Santa Fe planning officials outline code updates, parking relief and ADU changes to boost housing

Maggie Moore, assistant land use director for the City of Santa Fe, told the meeting the planning department is updating the general plan for a 20–25 year horizon and rolling out phase 2 of code updates intended to accelerate housing production and improve affordability.

Moore said the city updated Chapter 14 and added an "enhanced affordability" package so developers who provide deeper affordability can qualify for additional incentives. "A 20% affordability is the minimum requirement now," she said; higher levels (30–50% or more) can unlock a new suite of incentives intended to make such projects economically feasible.

The department has relaxed parking requirements in some areas, allowed greater flexibility for accessory dwelling units (including allowing ADU height parity with primary residential structures), and explicitly encouraged "missing middle" housing types such as duplexes, triplexes and compounds that fit Santa Fe's historic pattern.

Moore also discussed process improvements, including a move toward electronic permit review and a development guide that aims to make requirements and timelines more transparent for applicants and residents.

On building volumes, Moore said the city permitted 249 single-family homes and 373 multifamily units in the most recent year, including 42 affordable homes in those counts; she noted earlier years had higher multifamily permitting (with up to 840 multifamily units in a prior year). The department said more projects remain in the pipeline.

Moore closed by inviting questions and urging residents to engage with the general-plan and code updates as they move forward.