Say NO to exclusionary zoning on Santa Fe's North Side!
To the County Commission,
We, the undersigned, urge you to reject the proposal to absorb approximately 1,100 acres of land, more than half of it vacant, on Santa Fe’s north side into the traditional village of Agua Fria.
With this proposal, Board of County Commissioners Chair Anna Hansen and her allies in the Coyote Ridge subdivision have been clear in their intent to impose very low-density zoning (no more than one unit per acre) on the vacant land. Hansen’s proposal is an attempt to exclude certain types of zoning that would make it impossible to build affordable housing on Santa Fe’s north side.
The Village of Agua Fria is a “traditional historic community.” The traditional historic community designation was established by the State as a tool to preserve community identity. It was not intended to be used as a tool to prevent the development of affordable housing on neighboring property. By allowing the designation to be misused in this way, the County Commission would be contributing to the housing shortage at a time when limited supply and near-historic high home prices have created a full-blown housing crisis.
Furthermore, Hansen’s proposal would prevent higher-density housing and transit-oriented development close to jobs on the north side, Midtown, and Downtown, which is key to breaking our automobile addiction and reducing our climate footprint.
Hansen’s proposal is also just bad land use planning. The more than 600 acres of vacant land should be master planned to consider the future needs of the north side community –– including affordable housing, public open space, biking and walking trails, and public amenities accessible by foot, bike, public transportation, and car.
Rejecting Hansen’s proposal is not just about preserving the ability to build affordable housing on the north side. It’s also about promoting a fair and equitable community for all Santa Feans. Removing a large parcel of land from the north side would further concentrate development on the south side –– which would increase de facto segregation in our city. And, as residents continue to be pushed out of the city at an alarming rate, we need more infill housing so Santa Feans can continue to live close to where they work and go to school.
We urge you to stand up for the people of Santa Fe and reject Hansen’s proposal. Let's work together to plan for the future thoughtfully and promote a fair and equitable community for all. Thank you for your consideration.