The Santa Fe Planning Commission on Nov. 6 approved the Vista De La Sierra Phase 3 preliminary subdivision plat, subject to conditions that address trails, fire access, affordable housing and construction-traffic staging.

Senior planner Claudia Cath presented the application for a 24.42-acre Phase 3 that the applicant amended to add six lots (bringing the phase to 128 lots). Cath said phases 1 and 2 were under construction; Phase 3 is composed of two tracks (3A and 3B). The application calls for a mix of lot sizes, sidewalks, internal roads built to sub-collector standards, on-street parking, a neighborhood park and a trail connection that the applicant will extend to meet the existing Nava Ade trail.

Public comment from adjacent neighborhoods focused on traffic congestion and pedestrian safety at Governor Miles Road and Dancing Ground (especially at school dismissal), construction trucks using local neighborhood streets (Whispering Wing, Dancing Ground) and privacy/height concerns for properties bordering the new phase. Neighbors asked for traffic-calming measures (roundabout or 4-way stop warrant analysis during school dismissal), a stronger enforcement mechanism to prevent construction trucks from using small residential streets, and for the developer to limit building heights on the lots that abut Nava Ade.

Applicant representatives said they accepted staff conditions and technical corrections. Applicant engineer Carl Sumner told commissioners the applicant will construct the trail connector to the existing Nava Ade trail, will work with Parks to obtain permission to construct on city-owned land where required, and will resolve engineering for a disputed drainage pond prior to final plat. On the record, the applicant also agreed to the neighborhood''s request that the seven lots bordering Nava Ade be limited to single-story homes.

Staff and the applicant agreed on additional required items: a meeting with the fire marshal to finalize the emergency-exit design; an amended affordable-housing agreement to reflect the added lots and updated numbers; and coordination with stormwater and traffic engineers to resolve outstanding comments prior to final plat. Commissioners emphasized the need for a construction-staging and circulation plan that limits heavy construction vehicles from using narrow local streets; staff said they will require that plan as the project moves forward.

Commissioner Moreno moved to approve the preliminary plat subject to staff conditions and the applicant''s commitments; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. Follow-up actions include final engineering for the drainage/pond design, documentation of water rights additions required by the water utility, and finalization of the affordable-housing agreement.

Speakers quoted in this article are recorded in the Planning Commission transcript and staff report.