Committee approves resolution to pursue lot line adjustment for Zia Road deceleration lane after neighborhood objections

The Santa Fe Public Works and Utility Committee voted April 21 to approve a resolution directing the city manager to appoint an agent to apply for a lot line adjustment to widen Zia Road and install a deceleration lane that would use roughly 1% of Candelario Park’s northern boundary. The motion passed on a roll call after public comment and discussion about process and public notice.

Neighbors urged the committee not to authorize the action without fuller public review. "The resolution being considered tonight ... leads with a false quotation of the park dedication," said Aku Oppenheimer, president of the Candlelight Neighborhood Association, during public comment, arguing the language misstates the deeded dedication and that state and municipal statutes limit vacations of land dedicated for public use. Rick Martinez and Margaret Marshall, both Candlelight residents, backed those objections and said the city should have flagged the issue earlier in approvals for the adjacent development.

Why it matters: The decision would change the use of a small portion of parkland owned by the city to accommodate a traffic safety feature…