Board approves private‑road variance for 19‑acre replat on property ID 193809

The Santa Fe Board of Adjustments on Jan. 13 approved a variance allowing a proposed replat on property ID 193809 to proceed with homes accessed by a private, unimproved road that would remain the responsibility of property owners rather than being dedicated to the city.

City staff summarized that the application sought permission to build homes served by a private road that would not be dedicated to the city and that, if approved, a notation about private road maintenance would be added to the subdivision plat. The property was described by the applicant as approximately 19 acres; staff said the proposed lots comply with agricultural residential district regulations.

Applicant Robert Bracknell told the board he and family members intend to create a “family compound” and said building a paved road to city standards would cost more than $500,000 with engineered drainage, which would trigger subdivision rules the applicants do not want. “We want a gated road, private, you know, gravel for now,” Bracknell said.

Board members raised concerns about fire and emergency access and noted the existing plat includes a 60‑foot flagpole entrance. Staff confirmed the 60‑foot opening would remain a 60‑foot entrance; the private road would not be accepted for city maintenance and therefore would not be required to meet all city dedicated‑road standards. The board discussed that private roads typically mean no city trash or mail service to the homes on that road and that each property owner would hold an equal interest in the maintenance easement.

A motion to approve the variance carried on a unanimous roll call. The approval was conditioned only by recording the private‑road maintenance arrangement on the final plat; the board did not require the street to be dedicated to the city. Any future building permits will still be subject to applicable design and fire‑access requirements at the time of permit review.