AREA MEETING MONDAY, JULY 27; DETAILS TO COME

We have just learned that Commissioner Virginia Vigil will host a public meeting on the annexation of Area 1 to be held Monday, July 27 at 6 PM at the Nancy Rodriguez Community Center, located at # 1 Prairie Dog Loop across from the Agua Fria Fire Station. More details here.

Keep the August ELUC and ELUA meetings on your calendars. These are critical and we need your attendance.

Check back here for updates.

IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND POSSIBLE NEW TOWN HALL

There are two important meeting possible withing the next two weeks, Stay tuned here for confirmation and details. We have learned there may be a Town Hall covered by the County on July 27, and another important meeting the next day. DETAILS TO COME.

Meanwhile, please mark your schedules for the critically important ELUA and ELUC meetings in August, details and contact in post below.

The Santa Fe New Mexican had this article on other areas being annexed, and this editorial on planning, which followed the previous editorial specifically about changes to our neighborhood.

"The greatest growth is expected inside Santa Fe's newly expanded city limits — the guessing is an additional 28,000 people. Will those folks represent enough revenue to pay for the police and fire protection they need? For the water they'd use — assuming the city system has enough to supply them? What about the 10,000 or more new homes they'd need? The streets along which those homes would lie — and the main roads their cars would travel? How much infrastructural investment will it take to absorb so many more families, to keep things going in a small town turned into a city of 100,000? How closely should the development of subdivisions, shopping centers and business parks be guided? Will our community's strict but mostly sensible land-use rules be eroded, case after case, by one slick sprawl promoter after another? Or will some local-government body sell out Santa Fe wholesale — and with it the streetscapes and lifestyle that have made this town the attractive one it is?"

Be informed. Be involved.

UPDATE

Thanks again to all who turned out at last night's final Community Outreach meeting regarding the City of Santa Fe annexation.

KOAT-TV covered the meeting and aired a brief clip of one of our members voicing concerns, watch the clip here.

REMINDER: The real action will take place at the next ELUC meeting August 13, with the ELUA set to approve the revised Rural Residential Ordinance with increased density allowances on August 27. Both meetings are at 6 Pm at 102 Grant Street, open to the public.

In the recent meetings we have continued to identify questions of concern, including: increased densities to 3 per acre, with distinct possibilities for MUCH HIGHER densities; water and sewer hook-ups, new roads through or near Coyote Ridge Road; Coyote Ridge Road becoming a thoroughfare to the area behind us; other road constructions around us; and others.

Please mark your calendars to attend the August meetings. If you can not, please take a moment to contact the Committee Members:

ELUA here; ELUC here, County and City here.

In the meantime, we continue to pursue other options - feel free to contact me for any information - we have assembled a good library of details. And follow this blog for updates.

ONE MORE COMMUNIY MEETING, THEN ELUC AND ELUA IN AUGUST

Several area residents attend last night's second of 3 "Community Outreach" meeting, the final one is next Monday at 5:30 at the Southside Library.

Basically, although intended for the entire annexation area, only residents from our immediate vicinity attended. The City Staff has become accustomed to our concerns and questions, but basically is just there to provide the City's party line.

The real action will take place at the next ELUC meeting August 13, with the ELUA set to approve the revised Rural Residential Ordinance with increased density allowances on August 27. Both meetings are at 6 Pm at 102 Grant Street, open to the public.

In the recent meetings we have continued to identify questions of concern, including: increased densities to 3 per acre, with distinct possibilities for MUCH HIGHER densities; water and sewer hook-ups, new roads through or near Coyote Ridge Road; Coyote Ridge Road becoming a thoroughfare to the area behind us; other road constructions around us; and others.

Please mark your calendars to attend the August meetings. If you can not, please take a moment to contact the Committee Members: ELUA here; ELUC here, County and City here.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me for any information - we have assembled a good library of details. And follow this blog for updates.

REMINDER - COMMUNITY MEETING MONDAY, JULY 6

We hope everyone had a festive and safe Fourth of July Holiday weekend. Now, time to get back to work.

First up, the second of three "Community Meetings" about the City annexation and pending zoning and density changes. Monday's meeting is at the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive.

Monday, July 6
Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM
Monday, July 13Open House: 4-5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND, PLEASE WRITE/CALL OR EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE ELUA. This commission will meet in August to pass a City Ordinance that will allow INCREASED DENSITIES OF UP TO 5 UNITS PER ACRE, among many other devastating changes to our rural neighborhood.

Here are the members of the ELUA:Rosemary Romero (city)Miguel Chavez (city)Carmichael Dominguez (city)Virginia Vigil (county)Harry Montoya (chair/county)Liz Stefanics (county)Kathy Holian (county)

Contacts:
Santa Fe City Council

Santa Fe County Commissioners

In case you missed it, among the many problems the City is facing (a budget that is not sustainable, cuts in services, etc) last week it was recommended that the City needs to increase sewer fees by 47%; this is just another hidden cost that we will absorb if annexed by the City.)

See you Monday!

THURSDAY (JULY 2) ELUA CANCELLED

We have just received official confirmation that Thursday's (July 2) ELUA meeting has been cancelled. The Rural Residential ordinance was to have been voted on.

Watch for the ELUC meeting on August 11, and the next ELUA meeting August 25.

The delay is to allow for the public to SPEAK UP at the next two Community Outreach meetings:

Monday, July 6

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 13Open House: 4-5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND, PLEASE WRITE/CALL EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE ELUA:

Here are the members of the ELUA:
Rosemary Romero (city)
Miguel Chavez (city)
Carmichael Dominguez (city)
Virginia Vigil (county)
Harry Montoya (chair/county)
Liz Stefanics (county)
Kathy Holian (county)

Contacts:

Santa Fe City Council
Santa Fe County Commissioners

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July....and remember, we are fighting own own independance battle!

IMPORTANT SERIES OF MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Hello All:

There are three VERY IMPORTANT meetings this week, and we urge everyone to attend and speak up.

First up, The City of Santa Fe will sponsor Community Outreach Meetings To Discuss Annexation Area Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Map. The open meetings are all scheduled for the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive.

NOTE: The "Rural Residential" definition as described on the notice map HAS ALREADY BEEN REVISED BY THE CITY TO ALLOW 3 AND UP TO 5 DWELLINGS PER ACRE.

Dates and Times
Monday, June 29, 2009
Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM
Monday, July 6
Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM
Monday, July 13
Open House: 4-5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

On Tuesday at 10 AM, the Board of County Commissioners meets at 102 Grant Street. Here is the agenda, there is an opportunity for public comment early.

Finally, the all-important ELUA will meet Thursday at 6 PM, also at 102 Grant, to re-hear and vote on the revised Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance. THIS MEETING IS CRITICAL.

HERE IS THE AGENDA.

Tell your friends and neighbors. We know it is difficult for all our schedules, but this week is critical!

ALERT: COMMUNITY MEETINGS SET

The City of Santa Fe today posted notice of Community Outreach Meetings To Discuss Annexation Area Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Map. The open meetings are all scheduled for the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive.

NOTE: The "Rural Residential" definition as described on the notice map HAS ALREADY BEEN REVISED BY THE CITY TO ALLOW 3 AND UP TO 5 DWELLINGS PER ACRE.

Dates and Times

Monday, June 29, 2009

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 6

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 13

Open House: 4-5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

It is imperative we turn out in large numbers to each meeting. This will be our first (and probably only) opportunity to voice our concerns in a public forum. Dramatic changes have already been made that will be contrary to the original agreement, which stated: "The Rural Residential District is intended to respect the existing rural residential character of the area and prevent urban densities".

Further, the City and County HAVE ALREADY AGREED to assign all land use decisions to the City, to be effective imminently - EVEN LONG BEFORE WE ARE FORMALLY ANNEXED.

Stay tuned. More to come!

ELUA MEETING JUNE 25 CANCELLED

We have just learned that Thursday's ELUA meeting has been cancelled. The ELUA was to re-hear the newly amended Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance.

We will post as soon as we know more. Stay tuned!

BLOGGER SHINES A LIGHT ON SANTA FE BUDGET AND HOUSING BUST

Two excellent posts on Joe Monahan's blog today, both address the City's falling revenue and home building bust. A good dose of reality! Full blog here.

Is Santa Fe Mayor David Coss falling behind the curve?

Gross receipts tax collections keep plunging, again coming in much lower than expected in April. That means the city budget just drafted is already outdated. You can't blame the mayor for keeping his fingers crossed and wishing for an economic rebound, but something more fundamental has happened and needs to be addressed. The epic boom in tourism in Santa Fe and America is over for now. The tax money generated by it in the 90's and early part of this decade is not going to be replicated anytime soon. Santa Fe city government appears to be in need of a restructuring so it can operate at permanently leaner levels. Either that or raise taxes.Coss is up for election next March and it seems he would rather cut in response to each monthly drop in tax collections. He wants to avoid layoffs at all costs. But Councilor Bushee and others seem more aware of (and less politically impacted) by the new paradigm. They are calling for deeper cuts to stabilize city government. Coss has a responsibility to keep the nation's oldest capital city humming along for the benefit of not only Santa Feans but the state and nation. Month to month budgeting is causing Santa Fe to really look like a "City Different," but not in a good way. Can't Coss and the Council have a "reality-based" budget meeting?

CARRIED AWAY

Unlike ABQ, Santa Fe did get carried away with the crazy housing speculation. As those bubble prices adjust (crash) construction jobs disappear. Add to the mix the lack of new state government jobs and you have a job market that is shrinking and a recession continuing. Occupancy for Santa Fe apartments is now just 83 percent. The median home price is now bouncing around the $350,000 level. That's down from the April 2005 all-time peak of $470,000, or a plunge of about 25 percent. The median has been as low as $308,000. Will we eventually break that level?The mantra that comes from the state spinners---"It's not as bad here as it is elsewhere"--is true for some parts of the state, but not for the storied city of Santa Fe and its budget-embattled leaders.