Monday, January 23, 2023

Santa Fe council approves controversial rezoning

 

Via The Santa Fe New Mexican

January 22, 2023


A battle over a small swath of land that many say has big implications for the city’s future took a step closer to a conclusion Saturday




The Santa Fe City Council and Mayor Alan Webber voted 6-3 at a special meeting to approve a controversial rezoning request for a property on Old Pecos Trail.




“Keeping [one residence per acre] zoning anywhere in the city is not equitable, and it’s poor planning,” Councilor Renee Villarreal said, citing a statistic that around 60% of Santa Fe workers commute into the city. “I will not approve anything that is R-1. That kind of zoning contributes to people living outside our city.”

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

County Commissioner Anna Hansen Letter to Area 1 Consitituents

 January 9, 2023



Dear District 2, Area 1 Constituents,


I’m writing this letter to let you know that for the past 6 years I have tried to get the city to the table to finish annexation, provide services and complete the necessary road work on West Alameda. For the last year we have been having informal talks with the City of Santa Fe, trying to come up with some workable solutions. We have reestablished the EULU and the EULA . We will reappoint those position on the County side at our January 10 meeting. The City has appointed their members. Talks have been going slow and I am still advocating for this portion to be returned to the county after 14 years of you having to live with being under City Land Use code, but not being able to vote in city elections and that you receive no services from the City.

The only option I can offer you is to consider petitioning the Board of County Commissioner to join the Traditional Village of Agua Fria. You could never be annexed if that happened. You still have the right to petition, according to my county attorney but time is running out, as the city is actually meeting and talking with us. So this is what you must do if want to stay in the County. This is the only option I can offer. You qualify because you are adjacent to the Traditional Historic Village of Agua Fria and you are living on land that was once consider part of the village. Also I have provided a link to the Agua Fria Traditional Village Plan. Please see below the process for petitioning.

The link to the Agua Fria Village Plan 2015 Update:

https://www.santafecountynm.gov/media/files/2015%20Village%20of%20Agua%20Fria%20Com

munity%20Plan%20Update.pdf


The Agua Fria Village Association would be willing to reconvene another Planning Committee. Coyote Ridge was in the original boundaries of the Village historically (going back to 1640 and in the 1994 Incorporation by Agua Fria). I believe it was either Sandoval or Probst land.

Sid Monroe lives in the Coyote Ridge neighborhood and has been following this process for the last 
14 years. He will be the contact for you with this request. His phone number is 505-603-0986 and 
email sidneysmonroe@gmail.com





Enclosed are:

 NMSA 1978, Section 3-21-1, Subsection D of which requires submission of a “petition by 
twenty-five percent or more of the qualified electors of the territory within the village, community, 
neighborhood or district requesting the designation” as a traditional historic community as a prerequisite to the Board of County Commissioners designating an areas as a traditional historic community; and  NMSA 1978, § 3-7-1.1, Subsection A of which sets for the criteria for an areas to qualify as a traditional historic community.


N. M. S. A. 1978, § 3-21-1


§ 3-21-1. Zoning; authority of county or municipality


Effective: April 3, 2019


A. For the purpose of promoting health, safety, morals or the general welfare, a county or municipality is a zoning authority and may regulate and restrict within its jurisdiction the:


(1) height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures;

(2) percentage of a lot that may be occupied;

(3) size of yards, courts and other open space;

(4) density of population; and

(5) location and use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence or other purposes.

B. The county or municipal zoning authority may:

(1) divide the territory under its jurisdiction into districts of such number, shape, area and form as is necessary to carry out the purposes of Sections 3-21-1 through 3-21-14 NMSA 1978; and

(2) regulate or restrict the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or use of buildings, structures or  land in each district. All such regulations shall be uniform for each class or kind of buildings within each district, but regulation in one district may differ from regulation in another district.

C. All state-licensed or state-operated community residences for persons with a mental or developmental disability and serving ten or fewer persons may be considered a residential use of property for purposes of zoning and may be permitted use in all districts in which residential uses are permitted generally, including particularly residential zones for single-family dwellings.

D. A board of county commissioners of the county in which the greatest amount of the territory of the petitioning  village, community, neighborhood or district lies may declare by ordinance that a village, community, neighborhood or district is a “traditional historic community” upon petition by twenty-five percent or more of the qualified electors of the territory within the village, community, neighborhood or district requesting the designation. The number of qualified electors shall be based on county records as of the date of the last general election.

E. Any village, community, neighborhood or district that is declared a traditional historic community shall be excluded from the extraterritorial zone and extraterritorial zoning authority of any municipality whose extraterritorial zoning authority extends to include all or a portion of the traditional historic community and shall  be subject to the zoning jurisdiction of the county in which the greatest portion of the traditional historic  community lies.

F. Zoning authorities, including zoning authorities of home rule municipalities, shall accommodate 
multigenerational housing by creating a mechanism to allow up to two kitchens within a single-family zoning district, such as conditional use permits.

G. For the purpose of this section, “multigenerational” means any number of persons related by blood, common ancestry, marriage, guardianship or adoption.


Saturday, November 18, 2017

County Commission Aproces Resolution To open Discussions With the City



The Santa Fe New Mexican has a synopsis of the County Commission's decision:



County moves to open annexation dialogue with city

Santa Fe County commissioners want to talk with city leaders about what the county manager says are lingering issues regarding annexations, and one commissioner hopes to broach the idea of possibly changing course on an area of the county north of West Alameda Street that is scheduled to become city territory in 2018.

“My constituents do not want to be city residents,” said Commissioner Anna Hansen, whose district encompasses that area.

But the city manager said he does not anticipate much appetite on the city’s side for renegotiating annexation agreements.

County commissioners this week approved a resolution, introduced by Hansen, to request a meeting with city councilors on various concerns, namely which entity will be responsible for drainage improvements on Alameda, a possible transfer of a county-owned park that sits on city land and whether arrangements for two county areas ought to be reconsidered.

Commissioners sounded a note of caution about whether city policymakers would have time to address county concerns before the March 6 city election.

“It’s bad timing on the county’s part, realistically,” Commissioner Anna Hamilton said. “We’re not likely to be talking with them.”

Hansen said she simply hoped to begin discussions before March, when city voters will fill four seats of the eight seats on the City Council and elect a new mayor.

“I do want to put pressure [on] the city to start thinking about it,” Hansen said. “Whoever becomes the mayor and whoever are the new city councilors need to know this is something they’re going to have to face and talk about.”

At the County Commission meeting this week, Hansen asked residents who live in the area north of West Alameda Street to stand; seven or eight did. Hansen said these residents felt they had not been adequately represented in local government and wanted to express their wish to have their properties remain outside city limits.

Commissioner Robert Anaya said negotiations surrounding a phased series of annexations had been difficult and time-consuming, centering on which entity was best-suited to provide police and fire protection services to a given area.

City Manager Brian Snyder later echoed that sentiment to The New Mexican.

“I think there is interest in discussion about the challenges annexation presents going forward,” Snyder said, “but in my conversations with councilors so far, there has been little appetite for going so far as to open the agreement back up for renegotiation, especially with elections looming and political season upon us.

“So for the time being, we’re going to continue to implement and follow that agreement,” he added, “and anything beyond that will be a decision made by the governing body.”

Anaya said he wants to include law enforcement and fire departments of both the city and county in whatever discussions might take place between councilors and commissioners.

The next phase of annexation will be complete by June 10, according to a county memo.

Monday, November 13, 2017

WE ARE BACK! IMPORTANT ANNEXATION MEETING TUESDAY, 11/14



IMPORTANT ANNEXATION MEETING



The Annexation issue for Area1 has mostly been dormant for several years. The scheduled date for formal annexation has constantly been kicked down the road into the future, leaving many important issues unresolved for our neighborhoods including zoning, emergency services, and the like.

Our recently elected County Commissioner Anna Hansen is bringing forward a resolution TOMORROW, Nov. 4 14 at the beginning of the County Commission meeting between 2-3 pm..

PLEASE ATTEND. WE NEED TO ORGANIZE AND GET INVOLVED ONCE AGAIN TO PROTECT THE RURAL QUALITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS!

Scroll through this blog for a comprehensive history of this issue. Hope to see all of our neighbors our tomorrow!!!




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!