Santa Fe historic review board approves multiple home projects, postpones large Paseo de Peralta plan after neighbor objections

The Santa Fe Historic Districts Review Board on June 23 approved a string of staff‑recommended renovation and accessory‑structure projects but declined to move forward with a large two‑site townhome proposal on Paseo de Peralta, sending that project back for redesign.

At the start of the meeting staff reported a municipal-court outcome for a property-maintenance case and announced that long‑time city planner Gary (last week) will retire; the board then took up new business. Staff presentations, applicants’ testimony and public comment shaped every decision.

What the board approved: staff recommended and the board voted to approve individual applications for alterations and accessory structures including the 1226 Cerro Gordo Unit A remodel (staff: Amanda; motion by Member Cherry), a modest addition and separate guest structure at 619 West Alameda (staff: Lanny; conditions requiring rounded corners and minimum window reveals were included), a 426 sq ft freestanding carport at 998 Acequia Madre, a bifold garage‑door redesign at 539 Garcia Street, a detached garage at 301 Camino Militar, and a remodel at 426 Delgado Lane (the Delgado approval included a condition that the new vehicular gate be fenestrated to match an existing pedestrian gate). In each case staff found the proposals consistent with the historic‑district design standards (section 14‑4.6) and the board adopted the recommendations.

Why the Paseo de Peralta proposal was postponed: staff presented paired cases for 507 and 511 Paseo de Peralta proposing a combined nine townhomes and associated site work. The applicant said the design relied on earlier approvals; neighbors and multiple board members disputed that characterization and said the plans should be reviewed de novo. Public commenters living uphill on Magdalena Road, including Shahan Pearl, told the board they were worried about an unengineered, leaning retaining wall and about a proposed 0‑foot setback that would put new second-story windows at eye level with adjacent houses. Pearl said, “It seems like a terrible idea to build a multimillion‑dollar structure directly on [that] fault, especially with a 0 setback,” citing safety and privacy concerns. Board members also questioned massing, the mix of steel elements, cantilevered roofs, and whether staff’s packet was adequate for such a prominent site. The applicant and the architect said earlier approvals existed and that they were willing to revise designs; the board then voted to postpone both Paseo cases to allow the applicant to resubmit a redesign and to work with staff and, if needed, a board subcommittee.

1295 Cerro Gordo — retaining wall exception denied, other elements approved: property owner Harvey Monroe requested multiple exceptions, including additions that would exceed 50% of the historic footprint and removal of roughly 12 feet of a stone retaining/planter wall to create a front driveway. Neighbors and longtime residents told the board the field‑stone planters and walls are historic, cited safety and access patterns on the irregular Sierra Gordo/Cerro Gordo block, and urged preservation. After hearing testimony the board found the applicant had not met the exception criteria for the additions and for removal of the contributing wall and denied those particular exception requests. The board did, however, approve other elements of the application (window replacements and certain repairs) and the garage component had been withdrawn by the applicant and will be resubmitted separately.

Board process and next steps: where applicants indicated a willingness to redesign, the board postponed rather than denied to allow resubmission; the city attorney advised the board that postponement can have procedural implications because it delays a final decision and can affect appeal rights. For the Paseo de Peralta project the applicant agreed to redesign and the board signaled willingness to form a small subcommittee to work with the applicant if that would help refine plans before they return. The items approved at this meeting will proceed to the permit phase subject to conditions set by the board.

Votes at a glance - Case 2026012513 (1226 Cerro Gordo Unit A): Motion to approve adopted (applicant: Christopher Purvis; mover: Member Cherry). Approved. - Case 2026012285 (619 West Alameda): Approved with conditions (rounded corners and minimum 2" reveals). Approved. - Case 2026012487 (998 Acequia Madre): Freestanding carport approved as submitted. Approved. - Cases 2026012490 & 2026012491 (507 & 511 Paseo de Peralta): Postponed for applicant redesign after public comment and board concern about scale, height and setbacks. Postponed. - Case 2026012579 (539 Garcia Street): Garage‑opening redesign approved. Approved. - Case 2026012569 (301 Camino Militar): Detached garage approved. Approved. - Case 2026012578 (426 Delgado Lane): Remodel and exception to remove a small section of yard wall approved with condition (vehicular gate fenestration to match pedestrian gate). Approved. - Case 2026012571 (1295 Cerro Gordo): Exceptions to exceed 50% historic footprint and to remove a section (~12 ft) of contributing retaining wall denied; other non‑controversial repairs and window replacements approved; garage withdrawn for re‑submission. Mixed outcome.

What residents said: neighbors emphasized retaining‑wall stability, privacy impacts of 0‑foot setbacks, and incompatibility of proposed heights and massing with the single‑story homes uphill. Board members repeatedly asked applicants to demonstrate how projects harmonize with streetscape character and to provide clearer materials for large or prominent projects.

The board closed after brief staff acknowledgements and a remembrance of retiring planner Gary. Items postponed will return when applicants submit revised plans.