Santa Fe committee approves application to adjust Candelario Park boundary for Zia Station deceleration lane

The Quality of Life Committee on April 23 voted to authorize a city representative to apply for a lot line adjustment to widen Zia Road and add a deceleration lane that would use a narrow northern strip of Candelario Park.

The vote advances a step the city says is necessary to meet traffic-safety standards tied to the Zia Station mixed‑use development and to comply with the traffic engineer’s recommendation. Committee sponsors said the action simply allows the city, as property owner, to pursue the administrative lot‑line process; it does not itself change the plat or park ownership.

Assistant City Attorney Rebecca McCurman told the committee the Zia Station preliminary development plan, approved by the governing body in April 2021, requires roadway improvements as a condition of issuing certificates of occupancy. McCurman said the project’s traffic impact analysis (exhibit C, page 45 of the packet) recommended expanding Zia Road and adding right‑turn deceleration lanes designed to State Access Management (SAM) standards. She said the city’s traffic engineer, Leroy Pacheco, concluded a deceleration lane of the length identified would reduce rear‑end crashes and meet SAM guidance.

McCurman said the deceleration lane’s recommended footprint would extend into the park’s unimproved far northern edge. The packet included a dedication plat showing that the area in question was dedicated to the city by Western Development Company in 1978; staff described Candelario Park as approximately 6.6 acres with a developed area of playgrounds, courts and lawns and a larger unimproved portion to the north.

Committee sponsors said the lot line adjustment route was recommended because city code (14‑3.7.d) authorizes the land use director to approve lot‑line adjustments when the change does not increase the number of lots or density. McCurman explained that the governing body was acting only as the property owner and applicant and that the land use director would review and decide the administrative application; the director could, at their discretion, refer the matter to the planning commission for discussion but, McCurman said, code section 14‑3.7.d(1) does not require a preliminary plat hearing for this type of proceeding.

Councilor Alma Castro, a sponsor of the resolution, said Zia Station is an important phased, transit‑oriented project and that connectivity and traffic safety had been central to prior deliberations. Councilor Faulkner, the co‑sponsor, said the development had been extensively vetted — she cited roughly 10 hours of planning commission hearings and roughly 10 hours before the governing body — and said she supports the application because the city needs the roadway safety improvements and the reduction in park area would be “a little sliver” compared with broader traffic benefits.

Opponents on the committee emphasized process and public engagement. Councilor Michael Garcia voted no and said: "Big reason why I've voted no is I'm very concerned around—seems the priority is being given over the developers' rights versus the rights of residents and their due process rights." Councilor Castro said she was uncomfortable making the application while construction was already underway and stressed the neighborhood’s desire for more direct engagement. Committee members also said neighborhood leaders presented a petition of roughly 400 signatures at a prior Public Works meeting; staff did not include a copy of that petition in the Quality of Life packet.

On procedure and legal risk, McCurman said inaction could lead to litigation, including potential claims related to delays that prevent developer compliance with approved conditions or, in some factual scenarios, takings claims. She and staff advised that the lot line adjustment application is an administrative land‑use procedure and that any physical change would occur only after the land use director completes the review process.

The committee approved a motion to designate the city to apply for the lot line adjustment; the recorded roll call was: Councilor Chavis (yes), Councilor Faulkner (yes), Madam chair (yes), Councilor Castro (no), Councilor Garcia (no). The motion carried, 3–2. The action authorizes the city manager to designate an agent to submit the lot‑line application; it does not itself change the park boundary or authorize construction.

The item will return to the governing body for a full vote; staff and committee members agreed to encourage neighborhood review and to make the application materials available before any governing‑body action. The land use director remains the deciding official for the lot line adjustment under Santa Fe code.