow them in the winter, provide water/sewer, or trash collection; or hire the additional required law enforcement officers (currently, both the City and Sheriff forces are understaffed and have vacancies as it is).

No presentations by anyone from a budget or finance committee? Phase II and II involves almost 10,000 acres and several thousand homeowners, and we don't know how it will be paid for?

A few excerpts from coverage of the meeting in today's Santa Fe New Mexican:

"No formal action was taken at the meeting, but councilors and commissioners told their staffs to keep working on the details of the transition."

"...asked staff to come up with new estimates on how much each jurisdiction will give and take to comply with previous agreements about public safety, roads and utilities."

And, from The Albuquerque Journal North:

"How are we going to pay for these things? That’s really where we’re at,” said City Councilor Patti Bushee in a joint meeting between the Santa Fe City Council and County Commission."


Ultimately, the meeting set off alarm bells as it is clear there is no formal plan, budget, or roadmap to successfully completing annexation and providing required services. Several residents asked the governments to halt future annexations.

WE believe it is time for residents of Phase III to come together and form a coalition to look out for our best interests. It is clear neither the City nor the County has any intention of doing so.


UPDATED DOCUMENTS
Copies of documents circulated to City/County Staff last night available here:

Packet Material/Documents





Wednesday, July 18, 2012

HERE WE GO AGAIN.... with UPDATE

Updated Thursday, July 19:
NOTE NEW LOCATION AND AGENDA


July 19, 2012 5:30 PM
Ballroom A Santa Fe Convention Center, 201 West Marcy St.

AMENDED NOTICE Change of Location

Notice of Joint Santa Fe County / City Meeting
New Agenda: 
Amended Agenda 7-19-2012

All concerned residents of the "Phase 3" annexation are encouraged to attend tomorrow's joint City/County meeting on the state of annexation. Details and agenda below:


Be sure to read the related article in today Santa Fe New Mexican:
See you there.