QUESTIONS & ANSWERS : Open Space
1. What is the city’s intention around open space in the NWQ through perpetuity? (There is concern that
open space for the railyards was not followed through.)
The City of Santa Fe’s 1999 General Plan (with the vision for the next 20 years) calls for the Northwest
Quadrant north of 599 to be Open Space.
At the front of the Binder (passed out at the first Homework Group meeting) you will see the February
2007 Newsletter with a NWQ Planning History from 1715 to 2007. Throughout this time, the opinions of
planning for the NWQ have changed frequently, sometimes encouraging development, and sometimes
encouraging open space.
The City of Santa Fe has followed the open space requirements for the Railyards, and they will remain
as open space through perpetuity, under the guidance of “The Trust for Public Land” as the current
open space easement holder. The Park, Plaza and Alameda are being constructed by TPL, and will be
owned by the City of Santa Fe, and managed under a public-private partnership between the City and
the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation.
2. Tell us about Land Trusts and Federal protections as options for open space protection. What is the
cost of these Land Trusts?
The Land Trust System is a federally defined system for protecting open space in perpetuity. The
Owner of the land (who wishes to protect the land as open space through perpetuity) is required to
legally commit to an open space easement, and place the land under the oversight of a land trust
organization. The land trust organizations are required to make annual reports to the federal and state
governments for recording the status of the maintenance and protection of the land, as defined by the
open space easement, and federal tax laws.
There are Land Trusts in the Santa Fe area that can assist with protections for open space.
Some of those organizations are “the Santa Fe Conservation Trust” (phone # 989-7019) and “the Trust
for Public Land” (phone: 988-5922).
3. Can the homework group see trail sections around town? Where are surrounding paths, soccer fields,
and what expected to do with rest of NWQ? What amenities exist now for ATVs? Where would we find
Ordinances now for parks?
Anne McLaughlin is the City of Santa Fe Planner for Trails and Open Space, and is available for
discussion regarding Santa Fe’s trail sections. Anne has been coordinating public meetings fordiscussion and development of the trail system for the NWQ – La Tierra, with the last meeting held o
March 15th.
In addition trails and open space requirements can be seen in the City of Santa Fe’s Parks, Recreation
and Trails Master Plan 2001, and Chapter 14 of the City’s Land development Laws, both documents
are available through the City of Santa Fe Planning Division, and we will have a copy of both at the
Homework Group Meetings for further review and use during the meetings.
4. Does the City require water to be pumped over the ridge?
No, water can be used, or reused, for open space on both the north and south sides of the ridge. The
reference to “pumping over the ridge”, is a reference to wastewater, or sewage that will require either
an independent sewage treatment system on the north side of the ridge, or it will require a lift station to
be pumped up and over the ridge, so that it can tie to the other City of Santa Fe gravity lines.
5. Is this site good for windmills? Want to know how windy is the site?
No, this site is not a good site for windmills, due to the folding natural topography and bowls of land,
which tend to break up and cause choppy wind conditions.
6. What is the animal habitat?
The City of Santa Fe 1999 General Plan refers to this area as a “Pinion Pine Biotic Community”. The
General Plan has a section defining wildlife within the Urban Area as approximately 357 different
species of vertebrate animals (48 species of reptiles and amphibians, 61 species of mammals, and 248
species of birds). The General Plan does not differentiate which species are specifically in the NWQ,
but it does address which species are migratory and which species are threatened and endangered.
In addition the General Plan provides discussion on “Impacts of development on biological resources
and habitat”, with recommendations for future “Environmental protections” and “Implementation
policies”. We will have a copy of the General Plan at the Homework Group Meetings for further review
and use during the meetings.
7. Give vehicular parking for open space, what are the requirements?
Chapter 14 of the City of Santa Fe Land development Laws defines parking, and the City of Santa Fe’s
Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan 2001, defines parking for open space. Both documents are
available through the City of Santa Fe Planning Division, and we will have a copy of both at the
Homework Group Meetings for further review and use during the meetings.
In addition, the City of Santa Fe has excellent trailhead parking for the NWQ with the large parking area
existing at the Ortiz Dog Park.
8. What kind of natural habitats could be recreated with/without recycled water?
The ridgelines of the NWQ have been severely impacted by cars, trucks and ATV’s driving along the
ridgelines. These impacts include removal of trees, and eroded soils and storm-water conditions.
Repair and restoration of these ridgelines would require water support to replant and maintain
vegetation. The range of water that could be used for this purpose could be collection on site of stormwater,
effluent and grey-water as well as recycled water form the City’s waste-water division. Both the
City and County of Santa Fe have successfully restored natural habitats, and the same can be accomplished on the NWQ in locations determined by the Master Plan.
9. Discuss how the age of people in San Miguel, Mexico and Cinque Terre, Italy are able to live and move
through the very hilly conditions for open space and buildings. How will people get up and down the
hills in the NWQ open space?
Both the communities mentioned are filled with all ages of people, who have been born and raised in
hilly towns, just like San Francisco, California and Austin, Texas in our country. Many people feel that
climbing up and down hilly conditions lubricates the joints, and therefore helps to keep people feeling
young.
In addition, the NWQ would have many different systems available for people, bicycle, bus and car
movement up and down the hillsides, including meeting the “American Disabilities Act” requirements for
people with physical disabilities to easily access the open space systems.
10. Is the NWQ open space for the community living in the NWQ, or for all of the city and county? Can I still
use the dog park? What is the potential service area for this open space?
The NWQ open space would be available for all City of Santa Fe Residents to use, and would be well
connected to the Ortiz Dog Park as the trailhead parking area for the NWQ.
11. Where are the ridges?
The primary ridge that divides the northern site into eastern and western sections is indicated on the
site analysis map in your binder as the ridgetop district.
12. Is there a Topographic map?
Topography for the site can be seen on the ‘Relief Map’ and the ‘Site Analysis Map’ included in the map
set in your binder and on the website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Public Process: Carl Moore - carl@thecommunitystore.com
Technical Info: Claudia Meyer Horn - nwquadrant@designworkshop.com
|
|
