Hello Supporters, A resolution to use a "lot line adjustment" to give a portion of Candelero Park to the developer of Zia Flats is on the City of Santa Fe Governing Body Meeting agenda April 9, 2025,  item 16e. Zia Lot line Adjustment.

https://santafenm.portal.civicclerk.com/event/260/files/agenda/664

While this is not the proper legal way to partially vacate dedicated park land, the city is apparently not concerned. What counts for them is that this is the easiest way to "adjust" for the illegal way they have gone about encroaching on park land to facilitate the Zia Station development.

If this way of repurposing dedicated park land works for the city, it will set a precedent. The city will be able to take public land from any open space regardless of its platted dedication, by simply adjusting the lot line of the land to take it out of the dedication and repurpose it.

 This is not an isolated incident. It reflects a troubling pattern: from reducing a 22-acre park to 5 acres at South Meadows, to paving over a historic acequia along Agua Fria, to turning down opportunities to expand Frank Ortiz Dog Park while encouraging nearby development. All taking place under suspiciously murky negotiations.  

This does not involve a huge parcel of land, however it represents a breakdown in city governance and protections of dedicated tax payer lands into the future.

The  Zia Flats project has grown to over 350 residential units, while community members have been unfairly labeled as obstructionist “NIMBYs” for asking the developer to keep their promises and preserve dedicated park land. In reality, most surrounding neighborhood residents want a vibrant, successful development at Zia Station. Residents have consistently supported responsible growth. What they oppose is the erasure of public assets and the disregard for public trust.

Let’s be clear: the omission of the park land from the plans is not a simple mistake. It reflects negligence, or worse, intentional dishonesty. Are we seriously expected to believe that, after over 15 years of planning, everyone involved just “forgot” about the park and are prepared to hand it over to the developer with nothing in exchange?

This is the absolute worst outcome, not allowing for the replatting of tax payer land, not allowing for a park rededication, not providing a legal survey of park land conducted by an independent licensed surveyor (not the developers). Not informing constituents in an open and transparent way as promised at the meeting on 2/18/2025. All of which are the proper procedures for vacating public park land.

Please voice your concerns on Wednesday evening and contact your city councilors and the mayor.