Contested Camino Verde variances draw hours of testimony on traffic, fire risk and open space

Hearing officer Taylor Hartstein presided over a lengthy Santa Fe County hearing on case 265050, during which Samara Real Property's representatives sought three technical variances tied to a proposed Camino Verde subdivision north of Highway 599 at Camino La Tierra.

The variances under review would: reduce side and rear setbacks in the residential estate zoning district from 25 feet to 10 feet; allow driveway separation from the return radius of intersections to be reduced from 100 feet to 60 feet; and permit limited disturbance of slopes exceeding 30 percent for erosion-control work in specified locations. Staff recommended approval with conditions; Hartstein said he will issue a written recommended order with findings of fact and conclusions of law within 15 business days and that the Planning Commission is expected to consider the matter in May.

Why it matters: The hearing focused on whether the requested dimensional changes are narrowly tailored technical fixes or whether they would permit clustering that changes the semi-rural character of adjacent neighborhoods, increase traffic through a single access corridor, and pose fire-safety or ecological risks. Opponents argued the requests are "self-created" by the developer's design…