La Cienega/La Cieneguilla Community Plan

Transcription

Adopted via Resolution 2001-117 – 14 August 2001
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Plan
Proposed Revisions – September, 2012
La Cienega/La Cieneguilla Community Plan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................... .................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:............................................................................................................ ......................4
SECTION I - INTRODUCTION & PLAN SUMMARY……………………………………………………... 6
SECTION II - EXISTING CONDITIONS & TRENDS……………………………………….……………….9

HISTORY & COMMUNITY CHARCTER/ ……………………………………….….9

WATER RESOURCES ....................................................................................................11

WATER QUALITY &WASTE WATER………………………………………………26

OPEN SPACE…………………........................................................................................ . 29

AGRICULTURE........................................................................................................... ..... 31

TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS ............................................................................... 33

UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE....................................................................................... 35

SOLID WASTE.................................................................................................................. . 36

FIRE PROTECTION......................................................................................................... 37

AIRPORT...................................................................................................................... ....... 39

COMMUNITY FACILITIES................................................................................... ......... 40
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SECTION III – EXISTING LAND USE, FUTURE LAND USE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT.................….41
SECTION IV – COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN………………………….................................................................... 57
SECTION V - GOVERNANCE/IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ORDINANCE ….65
MAPS:
Map 1 - La Cienega-La Cieneguilla Planning Area……………………………………………………………………….9
Map 2 - Water Resources of La Cienega-La Cieneguilla…………………………………………………………………12
Map 3 - Lower La Cienega Irrigated Agricultural Lands………………………………………………………………..14
Map 4 - Upper La Cienega Irrigated Agricultural Lands………………………………………………………………..15
Map 5 - Upper La Cieneguilla Irrigated Agricultural Lands……………………………………………………………..17
Map 6 – Water Resources of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla……………………………………………………………19
Map 7- La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Existing Land Use………………………………………………..……………...42
Map 8- La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Future Land Use………………………………………………………………...46
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2001 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
La Cienega Valley Association Board Of Directors
Robert Romero, President
Karla Blaine
Carnille Bustamante, Secretary
Lucielle Romero
Grey Howell
Charlie C' de Baca
José Varela Lopez
Reynaldo Romero
Marilyn Ballard
Andres Carrillo
Kathleen McCloud
Billy Schenk
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Committee
Pete Ayala
Alonzo Gallegos
Marilyn Ballard
JJ Gonzalez
Jim and Karla Blaine
Linda Grill
Carnille Bustamante
Grey Howell
Barbara C' de Baca
Tom Kellie
Charlie C' de Baca
Judy Kowalski
Daniel C' de Baca
Mary and Leonard Montano
Andres Carrillo
Joe Orr
Elaine Cimino
Isaac Pino
Tom Dixon
Carl Potter
Carl Dickens
Rey Romero
Santa Fe County
Commissioner Marcos Trujillo, District 1
Commissioner Paul Duran, District 2 (Chairman)
Commissioner Javier Gonzales, District 3
Commissioner Paul Campos, District 4
Commissioner Jack Sullivan, District 5
Carl Dickens
Vioma Trujillo
Tom Dixon
Jasper Vassan
Linda Haynes
Robert Romero
Billy Schenk
Tom Simons
Michael Romero Taylor
Warren Thompson
Vioma Trujillo
Richard Valerio
Charlie Velarde
Gilbert Vigil
Jose Villegas
José Varela Lopez
Dan Wallender
Judy McGowan - Planner III
Alina Bokde - Planner II
Paul M. Olafson - Planner I (Co-Lead Planner)
Robert Griego - Planner I (Co-Lead Planner)
Kenny Pin - Lead Planner (1998-2000)
Penny Ellis-Green, Development Review Specialist III
Katherine Yuhas, County Hydrologist
Erie Wright - GIS Director
Jim Gallegos – GIS Technician
Samuel O. Montoya — County Manager
Estevan Lopez - Land Use Administrator
Jack Kolkmeyer - Planning Division Director
NOTE: The original Community Plan document was adopted in August, 2001. A copy of that document is available at the Santa Fe Office of the County
Clerk, Book 2064/2065, pages 960-020.
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2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
La Cienega Valley Association Board Of Directors
Carl Dickens, President
Judith Hands, Secretary
Gail Murray, Treasurer
J.J. Gonzales
Reynaldo Romero
Mary Dixon
Robert Romero
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Committee
Gene Bostwick, chairman
Kathryn Becker
David Camp
Tom Dixon
Rick Dumiak
Alonzo Gallegos
Tino Gallegos
Stan Jones
Sylvia LeMaster
José Varela-Lopez
Ivan Trujillo
Santa Fe County
Stephen C. Ross – County Attorney
Penny Ellis-Green, Deputy County Manager
Shelley Cobau - Building Development Manager
Robert Griego - Planning Manager
Arnold Valdez - Senior Planner
Tim Cannon – senior Planner/G.I.S.
Duncan Sill – Economic Development
Karen Torres, County Hydrologist
Commissioner Daniel Mayfield, District 1
Commissioner Virginia vigil, District 2
Commissioner Robert Anaya, District 3
Commissioner Kathy Holian, District 4
Commissioner Liz Stefanics, District 5
Kathryn Miller - County Manager
Jack Kolkmeyer - Growth Management Director
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SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION & PLAN SUMMARY
The Valley of La Cienega is comprised of Lower La Cienega, Upper La Cienega and La Cieneguilla and surrounding areas. These villages share many traditional
similarities and have worked together through discussion, education, listening and negotiation to create a community plan that encourages sensible and sustainable
growth.
As unincorporated communities throughout Santa Fe County have
experienced rapid growth over the past two decades, the Board of County
Commissioners and community members are addressing the issues that
result from the changes. In 1996, the Board of County Commissioners
requested that the Land Use Department and Planning Division begin
working to help Traditional Communities and Contemporary Communities
develop local land use plans. Santa Fe County Ordinance 1998-5 describes
the process for conducting community plans and provides for County staff to
assist communities in developing plans. Santa Fe County's Community
Planning process and ordinance allows for local community groups to request
assistance in developing community plans. The La Cienega Valley
Association (LCVA) was formed in 1995. With the draft of the City of Santa
Fe's General Plan calling for expansion of their urban boundary, the citizens
feared imminent annexation into the city limits. The LCVA approached the
County to request that a community planning process be initiated in the La
Cienega and La Cieneguilla. At the Board of County Commissioners meeting
on March 11, 1997, the LCVA requested permission to proceed with a
community plan and outlined initial planning boundaries. The group was
instructed to survey residents within the proposed boundaries to seek their
approval of inclusion in a Plan. County Planning Division staff began
working with the LCVA and other community members to develop a plan for
the area.
Satellite Image of the La Cienega/La Cieneguilla Planning Area
The La Cienega/ La Cieneguilla Community Plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners as an amendment to the Growth Management Plan on August
14, 2001via resolution 2001-117. In June of 2002, many aspects of the plan were adopted and codified by Ordinance 2002 -9 as amendment to the Santa Fe County
Land Development Code.
Much has changed in the valley since the plan was adopted in 2001. Population has increased 27% fr om 3,007 people in 2000 to 3,819 people 2010.
Correspondingly, 261 new homes were added and commercial development in areas adjacent to the valley has intensified. In 2010 , the NM Railrunner Station at the
interchange of NM 599 and I-25 just northeast of the plan area opened with over 200 parking spaces and bus connections to Los Alamos and Santa Fe, making it an
important regional transit hub for northern New Mexico.
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Additionally, in late 2010 the County adopted the Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP) and is now in the process of developing the Sustainable Land
Development Code (SLDC) which will replace the current code and implement many of the directives from the SGMP.
Many issues identified in the 2001 Plan are still relevant and are addressed in this update. Of primary concern is the continued draw down of the valley’s surface and
ground water resources, the desire to preserve and enhance the rural character related to residential development, pedestrian connections, open space, agriculture,
and the acequia systems, and the need to coordinate and plan for increased commercial activities both within and adjacent to the plan area.
Establishment of the Planning Boundary:
The physical boundaries of the Planning Area are designed to recognize the traditional uses of the land and how development w ould impact the communities.
Expansion of the City of Santa Fe and possible annexation of the Planning Area's communities threatene d many of the grazing lands and open lands connecting the
villages which are crucial to the fabric of the communities. Through discussion by the Planning Committee, historic and rural importance was assigned to these
areas. The planning area boundary follows the Traditional Historic Communities boundary that was established under State Law (NMSA 1978, Section 3 -21-1),
and Santa Fe County Resolution 2000-07 The boundary follows the upper edge of the La Bajada escarpment on the south, follows topographic fe atures and County
Road 56 C to the west and north, the southern airport boundary and NM State Highway 599 to the north and east, and Interstate 25 to the east and south. (See Map 1:
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area.). Within the core of the planning area the 1980 Santa Fe County General Plan delineated a Traditional
Community Zoning District. Further refinements to the planning area resulted in the delineation of La Cieneguilla Historic Ar ea based of the boundaries of the
historic land grant and the remaining traditional lands (2012).
The Community Planning Process:
In order to deal with the inevitable changes and plan for the future, the residents of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area have worked together to create a
community plan. Planning in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla must be consistent with the community's history and the ways that past pla nning efforts have shaped the
area. The planning process must include the opinions and ideas of residents, business owners and property owners in order to be representative of the community.
This Plan represents the product of countless hours of volunteer time from community members, friends and neighbors that was spent in meetings, discussions,
disagreements and friendly conversations regarding how these communities will best be able to direct future development. The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla
Community Plan is the result of the community identifying a common set of concerns, goals that address these concerns, and th en create clear policies to achieve the
goals for future development in the community. This Plan is a guide for the future growth of the La Cienega and La Cieneguill a Planning Area that is consistent with
the directives of The Sustainable Growth Management plan.
The Plan helps to inform the Board of County Commissioners and the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Communities about land development proposals in the
planning area. The Community Action Plan a component of the Community Plan will help in structuring proposed prog rams and projects that will be considered for
funding through County programs such as the Infrastructure Capital Improvements Program (ICEP) and other sources. The communi ty planning process is not static
and plans can be amended as new conditions arise, allowing for the community plan to evolve over time as the community changes.
Intent and Purpose
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The purpose of this plan update is to:
 Document and map changes from 2001 through 2011 and analyze impacts.
 Revisit elements, strategies and recommendations identified in the 2001 La Cienega/ La CieneguillaPlan.
 Establish a land use plan that supports the community’s vision and goals.
 Provide recommendations for zoning and development standards to revise Santa Fe County Ordinance No. 2002 -9, the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla
Traditional Community Zoning District and for incorporation into the SLDC.
 Draft a Community Action Plan that lists goals and identifies strategies to solve problems on an on -going basis with an emphasis on developing
collaborative relationships between residents, governmental agencies and community organizations.
Plan Update Objectives
The following objectives were developed to guide the plan update:
 Planning in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla will be consistent with the community's history and examine the ways that past planning efforts have
shaped the area.
 The planning process will include the opinions and ideas of residents, business owners and property owners in order to be rep resentative of the
community.
 The update will be the result of the community identifying a common set of concerns, goals that address these concerns, and identify clear policies to
achieve the goals for future development in the community.
 The plan update will be used to guide the Board of County Commissioners and the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Communities when considering approval
of development proposals in the planning area.
 The Plan Update will identify and prioritize project and programs to be considered for funding through County and /or other programs
VISION STATEMENT
“The vision for our community is one of a peaceful and rural nature, one that respects diversity and is governed through unit y. We resolve to
protect our natural environment and unique character by honoring our traditional culture and the area's historical, agricultural, livestock and rural
low density residential development traditions. We wish to maintain our self-sufficiency and protect our community from urban sprawl. We wish
to live in a community where people of all cultures and incomes share in decision making; a community in which any changes, improvements and
decisions are dictated by realistic understanding of our available resources and by our vision of our relaxed and open qualit y of life.”
The citizens of Upper La Cienega, Lower La Cienega and La Cieneguilla adopt this vision statement along with the SGMP
Principles for Sustainable Growth Management to serve as the guiding principle for the implementation of this plan.
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Map 1 - La Cienega-La Cieneguilla Planning Area
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SECTION II - EXISTING CONDITIONS & TRENDS
History and Community Character
The history of the La Cienega Valley and its traditional
historic communities of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla date
back thousands of years. As the name Cienega (Spanish for
marsh) implies, the La Cienega Valley contains marshlands
formed by natural springs that have attracted passersby and
settlers since well before the time of Christ. Archeological
surveys conducted over the years yielded archaeological
sites ranging from camp sites of the Archaic Period five
thousand years ago to ruins of an early 20th century school
house. This high level of archeological site density is
indicative of numerous ancient settlements throughout the
valley. Overall, La Cienega Valley has one of the highest
concentrations of historic occupations in the Santa Fe
vicinity.
"Settlement in Colonial New Mexico was in effect a
transplantation, a new version of the order that had
prevailed in Colonial Mexico and Spain. It was not the
work of footloose individuals in search of adventures or
wealth, but of a small homogeneous groups of simple
people who brought with them their religion, their family
ties, their ways of building and working and farming.
JB Jackson, Cultural Geographer, La Cienega Resident
Fields in La Cieneguilla circa 1955
The oldest traces of human use can be found on the slopes overlooking the numerous springs in the area. The mesa escarpments are dotted with petroglyphs and rock
etchings that date as far back as three thousand years, when American Indians took advantage of the ever present water so vital to us even today. About the time of
Christ, people began living in pit houses presumably on a year round basis. Over the centuries, people began the transition of living in surface structures made of
puddled adobe or stone, or a combination
At the time of Spanish contact in the late 16th century, there was mention of at least two considerably large Indian Pueblos in the La Cienega Valley referred to as
"La Cienega" and "La Cieneguilla". La Cienega continued to be inhabited through the 17th century by Tano Indians. La Cieneguilla was abandoned by the Keres
Indians in the early 1600's but subsequently reoccupied by the Spanish in the 1630's. The location of the Cieneguilla Pueblo is in the present village of La
Cieneguilla whose mesas are adorned "with petroglyphs inscribed over thousands of years. La Cienega is located on the mesa ad jacent to the confluence of the Santa
Fe River and La Cienega Creek.
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The earliest known Spanish settlement in the valley is the 'Sanchez Site" otherwise known as LA, 20,000 dating from 1630 to the time of the Pueblo Revolt in 1680.
It is a very important site located in the southern part of the valley that was partially excavated in the 1980's and is now owned and protected by El Rancho de Las
Golondrinas. Other pre-revolt estancias are known to have existed at that time, although none have been located. Collectively the numerous archaeol ogical sites
constitute a concentration of historic resources that need to be protected and preserved. The Galisteo Basin Archaelogical Sites Protection Act passed by Congress
and signed into law on March 19, 2004 includes La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Pueblos and is the process of developing a manag ement plan that will offer federal
protection for these sites. Other significant sites within the boundaries of the planning area may be worthy of inclusion in the Act.
While the communities of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla are both located
within the La Cienega Valley, the Spanish settlement of each village was very
different. La Cienega rapidly increased in population due to the fact that
common lands were easily settled and the availability of water. La Cienguilla
started out as a private Spanish Land Grant. The original grantee, Francisco
Anaya De Almazan, was conferred title to over three thousand acres by Don
Diego De Vargas m 1693. Extensive settlement of La Cieneguilla did not
occur until some 50 years after the Anaya De Almazan family sold the grant.
Currently, the remaining traditional land of the grant is located near the
mouth of the Santa Fe River.
After the Spanish Reconquest in 1692 and throughout the Spanish Colonial
period, various place names are recorded for a number of ranchos in the La
Cienega Valley including "Guicú",
os Tan ues , as olondrinas , El
lamo , a apilla ie a and El a on". The springs that seep throughout
the valley made these areas very desirable for ranching and grazing. In
addition, El Rancho de las Golondrinas was a major paraje (stopping place) on
the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro that traversed along the Santa Fe River
serving as the first stop leaving Santa Fe when traveling south and the last stop
for travelers before entering Santa Fe coming north. Even today, remains of
the trail ruts can still be seen in the La Cienega Valley. The names of the early
Spanish settlers are ones that are prevalent today in the valley: Baca,
Bustamante, C' de Baca, Delgado, Gonzales, Montoya, Ortiz, Perea, Pino,
Rael, Romero, and Sanchez to name a few.
La Cieneguilla Land Grant, map circa 1898
The La Cienega Valley continued to be used for farming and ranching in the 19th century and up to the present. The valley was a busy place in the 19th century as
reflected in the census of the time. By World War II, with the development of better roads, motor vehicle travel enabled the economy of the La Cienega Va lley to
change. More and more people found work in Santa Fe and families sent their children there for schooling. By the early 1980 's, the settlement patterns of La Cienega
and La Cienguilla were changing dramatically; more affordable land was located in this part of the Santa Fe area where famili es could live. The area was caught in
an incredible surge of residential development, creating many changes in the cultural landscape of the valley.
Collectively the numerous archaeological sites constitute a concentration of historic resources that need to be protected and preserved. The Galisteo Basin
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Archaeological Sites Protection Act passed by Congress and signed into law on March 19, 2004 includes La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Pueblos and is in the
process of developing a management plan that will offer federal protection for these sites. Other significant sites within th e boundaries of the planning area may be
worthy of inclusion in the Act.
a ienega’s rich cultural heritage is evident in the continuation of agriculture production in the community, local building form and pat terns, and even in
ac uisition and management of public lands. In 2004, the United States ongress passed the “ alisteo Basin rch aeological Sites Protection ct” in recognition of
the uni ue historical value of the basin’s archeological resources. The ct designates four sites in a ienega and a ieneg uilla as “ alisteo Basin rcheological
Protection Sites” and directs that sites should be protected and preserved:
 La Cienega Pueblo and Petroglyphs- The La Cienega Pueblo dates to A.D. 1100- 1300. It contains over 140 rooms and over 1,000 petroglyphs. The site is
not accessible to the public.
 La Cienega Pithouse Village- The La Cienega Pithouse dates to A.D. 700-900. It is not accessible to the public.
 La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs/Camino Real de Tierra Adentro- The Camino Real de Tierra Adentro provided connections among native peoples prior to
European contact, and later between colonial Mexico City and Santa Fe. Extensive petroglyphs are associated with the trail.
 La Cieneguilla Pueblo- The La Cieneguilla Pueblo dates to 1325-1600. The Pueblo was abandoned and resettled and eventually had a Spanish and
Mexican village built on it. It is not open to the public.
Since the 2001 plan was adopted, the Bureau of Land Management has made significant land purchases to expand their holding in La Cienega and further protect the
community’s historical as well as natural resources. The agency, in cooperation with community members and other governmental bodies, has also developed a plan
to manage the communities land resources (portions of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla also are covered by the La Cienega Area o f Critical Environment Concern, a
BLM designation that signifies a need for land management to protect “national significant cultural resources as well riparian, wi ldlife, and scenic values”).
Other public lands significantly contribute toward preserving the community’s historical resources. S anta Fe National Forest land, BLM land, and Santa Fe County
open space all contain portions of the Camino Real and although only the BLM petroglyph site has interpretative resources to facilitate public visitation of historical
resources, all public lands in the area are managed with an objective to protect the communities uniquely valuable cultural resources. In addition, a loc al nonprofit
has operated a living museum on a historic hacienda for over forty years in the community. The location, the earliest known Spanish settlement in the valley, is the
'Sanchez Site" otherwise known as LA, 20,000 dating from 1630 to the time of the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. It is a very importan t site located in the southern part of
the valley that was partially excavated in the 1980's and is now owned and protected by El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. Other pre-revolt estancias are known to have
existed at that time, although none have been located.
What does this all mean? It means that the La Cienega Valley has always been a desirable place for people to live, raise the ir families, grow their crops, graze their
livestock and welcome strangers. It means that we in the valley have become stewards of a cultural landscape that has nurtured our forebears and welcomed recien
emigrados (recent émigrés) to the valley for centuries. It means we have a responsibility to preserve as best we can the lay of the land, the water and its traditions,
while at the same time allowing controlled growth to take place that respects one's neighbors.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Total Population Growth in population for the plan area from 1990 to 2010 has been relatively high for the County. As figure XX describes, the La Cienega CDP
(census dedicated place), which includes most of the populated portions of the plan area, grew substantially between 2000 and 2010. The 27% population increase
observed between 2000 and 2010, while substantial is actually a less dramatic increase than occurred in the 1990’s. . Between 1990 and 2000 the population
increased from 1,066 to 3,007 representing a 182% increase. In general, La Cienega has a growing population as result of both residential population growth and in-
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migration, but the rate is slowing.
2000
2010
Change 2000-2010
no. of people
no. of people
change 2000-2010
% change 2000-2010
3007
3819
812
27%
Figure XX: La Cienega Population Change between 2000 and 2010 Source: 2000 and 2010 Census
Two decades of growth in the community has resulted in a population size equal or greater than many incorporated New Mexico c ommunities and towns:
Community/Town
Population
Chama Village, Rio Arriba County
1,022
Agua Fria, Santa Fe County
2,800
City of Santa Rosa, Guadalupe County
2,848
Town of Clayton, Union County
2,980
Village of Chimayo, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba County
3,177
Town of Edgewood, Santa Fe County
3,735
La Cienega and La Cienguilla, Santa Fe County
3,819
Village of Bosque Farms, Valencia County
3,904
Town of Taos, Taos County
5,716
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Village, Bernalillo County
6,024
Figure XX: Population of other small New Mexico towns and communities Source: 2010 Census
Housing Characteristics
Growth in housing units also is also relatively high for the County. According to both the census and County data on residential structures, the nu mber of units has
increased 24% from approximately 1079 units in 2000 to approximately 1340 units in 2010. The percent of owner oc cupied units and rental units has remained the
same while number units that are vacant has increased. However, the percentage of units that are vacant remains rather smal l and the observed increase between
2000 and 2010 may not be significant( a ienega’s vacancy rate was only 6% in 2010 while Santa Fe ounty’s was over 13%).
2000
2010
Change 2000-2010
no. of units
% of total
no. of units
% of total
no. of units
% of total
Occupied Housing
1033
96%
1259
94%
226
22%
Vacant Housing
46
4%
81
6%
35
76%
Owner Occupied
800
77%
966
77%
166
21%
Renter Occupied
233
23%
293
23%
60
26%
Occasional Use Housing
9
1%
12
1%
3
33%
Figure XX: Change in La Cienega Housing Characteristics between 2000 and 2010 Source: 2010 Census
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Age Structure and Ethnicity
ompared with the community’s population and housing growth figures, other population characteristics, such as age structure and ethnicity have been more stable
(see figure XX). The percent of the population that identifies as Hispanic or Latino as increased from 9% from 2000-2010 while the percent of the population that
identifies as not-Hispanic or Latino has decreased by 9%. The percent of individuals under the age 18 has remained the same while the percent o f population ages
50-64 has increased 6% and the percent over 64 has increased 3%. Continued increases the elderly population may increase the need for community service s in the
area.
Ethnicity
2000
no. of people
% of total
pop.
2010
no. of people
% of total
pop.
change 2000-2010
change in pop. % change, 20002000-2010
2010
Hispanic or Latino
Non-Hispanic or Latino
2129
878
71%
29%
3069
750
80%
20%
940
-128
44%
-15%
under 18
18 & over
20-24
25-34
35-49
50-64
65 & over
935
2072
N/A
N/A
N/A
404
129
31%
69%
N/A
N/A
N/A
13%
4%
Age
1172
2647
205
440
869
740
273
31%
69%
5%
12%
23%
19%
7%
237
575
N/A
N/A
N/A
336
144
25%
28%
N/A
N/A
N/A
83%
112%
Figure xx: Change in Ethnicity and Age distribution between 2000 and 2010 Source: 2010 Census
Employment
The limited amount of commercial development and community services in La Cienega may limit employment opportunities available within the community . Most
working residents travel outside the community for work. Average commute times are about 23% higher in La Cienega than in Santa Fe County as a whole and
most La Cienega residents work in industries that are unevenly represented in the community. However, the significant numbe r of residents who work from home
in the community ( it is possible that opportunities for home based businesses may ameliorate the spatial mismatch between jobs and housing in the community:
Percentage unemployed
Percentage who work from home
Mean travel time to work
Median income
Percentage employed in construction
3.2%
8.1%
26.2 minutes
$51,891
19.9%
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Percentage employed in public administration
Percentage employed in educational services, heath care and social assistance
Percentage employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services
Percentage employed in arts, entertainment, and recreation, accommodation, and food services
Percentage employed in retail trade
Percentage employed in transportation and warehousing, and utilities
Percentage employed in other services (except public administration)
Percentage employed in finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing
Percentage employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining
Percentage employed in wholesale trade
Percentage employed in public administration
Percentage employed in educational, health and social services
Percentage employed in information
Percentage employed in manufacturing
Community Employment Characteristics Source: 2010 Census
18.0%
17.5%
8.2%
7.0%
6.9%
6.9%
4.8%
3.5%
3.4%
1.9%
1.8%
1.8%
1.5%
0.5%
EXISTING LAND USE, ZONING & DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Traditionally, the rural and agricultural character of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area has shaped local settl ement and land use patterns.
Communities were formed along waterways to ensure irrigation for crops while upland areas were used co mmonly for grazing, wood collection and other household
purposes. Early settlement by pre-pueblo and pueblo communities was characterized by compact housing areas near water sources. Beginning in the 1600's, Spanish ,
Mexican and United States immigrants expanded development along the waterways and acequia systems as the population grew. Housing units were typically
clustered in familial and community compounds. The primary land uses were for housing, irrigated agriculture and grazing. Thi s type of land use required
coordinated management and stewardship practices to maintain shared water resources and common lands or ejidos for livestock, timber and other uses. These
agricultural and community traditions have defined where people built homes and how the community grew well into the 1900's.
Since the I980's, land-use patterns have focused on expansion of housing developments in the Planning Area. Urban pressures from the City of Santa F e's growing
population as well as internal growth from settled families spurred rapid growth in the Planning Area. According to figures from Santa Fe County's 1996 Draft
General Plan, the area's population has grown to approximately 155% of the ideal size described in the 1980 County General Pl an. New development has been
intense in upland areas near the intersection of NM State Highway 599 and Interstate 25 as well as
Aerial photo of La Cienega/La Cieneguilla
planning area in La Cieneguilla. Growth has also occurred in Upper and Lower La Cienega where traditionally irrigated lands have been converted to housing
sites. The Planning Area has become an attractive bedroom community for Santa Feans looking for the rural amenities of quiet living, low traffic and open spaces.
Ironically, the new development pressures threaten the Planning Area's traditional rural character, farm fields, running acequias, and open spaces which make the
area attractive. The demand created for new housing drives real estate prices up as well as property taxes on undeveloped and agricultural property, thus encouraging
more development by making agricultural uses less viable. Community members have expressed that they feel overpowered by deve lopment and a lack of local
input into land use decisions. One of the primary intents of the Plan is to protect and maintain the rural character and non-urban style development that makes the
area special to residents while providing for community input in future land use decisions.
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The plan area’s growth continues to be influenced by close proximity to the ity of Santa Fe, its desirable rural and histori c character, a market preference for low
density single family housing, and low initial development costs relative to many other areas proximate to the City of Santa Fe. Increase in employment associated
with the Community College District, the Airport, the National Guard and new commercial growth in Southwestern Sector of the City may also be a contributing
factor. Other factors may include proximity to transportation facilities including easy access to I-25, NM 599, NM Route 14 and the opening of the New Mexico
Railrunner Express station in 2010.
Existing Land Use
With the exception of the public lands, a few private ranches, Las Golondrinas Living History Museum and the Santa Fe Downs Property, land uses in the planning
area continue to be predominantly low density single family residential with a few large and medium sized parcels remaining i n agricultural use. Since 2001 over
1000 acres has been transferred from private property to public property and is now under the control of the Bureau of Land Mana gement and Santa Fe County Open
Space. This transfer from private to public lands has significantly reduced the amount of land in t he planning area available for single residential development.
Commercial Land Use
Community
% of parcels in commercial use
Commercial services and employment opportunities in the community are limited. Other than RV
Pojoaque
3.7%
and mobile home parks, open-yard commercial operations, a small number of home-based craft
Arroyo Seco
3.9%
studios and shops, and the Flea Market at the Downs which includes a farmers market on weekends,
Agua Fria
4.6%
there are no grocery stores, gas stations, or retail services in the plan area. As figure XX makes clear,
La Cienega
1.3%
the number of commercial establishments is low relative to the number of commercial
establishments in other small communities in the county.
Figure xx: Percentage of parcels in commercial use in
La Cienega and other Communities in Santa Fe County
Trends Influencing Commercial Development
The amount of commercial services in the plan area will be heavily influenced by land use regulations including those related to home businesses, changes in
ownership or land uses on large properties, and commercial development adjacent to the community. Details on each of these major factors influencing commercial
development are as follows:
 Home Businesses and Occupations: Home businesses and occupations continue to play an important economic role in the community . Santa Fe County has
record of about 8.1% of residents work from home according to American Community Survey 5 year estimates. Small home-business scaled business
operations include a lodging facility, a furniture maker, and an upholstery shop. While home businesses have the potential to increase opportunities for
commercial and employment services, concerns remain about their neighborhood impacts. For instance, since the 2001 plan an a sphalt and seal coating home
business in La Cienega raised community concerns several years ago when they expanded their business and heavy equipment storage
 Large-Scale Commercial or Quasi-Commercial Properties:
o Santa Fe Downs- The Santa Fe Downs property has traditionally hosted recreational or semi-commercial land uses. Currently, the property hosts a
flea market on weekends and leases soccer fields to teams during the week. The property is adjacent to most of the other commercial
establishments in the community which is mostly located in Upper La Cienega and several properties between the Downs and the NM 599 / I-25
Interchange are used for open yard commercial and rv or mobile home parks. Santa Fe Downs is expected to produce a master plan in the nearterm that proposes more intensive development on the property.
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o
Sunrise Springs- Sunrise Springs is a lodging, restaurant and retreat facility. The property has extensive gardens and water features and in the past
has provided gallery space. The Sunrise Springs property may also produce a master plan in the near to long -term that proposes alternate land uses
for the property.
Adjacent Commercial Development and other Uses Adjacent to the La Cienega Planning Area
Several properties adjacent to the Planning Area have been developed or are slated for intensive development. These include ;
 Santa Fe Municipal Airport
 23 acre Koomis property at I-25 and N.M. 599
 The Pavillion business park , 371 acres located along N.M. 599 near the airport
 Las Soleras, mixed use commercial and residential development, 550 acres located northeast of the outlet mall development
 National Guard complex on approx. 80 acres located across I-25 from the Las Estrellas/racetrack area
Community Facilities
For the size of the population of the plan area there are also relatively few community facilities. There are no medical c linics, public schools or developed parks in
the community. However the community does host County facilities including the La Cienega Community Center, Fire station and the Transfer Station; and there
are a couple of churches and cemeteries that provide a variety of services to the community.
Public Lands
Public lands in La Cienega and La Cieneguilla encompass about 46% of the planning area. They are managed b y alternate public agencies at the federal, state, and
local level operating under various management ob ectives. a ienega’s public lands contribu te greatly to protecting the community’s natural resources, cultural
heritage, scenic amenities, and recreation value.
 B M: In 2004, the United States ongress passed the “ alisteo Basin rchaeological Sites Protection ct” in recognition of t he unique historical value of the
basin’s archeological resources. The ct designates four sites in a ienega and a ieneguilla as “ alisteo Basin rcheolo gical Protection Sites” and directs
that sites should be protected and preserved: La Cienega Pueblo and Petroglyphs; La Cienega Pithouse Village; La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs/Camino Real de
Tierra dentro; and a ieneguilla Pueblo. The B M is the lead agency in managing a ienega and a ieneguilla’s archeologi cal resources and most of the
community’s archeological resources recognized in the Galisteo Basein Archeological Sites Protection Act are located on agency land. The agency ha s
increased their land holdings in La Cienega substantially since the adoption of the 2001 community plan and has developed a m anagement plan for its La
ienega and other northern New Mexico land holdings. While much of the agency’s management focuses on historical resources preservation, BLM lands are
also managed for habitat values and support community uses such as grazing. The BLM Petroglyphs/Camino Real de Tierra Adentro is one of the few
developed interpreative sites on La Cienega public lands.
 FOREST SERVICE LANDS: Forest Service lands in La Cienega provide grazing opportunities under the Caja del Rio grazing allotm ent (the allotment extends
beyond the community planning area and supports in excess of 500 head of cattle). The portions of the Sa nta Fe National Forest in the La Cienega and La
ieneguilla community planning boundary do not have any developed recreational sites although the Forest Service’s 2012 Trave l Management Plan shows that
a new road may be built through the portions of the Santa Fe National Forest in the community planning area.
 STATE LANDS: State lands encompass nearly 750 acres of the planning area. They border public lands managed by the federal B ureau of Land Management
and developed private lands. While state lands have limited trails, they do not have other developed recreation sites or interpretation resources. State lands
currently host several agriculture leases and one commercial lease as follows:
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

o Agricultural lease 386 acres gm 2828 Reynaldo Romero
o Agricultural lease 258 acres Carlos Kellogg gs2291
o Agricultural Lease 45 acres Santa Fe County Commissioners GO2335
o Agricultural Lease 40 acres Barbara Stein gm 2892
o Commercial lease .35 acres BL 1037000 Connie Rivera Chavez effective date 6/25/2011
o Commercial lease .35 acres BL 1037000 Connie Rivera Chavez effective date 6/25/2011
COUNTY LANDS: County open space holdings include holdings in La Cieneguilla and La Cienega.
o La Cieneguilla: A part of the property at La Cieneguilla is included in a site boundary for t he Galisteo Archaeological Sites Protection Act, under
the designation for the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs and management of the property for historic preservation is provided for b y a Memorandum of
Agreement between the County and BLM . The County manages the riparian corridor along the Santa Fe River and regularly removes non-native
trees and plans native trees. The ounty also has an agreement with the Santa Fe irl’s School to use the part of the proper ty along the river for
outdoor education and limited water quality monitoring.
o La Cienega: El Peñasco Blanco in La Cienega includes the Springs and restoration work at Los Carrizalles. This property is open to public (access
is only possible via horseback or foot), but at the wishes of the La Cienega community, the property lacks any interpretative or directional signage.
o Santa Fe Canyon Ranch: Santa Fe County acquired the 470-acre Santa Fe Canyon Ranch property and facilities in 2009. The purpose of the
ac uisition was to protect the property’s significant scenic, environmental, and historical value. The County has not developed a plan for the
developing the property, however a 2010 survey of residents conducted by the County revealed a community preference for the p roperty to be
preserved as open space or developed with low-intensity land uses such as recreational facilities.
PUEBLO LANDS
o Santo Domingo Pueblo owns approximately 3500 acres located at the southwest corner of the planning area. The land is not cur rently designated
as tribal land, but it may receive this designation in the future.
Existing County Zoning and Regulation
Land uses, densities and related environmental aspects of development in the plan area are currently regulated by the Santa Fe County Land Development Code
1996-10 (SCLD 1996-10) as amended through zoning and development regulations, including Section 6, La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Traditional Com munity
Planning Area and La Cienega Traditional Community Zoning District which was adopted via Santa Fe County Ordinance 200 2-09. (See Map 2 Existing Zoning)
Summarized below are general zoning and development regulations that pertain to land use, density and related environmental a spects of development in the plan
area.
General Provisions:
Acequia Setback Requirements:
o No new structures or permanent fences or walls that will impair or obstruct normal operations of an acequia shall be permitted withi n six (6) feet of
community acequias.
Acequia Association Review of New Development:
o Prior to issuance of development permits for activities that may interfere with acequia operations including fences, walls, grading, drainage and septic
systems, applications for development within twenty-five feet (25') of an acequia must be reviewed by the affected acequia association.
Utilities Requirements:
o All new and replacement utility lines and fixtures must be installed underground
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Development Impacts Requirements
o Limits on light and noise pollution
Landscaping Requirements
o Landscaping recommendation and requirements for preserving native plants, water conservation, use of xeriscape materials and principles, rainwater
collection and storage systems, reuse of gray water, storm water recharge.
Septic Tank Requirements:
o All new septic tanks shall meet or exceed existing New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and County standards and be equipped with an
above ground access port.
Ridgetop Protection Requirements:
o Building on slopes greater than 15% and ridgetops comply with Code requirements such as setbacks, screening and buildable are as.
Residential Development Regulations:
o Residential water use is limited to .25 acre feet a year regardless of base zone. The request for additional water consumptio n requires a water budget
and proof of 100 year water supply.
o The maximum density shall not be increased even when community water and sewer systems are provided except where density transfer is used to
protect sensitive lands or preserve community assets.
o Lot Coverage, the total roofed area of principal and accessory structures, shall be no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area.
o Allowable uses within the Planning District include residential, agricultural and mixed uses if associated with home occupati ons.
There are four base zones for residential development that currently regulate density in the plan area:
 Homestead Zone:
o Allows 1 dwelling unit per 160 acres. With proof of 100 year water supply through a geohydrologic reconnaissance report, and application of water use
covenants, the maximum density may be increased to one dwelling unit per 40 acres. If an adequate 100 year supply of water, and no impairment to
neighboring wells, is proven by an on-site geohydrological well test, land may be further divided to a minimum of 2.5 acres per 1 dwelling unit.
 Basin Fringe Zone:
o Allows 1 dwelling unit per 50 acres. With proof of 100 year water supply through a geohydrologic reconnaissance report, and application of water use
covenants also known as La Cienega Watershed Conditions, the maximum density may be increased to one dwell ing unit per 12.5 acres. If an adequate
100 year supply of water, and no impairment to neighboring wells, is proven by an on -site geohydrological well test, land may be further divided to a
maximum of 2.5 acres per dwelling unit.
 Basin Zone:
o Allows 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres. With proof of 100 year water supply through a geohydrologic reconnaissance report, and adoption of wa ter use
covenants also known as La Cienega Watershed Conditions, the maximum density may be increased to one dwelling unit per 2.5 acres.
 La Cienega Traditional Community District
 The minimum lot size and density is one unit per 3/4 acres.
Commercial Development Regulations:
 The Planning District limits commercial zoning to those existing at the time of adoption. These properties are restricted to uses, intensities and densities
identified on their approved master plans. This includes The Santa Fe Downs property which is zoned for outdoor recreational uses.
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

Expansion or establishment of new commercial development on properties with commercial zoning are subject to the La Cienega Watershed
Conditions and restricted to .35 acre of water per year per acre if on a domestic well. The code also requires for a water r esource submit a water
resources plan at the time of application. The water resources plan must demonstrate secured access to a 100year supply of water as well as secured
water rights, as required by state law and/or the Code to meet all current and projected demands for the business operation.
Lot Coverage: the total roofed area of principal structures and accessory structures, roadways, driveways, walkways and parking facilities shall be no
more than sixty percent (60%) the total lot area.
Prohibited Commercial Development:
 New developments that pose a risk of contaminating surface and groundwater systems shall not be permitted within the Planning Area. Non -permitted uses
will include but not be limited to: gas stations, asphalt batch plants and asphalt production plants, large -scale mining, any warehouse which stores or
transfers chemicals, large-scale agricultural operations which stockpile manure or have manure lagoons (e.g.: dairies, horse parks or stables, chicken f arms),
waste oil recycling, septic tank pumping waste disposal, grease trap waste disposal, la rge-scale chili processing plants, cheese processing plants, gasoline
storage facilities or transfer stations, auto repair facilities, car washes, sludge disposal fields, mortuaries, municipal an d/or hazardous landfill, and slaughter
houses.
Home Occupations
 Mixed use development and small commercial operations consisting of development that house both residential and non -residential uses on the same
property and/or in the same structures are be permitted throughout the plan area. There are standards relat ed to parking, number of employees and percent
of total area of a residence that can be occupied by the business. Small-scale retail establishments, such as arts and crafts stores, restaurants or galleries may
be permitted as part of a home occupation. The scale is defined by the number of vehicle visits per day with no more than thirty (30) vehicle visits per day
and no- more than ten (10) vehicle visits per hour.
Agriculture Development and Tax Valuation Regulations:
 Agricultural sales and roadside stands are allowed in the Planning Area with a permit.
 Per New Mexico State Statute, Santa Fe County taxes agricultural lands at a lower rate than other land uses in order to help prevent the loss of agricultural
lands. One acre of non-improved land is the minimum acreage that can be used as agriculture, and 80 acres minimum for grazing. Property owners
interested in the special agricultural assessment must demonstrate that their land is primarily used for the production of plants crops, trees, forest products,
orchard crops, livestock, poultry or fish, or proof that the livestock has access to all of the agricultural land for the tax year. [Note: federal definitional
standards for farms and farmers for income and estate tax purposes differ from local standards].
Other Ordinances and Regulations:
 Santa Fe County Ordinance 2000-7 conferred designation of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla as a traditional historic community under state law. This Ordinance
prevents annexation by the City of Santa Fe.
 There are also administrative actions outlined in the 1996-10 County land development code that reduce minimum lot size through the Small Lot Inheritance
and Small ot Family Transfer also known as “Family Transfers”.
 It should also be noted that there are many lots that were in existence before the effective date of the 1981 land development code, that don’t meet the minimum
lot size requirements. These are considered legal non-conforming lots, a status which limits the ability of property owners to improve their homes. It should also
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be noted that there are additional environmental requirements in the County land development code that address flood hazards , liquid waste disposal, terrain
management, air quality, noise, water supply, and solid waste.
Map 2 - La Cienega-La Cieneguilla Existing land Use
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WATER RESOURCES
For centuries, the availability of water in the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla
valleys has been a primary factor for area settlement by Indigenous American,
Spanish, Mexican, Territorial and United States settlers. Surface water is found in
springs, streams and riverh the area is named. Surface water has traditionally been
used for domestic purposes, to water livestock, power mills and irrigate crops.
See Map 2: Water Resources in La Cienega/La Cieneguilla.
By the mid-20th century, domestic use of the streams, rivers and acequias or
ditches was minimized due to contamination and depletion of the waters. (See
Map 4: La Cienega Watershed for more information.) Household consumption
from springs continued because they were easier to keep clean, but there are now
few if any remaining springs with sufficient quantity of flow to support a home.
(
See Map 3: Irrigable Lands, Acequias and Water Resources in La Cienega/La
Cieneguilla). Following World War II, most valley households began replacing
spring boxes with conventional wells, electric pumps and pressure tanks. The
proliferation of water wells has been a major factor in altering the character of the
valley communities. Traditional land and water use for agricultural purposes are
being rapidly replaced by commercial and residential development.
La Cieneguilla Spring water flow
Agriculture in the Planning Area is sustained by traditional spring fed acequias.
The ojos y ojitos or natural springs fill ponds formed by construction of earthen
dams to contain that can then be directed into an acequia.
These gravity fed acequia systems have remained basically unaltered for centuries. By the 1990's greatly diminished flows of area springs necessitated the addition
of supplemental ground water from wells in order to maintain flows and acequia system integrity. (See Map 3: Irrigable Lands , Acequias and Water Resources in La
Cienega d La Cieneguilla).
Since the 2001 Plan several factors in the larger watershed and water supply of the region have come into play that are having and will continue to have impact on
the plan area water supply. Decreases in rain and snowfall have contributed to drought conditions. Several new studies and re ports have confirmed continued
drawdown of the aquifer and in some areas increases in recharge. The Buckman Direct Diversion project has come on line bringi ng a source of imported surface
water from the Rio Grande to both the City and County Water Utility Departments which may have the potential of decreasing groundwater depletion through
recharging well fields and providing services to development currently on wells . Management of effluent from the ity ‘s was tewater treatment plant and beaver
activity on City and County property associated with the effluent will continue to impact flow in the Santa Fe River and irrigators that divert off of the river.
Hydrology: Santa Fe River, La Cienega Creek, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyo Chamiso, Springs, Flood Plains and Wetlands
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The river, creeks, springs, major arroyos and their tributaries provide a surface water drainage system which forms regional and local hubs of riparian zones,
springs, and wetlands. The creeks and their tributaries are mostly intermittent streams due to the complex underground geology, ground water depletion and arid
climate of the area. The Santa Fe River below the City of Santa Fe wastewater treatment plant is a perennial stream primarily due to effluent release from the plant.
In 1996 the 12.7 mile stretch of the Santa Fe River between the WWTP and Cochiti Pueblo, including the portions running through plan area, was class ified as
impaired due to low dissolved oxygen levels, high pH, high chlorine levels, high ammonia levels, and high sedimentation. However, in recent years water quality
has been recognized to be improving.
Santa River, La Cienega Creek, Arroyo Hondo, and Arroyo Chamiso
The Santa Fe River runs diagonally through the plan area from the northwestern boundary to the southern boundary. It enters the plan area south of City wastewater
treatment plant through a shallow meandering river channel traversing County Open Space crossing Paseo Rael (sometimes under the road, sometimes over the road)
flowing through the agricultural lands of La Cieneguilla and into a narrow canyon of basalt eventually joining the intermittent Cienga and Alamo creeks in the
southern portion of the plan area. Arroyo Hondo enters the plan area at its junction with NM 599 and Arroyo Chamiso enters th e plan area near the eastern boundary
of the Airport. Both traverse in a south western direction joining each other in Upper La Cienega. Cienega Creek enters the p lan area under Interstate -25 in Upper
La Cienega where is runs west joining Arroyo Hondo just above the north boundary of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. The intermittent Alamo Creek enters the
plan area under Interstate-25 along the southern boundary of Santa fe Canyon Ranch where it runs west to confluence with the Santa Fe River and Cienga C reek near
the western portion of the aptly named Tres Rios Ranch.
Trends:
Work in the late 1990’s and 2000’s to restore the stretches of the Santa Fe River on ity of Santa Fe -owned land and later County-owned land has led to dramatic
increases beaver population which have impounded enough water to impact downstream irrigators. The County Ordinance adopting the La Cienega Community
Plan also included a provision which requires that all projects which propose restoration, enhancement or creation of new rip arian areas are 1) legally noticed; 2) that
they submit a hydrologic report to the County hydrologist describing proposed projects' likely effects on evapotranspiration, infiltration, and recharge, and 3) that
they show compliance with existing terrain management and floodway regulations. The ordinance requires that projects on ephemeral streams show how occasional
flows will be managed to support consumptive needs of the wetland. The ordinance also requires that projects on perennial s treams demonstrate no net impact to
traditional uses.




Since the adoption of the 2001 plan, the following major trends/events have either affected or are likely to affect the commu nity’s water resources through
mitigating beaver activity or otherwise addressing how water is understood and utilized in the community: : The Santa Fe-Pojoaque Soil and Water
Conservation District provide a grant to remove nonnative vegetation on Alamo Creek on the Santa Fe Canyon Ranch Property own ed by SF County] in
partnership with County Opens Space and community members.
The New Mexico House of Representatives pass House Memorial 74 requesting that the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe work togethe r to ensure sufficient
river flows to La Bajada and La Cienega.
Santa Fe County passes Resolution 2011-191 requesting that the City of Santa Fe release additional effluent to the Santa Fe river to support agricultural
production in La Cieneguilla and La Bajada
The City of Santa Fe (water resources, wastewater, airport, and public works), Santa Fe County, NM Game and Fish Department, and Bureau of Land
Management analyzed the following alternatives for delivering water from the Santa Fe River to La Bajada: trucking potable wa ter from La Cienega to La
Bajada reservoir; pipe potable water from La Cienega distribution line to La Bajada; control beavers with birth control; control beavers with beaver
deceivers; buy out farmers' crops; drill a supplemental well in La Bajada; sharing of shortage priority of diversion among an d within acequias based on
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
crop-type; and coordinating upstream diversion. The city's reports of the alternatives analysis describes that none of the alternatives appear to have h igh
feasibility. However, work to find an acceptable solution to the beavers is ongoing.
Santa Fe River Traditional Communities Collaborative form with the goal of promoting the health of the Santa Fe River and the traditional communities
that depend on the river. The initiative is the result of partnership among La Cienega community members, the community of La Bajada, the Santa Fe
Watershed Association, Forest Guardians, the City of Santa Fe, County of Santa Fe, and federal agencies with land holdings in the community. The broad
mission of the group is to promote the health of the Santa Fe River as well as the communities. In the near-term, the group will be working toward
developing a plan for mitigating the impoundement of water associated with beaver activity on public lands.
Due to growth in the upstream communities in the greater Santa Fe area, substantial drawdown of the aquifer is occurring. In the County, the density of land
development is directly tied to the availability of water, The combined effect of aquifer mining throughout the watershed as well as increased local demand for
water has created a serious threat to water resources in the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area. (See
Maps 3 and 4) One of the primary goals of this plan is the protection, balanced management and recharge of
water resources throughout the entire La Cienega and La Cieneguilla watershed. While this Plan is applicable
to the established Planning Area, it must be recognized that the water resources of the valleys are intrinsically
tied to the entire watershed. This includes large developed areas of the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County
as well as areas planned for future development including the Community College District. Thus, the Plan
applies the full range of powers and resources of Santa Fe County, as the local governing body, to implem ent
watershed protection, management and recharge initiatives in conjunction with all public and private entities
throughout the watershed. New growth must also incorporate FEMA standards and regulations with regard to
flood zones.
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area Water Resources:
Acequia Associations
There are three acequia associations and several private acequias in the valley that provide water for
irrigation. According to a hydrological survey of the area completed by the State Engineer's Office in 1976,
approximately 150 acres of land are potentially irrigable by community acequias.
La Acequia de La Cienega delivers water to 98.6 acres of irrigated land of which approximately 40 acres are
currently being farmed. Some of the acreage traditionally used for irrigation has been developed for other
purposes; some of it lies fallow. The acequia is entitled to use approximately 294 acre feet of water per year
(one acre foot equals approximately 325,800 gallons of water). However, due to dramatic declines in water
flow from the springs that feed the acequia, a ground water well has been employed since 1998 to provide a
supplemental water source to maintain the ditch integrity. La Acequia de El Guicu traditionally serves
approximately 41 acres for irrigation, however the acequia currently irrigates approximately 25 acres. The El
Guicu is entitled to approximately 123 ac. ft of water per year. La Acequia de El Molino (also known as the
La Acequia de La Capilla) is the third ditch in the valley and has approximately 6 users irrigating
approximately 15 acres. There-are also four private acequias in the valley: the El Canon, La Capilla Vieja,
Headgate Diversion for Acequia de La Cienega
Los Pinos, and Romero ditches. (See Maps 2 and 3 for more information on land use and water resources.)
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The mayordomos of the primary acequias, La Cienega and El Guicu, report that it is currently
not possible to supply water to all of the potentially irrigable acres along their acequias due to
low spring flows. Residents report that one of the reasons for a decline in local agricultural
production is the lack of adequate and reliable water flows in the acequias. The drawdown of
water supplies throughout the watershed is believed to be a primary reason for low flows but
no governmental or non-governmental agencies have conducted adequate studies to illustrate
aquifer depletion and potential impairments to date. (See Map 3)
The drop in spring flows has dramatically impacted local
acequias and has made the practice of irrigation difficult
because there is less water available for irrigating than
the total number of irrigable acres. Residents and long
time irrigators have identified the drop in available water
for irrigation as one of the biggest obstacles to
maintaining agriculture in the area.
Effluent
Effluent from the City of Santa Fe's wastewater treatment plant is released into the Santa Fe River near La Cieneguilla. Th e average volume of effluent discharge
from the Santa Fe City waste treatment plant was 3.64 million gallons per day for 2009 and 2 010. Volumes were higher from November through march, averaging
4.59 million gallons per day. Volumes were lower from April through October, averaging 2.96 million gallons per day. June v olumes were lowest overall,
averaging 2.52 million gallons. Records for effluent discharge are kept at the ity’s waste treatment facility head uarters, currently at 73 Paseo Real, Santa Fe , NM
87507.
Effluent released from the plant benefits downstream irrigators and provides semi-consistent flows in the river to replace the flow from area springs which are now
virtually depleted. The community of La Bajada, south of the plan area at the end of the Santa Fe River uses the effluent fo r agricultural irrigation water. During the
summer of 2011 the effluent flow was retained by beaver dams created at the wetland area near the City of Santa Fe Municipal Airport. This benefit to irrigators
does not appear to extend to the Upper and Lower La Cienega area acequias or springs and as noted in the previous section, mu ch of the effluent is derived from
areas above these acequias and springs but the current release point does not serve to provide recharge benefits.
An insufficient but beneficial offset to the drawdown of the aquifer is the effluent from upstream users released from the Ci ty of Santa Fe Wastewater treatment
plant. However in recent years this offset has been reduced due to effluent retained by beaver dams created in the vast wetlands area adjacent to the municipal
airport.
La Cienega Mutual Domestic Water System
The La Cienega Mutual Domestic Water Association (LCMDWA) was founded in the early
1970's and serves a large portion of Lower La Cienega. In 2000, the LCMDWA serves
approximately 190 people with connections to 112 households and has a system capacity that
could accommodate 25 additional meter hook ups. The domestic water system uses
approximately 21.7 acre feet of water per year. In order to become a member of the system, one
must contribute . ground water rights to the LCMDWA. The membership cost includes a onetime start-up fee plus the cost of hooking the system to one's home. There is a user fee per month
for up to 4,000 gallons per month plus an additional fee for consumption over that amount, plus
hook-up costs. The LCMDWA does not have capacity for commercial use hook-ups and provides
limited capacity for fire protection. (See Map 6 for more information on the LCMDWA system
and county water services.) In 2012, the LCMDWA served approximately 135 household hook
ups with an average use per household of .16 acre feet a year.
Water storage tank for La Cienega
Mutual Domestic Water Association
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Map 3 - Water Resources of La Cienega-La Cieneguilla
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Other community wells in the plan area
 Wild & Wooley Trailer Park in Upper LA Cienega: 72-12-1 sanitary in conjunction with a commercial use, 3 acre feet diversion
 La Cienega Water Users (formerly Lakeside mobile home parklocated at the end of Paseo ’de Baca in ower a ienega): primary use for mobile home
park; diversion is 5.1 acre feet
County Water System
The Santa Fe County water system currently extends to the Las Lagunitas subdivision, down Entrada la ienega to Paseo ’de Baca, and up most of the length of
Paseo ’ de Baca. The ounty system may also provide possible back-up for the LCMDWA system in the future. Additionally, the system may be extended to
Upper La Cienega and the Santa Fe Downs area as well as the La Cieneguilla area. If County water lines are extended in the Planning Area, there will probably be
fees and other costs associated with hooking up to the system. Currently, the County employs a policy within the La Cienega Watershed that requires all land
division applicants within the La Cienega watershed to accept the La Cienega Watershed Conditions as part of the land divisio n. These conditions require connection
to the county water utility system when it is within 200 feet of the property line of the parcel being divided. (See Map 6 for more information on the LCMDWA
system and county water services.)
Water availability and lowered flows in springs within the Planning Area are a major concern to community members, acequia associations and water users in the
Planning Area. The County is working to expand its water system and is in the process of acquiring water rights and wells nea r the Planning Area. The expansion of
the County water system will help to provide service to residents and businesses in the Planning Area as well as in areas adjacent to the Planning Area. La Cienega
and La Cieneguilla residents are concerned that expansion of the County's water system may further impact local water resourc es. As part of expansion of the water
system, the County is committed to working directly with Planning Area residents to investigate and implement aquifer recharg e measures. Recharge will rely on
imported water to the extent that it is feasible. The County intends to pursue aquifer management to achieve a sustainable groundwater supply and will work to
reduce pumping of wells near the Planning Area.
La Cienega Watershed Conditions
The La Cienega & La Cienega Planning District Ordinance implemented many of the strategies identified in the 2001 Community Plan pertaining to water resources
including establishing the “ a ienega Watershed onditions” which re uire that properties hook up to ounty water when servi ce is available within 200 feet of
the property line of land being divided. Research on County parcel data shows that out of approximately 1,645 private parcels in the plan area, approximately 385
parcels are subject to water shed conditions with the majority concentrated in Upper La Cienega. An estimated 709 parcels are not subject to the water conditions.
On the remaining 509 parcels it is unclear whether they are subjected to the watershed conditions due to missing informatio n on the plats. However, the
assumption is that many of these parcels are subject to the watershed conditions. Although over 350 properties are currently subject to the water conditions the
County has not extended water line to serve the majority of those properties. As a result the use and number of domestic well s withdrawing groundwater has
increased to accommodate the increased number of households.
Other significant trends affecting the condition of a ienega’s watershed is as follows:
 Has the County acquired any water rights and wells in or near the planning since 2001? If so where? how much?
o The County has acquired water rights associated with the Guicu Acequia, the Hagerman Well,
o A new well associated with the County Public Works building (domestic),
o The County no longer provides water services to the State Penitentiary with the exception of providing water for fire protec tion no longer. The
penitentiary is pumping their own well with observable impacts to the shallow aquifer)
 Has the County investigated and implemented aquifer recharge measures in the or near the plan area?
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o
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the County will also be pursuing aquifer storage as part of the next set of capital improvement projects proposed to be finan ced by bond proceeds
(GOB 2012). The concept is to inject potable water produced by the BDD facility, at several locations within the service area, so that reliable
service can be available to customers even in the event of a prolonged BDD shutdown. Having stored water in the aquifer, and increasing the
number of people served by a centralized system not dependent on wells, would go a long way on protecting the aquifer for futu re generations.
Has the County reduced pumping of wells near the Planning Area?
o The County currently has an adequate water rights portfolio that would enable it to serve between 15,000 and 18,000 customers in the metropolitan
area and surrounding communities (outside municipal limits). The County is also pursuing the acquisition of any rural community water systems
that may be willing to be integrated into the ounty’s water service area boundaries, and be served under the same conditions as other ounty
customers. These systems may or may not be connected to the BDD supply system, and continue to be served by the County (when the ac quisition
is complete) based on their existing groundwater source of supply. The County will continue to acquire water rights as necessary to serve all its
customers, including these non-BDD rural communities throughout the BCC established planning horizon.
Has the County extended its water service area or utilities?
o In 1998, Santa Fe County water lines were extended to
serve the Las Lagunitas Development and down La
Entrada to Camino San Jose providing service to and the
Fire Station and Community Center. In 2004 the water line
was extended from the Las Lagunitas subdivision to the
Entrada La Cienga (CR 50) and Paseo C de Baca Area to
La Lomita. In 2012 The number of active County utility
hook-ups in the plan area is approximately 103, with 80
active hook ups in the Las Lagunitas subdivision and 23
hook ups servicing households along Paseo ’de Baca.
Private Water Wells
Throughout the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area,
homes and businesses receive domestic water from private sources. In the
Upper La Cienega area and parts of La Cieneguilla, many residences share
wells with anywhere from 2-5 homes per well. Aside from the LCMDWA
community water system and the shared wells, the majority of residences in
the Planning Area receive their domestic water from private wells. Several
homes still draw drinking water from a spring. According to OSE data, as
July 2011, there were approximately 146 one household domestic, 28 multi household wells in and 30 irrigation, stock and sanitary wells the plan area
Water storage tank at lower La Cienega
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Policies regarding County Utility Extensions that provide support for further extensions in the Plan Area
 (SGMP 2010) County Water Service Areas established as part of the SGMP adopted in 2010 and include large portions of Upper and lowe r La Cienega.
 (SF County Resolution 2006-93 & 2011-162) There have also been several resolutions supporting water utility extensions to serve properties in lower La
ienega; specifically to extend the ounty’s existing water lines down amino orna, across a private easement to ielo de Oe ste and loop back to Paseo C
De Baca as well as resolutions supporting applications by staff to the NM Water Trust Board requesting funding for the extension of the Santa Fe County
Utility water service system in the La Cienega area starting at the end of Paseo C de Baca Road. As a result of the applica tions to the Water Trust Board,
money has been granted to assistant in the extension of water lines in Lower La Cienega.
 La Cienega Watershed Conditions which were reaffirmed and amended as part of the La Cienega& La Cieneguilla Community Plannin g District Ordinance
places the following conditions on lot owners:
o Connection to the County Water Utility: When service is available within 200 feet of the property line of the land being divi ded, property owners
agree not to oppose creation of an improvement district and disconnect from any domestic wells created under NMSA 1978,Section 72-12-1 (A)
except in emergency circumstances.
o Encourage shared wells to minimize expenses to owners, minimum fire flow requirements, requirements and standards for dedicat ed utility
easements and recommended design and construction standards for domestic wells.
o
The ordinance also requires the installation of water meters on all new wells or in the case of shared wells, meters on each dwelling unit or primary
structure. It also requires monthly meter readings to be recorded by the owners and an annual report of monthly readings submitted to the County
Hydrologist.
The County is committed to utilizing existing water rights and moving forward with water importation to further alleviate us e of wells near the Planning Area. The
County is committed to participating in a public process to work with the communities of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla to develop plans to limit water drawn from
the Planning Area and in the watersheds which impact area acequias. This will include working directly with the Planning Area residents in developing a water plan
for the County water utility that addresses:
a.) recharge of the area aquifer;
b.) reduced pumping of County held wells in or near the Planning Area;
c.) planning future expansion of the county water system to manage withdrawals from wells near the Planning Area to achieve a sustainable groundwater supply
and recharge of the area aquifer to prevent or mitigate depletion of the aquifer;
d.) investigating and actively pursuing other points of diversion that would reduce impact on the Planning Area;
e.) investigating and pursuing the possibility of using effluent to supplement acequia flows, and;
f.) coordinating a cooperative process with the community and all water interests to minimize impacts of future water use on the Planning Area
g.) Incorporate ounty “growth area” zones to further define areas that may have future access to ounty water systems.
The Traditional Community District of La Cienega
currently has more users drawing water through private
wells than the recommended density based on the critical
population estimates outlined in the 1980 County General
Plan.
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Map 4 - La Cienega/La Cieneguilla Water Supply Systems
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Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Limited water is available to meet domestic and agricultural needs in the Planning Area. Continued approval of development applications in the Planning Area
creates an atmosphere where many local residents feel as if they are forced to compete with new developments for limited wate r resources. As a result, many
residents oppose new development. This serves to hinder all potential development, regardless of scale and leads to community division rather than coordinated
planning for development that is determined to be appropriate by local residents.
The Community Planning Committee has identified that the County does not consistently enforce density requirements based on w ater availability within the
Planning Area. Dwellings have been permitted in the Community Planning Area without regard to a pproved water resource estimates.
Area residents have identified that property division through family transfer splits and variances are being used to divide p roperties below the minimum lots
sizes. (See Map 7: La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Existing Land Use for location of existing sub-minimum lots and other lot size data.) These newly
subdivided lots are often developed for rental or sale. This allows for increased density on small lots which places new dema nds on local water resources to
accommodate the new development. While the community supports the family transfer process, it is felt that more careful examination of the po tential impacts
of increased densities on local water resources is necessary before variances are granted.
Large commercial and institutional entities in or near the Community Planning Area are high volume water users. (See Map1: La Cienega and La Cieneguilla
Community Planning Area for specific information on these users.) The high volume use threatens the limited water resources in the Planning Area as well as
the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds. Public records at the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) have documented instances of water use exceeding
permitted rights for both institutional and commercial entities in or near the Planning Area.
Both wells and water rights that affect water resources in the Planning Area and the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds have been actively sought by
the City of Santa Fe, the County and private entities. Use of these water resources would further draw down local water supplies. Without adequate protections
for local water resources, continued draw down and aquifer mining in the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds threatens t o deplete or impair existing
water resources for Planning Area residents.
The Traditional Community District of La Cienega currently has more users drawing water through private wells than the recomm ended density based on the
critical population estimates outlined in the 1980 County General Plan. The critical population estimates were established to define a maximum population
carrying capacity for local water resources but were removed from the County's 1999 Growth Management Plan. The Sustainable Growth Management Plan
and complimentary code both, support planning for centralized sewer and water systems in the Traditional Community in order to accommodate the increased
population. Continued development in the area without regard to the limited water supplies threatens the Planning Area and wa tershed surface and ground
water resources of all communities in the Planning Area.
Documentation of aquifer drawdown as demonstrated by decreased stream flows of La Acequia de La Cienega are presented in a 19 94 report by W. Fleming
that was commissioned by the County. The Fleming Report clearly states that the aquifer is being depleted as evidenced by the dropping water flow from
springs between 1966 and 1994. Residents confirm these dramatic decreases in spring flows over the past three decades. Aside from USGS monitoring of La
Acequia de La Cienega, no data collection systems are in place to measure and document actual impacts to La Cienega and La Ci eneguilla area water supplies.
Keys to Sustainability:
The Community supports a number of the water quality keys to sustainability expressed in the County’s Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP),
including:


(SGMP Goal 38) Land use and development should be consistent with water management, environmental and hydrological capabilities and constraints.
(SGMP Goal 39) New development will incorporate water conservation and reuse.
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
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(SGMP Goal 40) Water conservation will be required to maintain a sustainable water supply and reduce County ‐wide per capita water consumption.
(S MP oal 41) Protect groundwater as the ounty’s secondary source of water to serve as a back‐up supply.
(SGMP Goal 42) Provide for a sustainable long‐term water supply capable of meeting current and future needs.
See the County SGMP, Chapter 11 for additional information.
In Addition, the Community Plan includes several watershed keys to sustainability:


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Ensure that an adequate quantity of surface and ground water is available for domestic and agricultural use in the Planning A rea.
Collection and analysis of both demographic and hydrographic information to help guide development decisions in the Planning Area and the La Cienega
and Santa Fe River watersheds.
Decrease aquifer depletion in the Planning Area and La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds.
Implementation of water conservation throughout the Planning Area and La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds.
Periodic monitoring of water use to limit ground water depletion and over consumption.
Ensure that actual water resources and the rights thereof remain in the Planning Area communities.
Ensure the maximum potential level of safe recharge of the aquifer.
Ensure that senior water rights in the Planning Area are not violated.
Goals, Policies and Strategies:
Goal: All new commercial land division in the Planning Area will be required to connect to the County water system when the system is extended to within
200 feet of the property line, provided that adequate capacity exists in the system and that taps are available.
Policy: The ounty system’s capacity shall take into consideration the potential hookup of all existing water users who may be served through extension
of the system. Existing water users shall have priority over new development. If connection to the County water system is n ot possible, the development
must limit water consumption to .35 acre feet (approximately 114,030 gallons) of water per year per acre of the tract. This limit applies o nly to use of water
for commercial purposes from domestic wells as defined by the state and does not apply to any other water right s (irrigation or private). This policy requires
separation of water systems to ensure that the public system is not subject to potential contamination from individual system s but does not require capping
of wells. The policy to require connection to a water system is currently employed by the County for all land divisions, including family transfers, and other
subdivisions of land under the La Cienega Watershed Conditions. The requirement for new land divisions to connect to the Coun ty water system or a
community water system will be applied with the following conditions:
Strategy: If the water system is already in place and capable of providing service or if the County can provide an estimated time of co mpletion of six
(6) months or less, connection to the system will be required immediately.
Strategy: If the County cannot provide an estimated time for waterline completion and capacity for service of six (6) months or less, t he new land
division will be granted a 5 year grace period from the time the water line is actually installed before the agreement to connect to the system will be
effective.
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Goal: All new residential land division using ground water shall limit water consumption to .25 acre feet of water per year for dom estic consumption per legal
lot of record. This will include all indoor and outdoor household water use. All new residential development may apply for permis sion to consume up to an
additional .25 acre feet of water per year for domestic purposes. The application for additional water co nsumption shall be required only once, either when the
land is divided or when the property owner wishes to request additional consumption.
Policy: The maximum possible residential water use will be .50 acre feet of water per year. The extra water use must be applied for with a water budget
and proof of 100 year water supply as per the existing County Land Development Code or other regulation that m ay apply. The application must also
demonstrate conservation of water through recycling, reduced use, rainwater (and other) collection and other means equal to s tringent sustainable land use
principles. This water consumption requirement applies only to use of water for domestic purposes from domestic wells as defined by the state and does
not apply to any other water rights (irrigation or private).
Strategy: All land division and zoning density variance applications in the Planning Area shall be grante d only if the applicant provides a sitespecific hydrogeological report that demonstrates a 100 year water supply and which assess the impact of the new well on neig hboring wells, acequias,
streams, ponds and springs. A summary of the hydrogeological reports must be mailed to all property owners adjacent to or within 500 feet of the
property proposed for division or variance request as a part of the public noticing process to inform neighbors of potential water impacts to existing
wells and surface water.
Goal: All new residential subdivision development located within 200 feet of either the Santa Fe County Water System or a community water system shall be
required to connect to that system, provided that adequate capacity exists in the system and that wat er taps are available.
Policy: The ounty system’s capacity shall take into consideration the potential hookup of all existing water users who may be served through extension
of the system. Existing water users shall have priority over new development. If hook-up to either type of system is not possible, new residential
development of two or more lots on 2.5 acre parcels or less will be required to share a well with the adjoining new lot, prov iding adequate water is available
for both lots. This policy requires separation of water systems to ensure that the public system is not subject to potential contamination from indiv idual
systems but does not require capping of wells. The requirement for new land divisions to connect to the County water system o r a community water system
will be applied with the following conditions:
Strategy: If the water system is already in place and capable of providing service or if the County can provide an estimated time of co mpletion
of six (6) months or less, connection to the system will be required immediately.
Strategy: If the County cannot provide an estimated time for waterline completion and capacity for service of six (6) months or less, t he new
land division will be granted a 5 year grace period from the time the water line is actually installed before the agreement to connect to the system
will be effective.
Goal: all new wells and buildings using groundwater drawn from wells located within the Planning Area as a partial or total water s upply must install a water
meter on their wells. All new development using shared wells or community water systems must install a water meter on every d welling unit or primary
structure/intake that uses the well water.
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Policy: All development in the Planning Area is required to install a water meter shall monitor and record water meter readings on a monthly basis and
submit an annual report of monthly readings to the ounty Hydrologist and, if established, to the community’s water managemen t authority.
Strategy: The community will coordinate with the County Hydrologist to develop a water meter auditing program to ensure compliance with
water restriction covenants. If a user is over consuming, the County will work with the individual to 1) develop a water budg et and conservation
plan including efforts to replace any amount over consumed and, 2) develop a fine for repeated instances of over consumption
Goal: All new development shall incorporate water conservation and management practices which are compliant with state and county regulations as well as
current sustainability practices. This may include reuse of gray water, storm water recharge and rainwater collection systems such as, cisterns, gravel beds or
other storage systems for which regulations have been enacted.
Policy: Water collection practices to the extent that they are practical and affordable, but not required to exceed 1% of total const ruction costs, shall be
used for landscaping irrigation and/or other domestic uses in order to replace use of potable water supplies.
Policy: Xeriscaping and/or native plants will be encouraged for landscaping on all new landscaping. The area of landscaping to be irr igated will be based
on County Hydrologist approved water budget estimates of rainwater collection and storage capaci ty per the individual development. This will not apply to
agricultural uses of water.
Policy: The building of swimming pools is discouraged in the Community Planning Area. Any new pool must meet County water conservatio n guidelines,
satisfy water availability requirements, and include a covering when not in use to minimize evaporation.
Policy: Prior to development of new riparian areas and wetlands in the Planning Area, applicants shall demonstrate adequate water rights and/or source(s)
of water to meet consumptive needs of the riparian area or wetlands, and 4demonstrate that the project will not negatively impact prior beneficial uses or
traditional uses of water resources, in accordance with State Engineer's Office regulations.
Strategy: OSE guidelines for determining the consumptive needs of the riparian area or wetlands shall use the U.S. Soi l Conservation Service
Modified Blaney-Criddle Method, long-term weather data for the period from 1867 onward and consumptive-use coefficients developed by the
U.S Bureau of Reclamation for riparian vegetation in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The Consumpt ive Irrigation Requirement (CIR), an annual
measure of water uptake by vegetation, exclusive of precipitation, shall be calculated for all proposed types of vegetation t o be incorporated into
the riparian area or wetlands.
Strategy: All development of new projects in riparian areas and wetlands shall also comply with all County Code requirements including,
without limitation, terrain management. Projects may also be subject to monitoring, which will be designed on a case -by-case basis, to ensure that
the water rights associated with the project are not exceeded, and to address any possible negative impacts associated with the pr oject.
Additionally, a public process for community input shall be required for any such projects proposed in the Planning Area.
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WATER QUALITY AND WASTEWATER
Rapid growth inside and outside of the Planning Area has caused an
increasingly large volume of wastewater effluent to be released in the
La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area. Latrines and
cesspools were the traditional wastewater systems in the area. Septic
tanks and drain fields to treat increasingly higher volumes of
wastewater in the valleys have gradually replaced these systems.
The modernization of wastewater treatment systems has provided
limited improvements to water quality in the Planning Area. The large
number of private septic systems with varying degrees of system
integrity creates a threat to the area's water quality through
contamination from wastewater effluent.
Beaver dam at Santa Fe River below wastewater treatment plant
The location of the municipal wastewater treatment plant increases the volume of effluent released in the community. Community members have expressed serious
reservations as to the consistency of facility operations as well as the potential for effluent and other operation by-product contamination of water resources in the
Planning Area. Thus, the potential benefits of effluent to recharge aquifers in the entire Planning Area should be explored and mu st be balanced with clean and safe
procedures to protect area water resources.
Neither the State nor the County have been able to implement enforcement practices that can adequately regulate wastewater systems. Protection of the Planning
Area's water resources from further contamination and maintenance of historic stream flows in the La Cienega Creek and Santa Fe River are critical goals of this
Plan.
In 1998, the City of Santa Fe adopted the Treated Effluent Management Plan which provided an allocation formula for the 11,00 0 acre-feet of water that the city
projected the WWTP to produce annually. Actual annual effluent production has fallen far below initial projection and the allocation formula has required
adjustment. The City of Santa Fe has initiated a process to update to the 1998 Treated Effluent Management Plan to determine how the city 's limited effluent water
should be allocated. The update to the Treated Effluent Management Plan is projected be released in Sep tember, 2012.
The communities of La Cienega and La Bajada have been diligent in advocating that the City of Santa Fe adjust their water rel ease schedule and volume to
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accommodate the needs of downstream irrigators and will continue to do so in cooperation with other partners.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Increased commercial and residential development pose a risk of ground water contamination due to the large number of septic systems, improperly
functioning septic systems and pollution from increased runoff. Existing systems leach to the surface, especially during dry weather, and leak into
waterways.
Commercial and residential development create a risk of surface contamination through increased runoff from impervious surfac es due to the potential for
pollution from roadways, parking lots and increased turbidity in surface water from increased flow.
The Planning Area is located at the lower end of the Santa Fe watershed as well as the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watershe ds. The area's natural springs
and groundwater supplies are hydrologically connected to both underground and surface water flows. This interconnectedness of water systems lead s the
area's environment to be sensitive to alterations in natural water flows, water withdrawals and septic or other water introdu ctions.
The Environment Department enforces wastewater disposal and septic systems standards but does not always have the resources t o monitor correction of
violations if they occur. The County does not have the authority to consistently enforce wastewate r discharge requirements following granting of
development permits. This allows for the potential of septic systems being installed in the Planning Area on small lots so t hat the intent of protecting
groundwater through existing regulations may not always be met
The increasing population is served mainly by septic systems. This increases the probability of future groundwater contamina tion through overcrowding of
lots and increasing density levels that pose a risk of contamination by placing septic tanks too close to existing water resources.
State law NMAC 20.7.3.902, Operation and Maintenance Requirements and Inspection Requirements At Time Of Transfer , requires inspection of
residential treatment systems at the time of sale of the property. This law is largely ignored and rarely enforced.
Permits for new construction do not require mapping of adjacent properties for septic and waste treatment systems or wells, springs, water courses, etc.
Beaver dams below the City of Santa Fe Wastewater Treatment facility are obstructing the flow of effluent to downstream users in lower Cieneguilla and
La Bajada

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Ensure adequate quality of water available for domestic and agricultural use in the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Ar ea.
Ensure that future development protects and enhances local water quality.
Regular monitoring to evaluate groundwater quality.
Protection of groundwater through affordable and effective wastewater management techniques
Ensure legal, safe recycling of wastewater.
Safe and effective wastewater treatment systems installed in the Planning Area.
Ensure the highest level of protection against water resource pollution and degradation from all potential commercial, instit utional, and residential sources
of pollution.
Develop cooperative educational and management programs between all parties regarding wastewater disposal in the Planning Are a.
Goals, Policies and Strategies:
Goal: New development that poses a risk of spills and potential to contaminate surface and groundwater systems shall not be permitted within the Planning
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Area.
Policy: New development shall comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local regulations to prevent surface contamination and p rotect groundwater
systems.
Strategy: All new parking lots must implement water runoff control measures to mitigate erosion and pollution.
Strategy: All new septic tanks installed in the Planning Area shall meet or exceed existing New Mexico Environment Department (NMED)
standards and be equipped with an above ground access port.
Strategy: When property in the Planning Area is divided, subject to a family transfer or re-zoned the landowner must furnish complete and
accurate documentation to the County which demonstrates that all facilities on -site are in compliance with all New Mexico Environment
Department regulations and that all necessary permits have been obtained for any and all septic and waste disposal facilities on the property.
Terraced landscape for controlling runoff and erosion
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OPEN SPACE
Settlement in the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area
has traditionally been focused on rural, agricultural economies
and land use practices. Communities formed along waterways to
ensure irrigation for crops while upland areas were used
commonly for grazing, wood collection and other purposes. This
system required coordinated management and stewardship
practices to maintain the common areas. The system also allowed
for common lands between communities and spacing of
development to allow for enough resources to support each
community.
Areas traditionally used as community open spaces are being lost
to new development. While these common land areas are often
privately held, development effectively removes them from the
undeveloped landscape which has traditionally been used for
grazing areas, hiking and helped define individual villages by
forming buffer areas between communities. The development
pressures threaten the traditional rural character of the Planning
Area as characterized by farm fields, acequias, and open lands
buffering village areas. The open lands and buffers between
development are significant characteristics of rural, agricultural
and historical identity of communities in the La Cienega and La
Cieneguilla Planning Area.
Open Space and undeveloped areas in the La Cienega and La
Cieneguilla Community Planning Area includes County open
space property, Bureau of Land Management properties and lands
Riparian corridor at lower La Cienega
managed by the New Mexico State Land Office. Open space areas
throughout the Planning Area contain significant ecological and cultural resources that have not been completely inventoried or had management plans developed to
date. It should also be noted that extensive study has been conducted onthe adjoining BLM designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and that the
BLM has cooperated with community members in developing management strategies. Residents of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla ha ve always considered these
lands to be integral and essential parts of the community. The Plan supports continued and enhanced joint management between community members, private
landowners, the BLM, the County, and the State Land Office.
Since 2001 over 1000 acres has been transferred from undeveloped private property to public property. While public lands and open space have t remendous
community value, management of public lands and more specifically, restoring habitat value on public land, have negativel y impacted traditional agriculture reliant
on scarce water resources. Work in the late 1990’s and 2000’s to restore the stretches of the Santa Fe River on ity of San ta Fe-owned land and later County-owned
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land has led to dramatic increases beaver population which have impounded enough water to impact downstream irrigators. Santa Fe County, the City of Santa Fe,
the State of New Mexico, environmental advocacy organizations and La Cienega and La Bajada community members have gone to len gths in recent years to reach a
mutually agreeable solution to mitigating the negative impacts of past restoration projects. Most recently, key river stakeh olders have been working together in the
context of the Santa Fe River Traditional Communities Collaborative, a group with a broad mission of promoting the health of the Santa Fe River and the
communities of downstream users who depend on the river and a near-term interest in developing a plan for mitigating beaver activity on public property.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) currently provide open space opportunitie s
within the Planning Area. However, if these lands should change to private ownership through land swaps or state development, they might be removed from
the communities' traditional open space and buffer areas.
Open space areas throughout the Planning Area including the county open space, BLM lands and state lands require a coordinate d, community-based
management plan to maintain and protect these resources while allowing for community uses
New development on private lands threatens to build over many of the buffer areas and traditional open spaces which help defi ne the rural character of the
community.
Use of off-road vehicles and firearm discharge/target shooting in unauthorized areas as well as garbage dumping on open lands in the Planning Area have
also been identified as problems.
• Protect and maintain all open space areas as an integral part of the community.
• Provide ecologically and culturally sensitive management of open spaces and trails in the Planning rea.
Goals, Policies, and Strategies:
Goal: The community will coordinate with the County Open Space program and the Planning Division to develop a public education prog ram to help clearly
identify boundaries between public and private properties in order to respect and protect private property fr om non-permitted public use.
Policy: Protection of open space within the community shall be a priority.
Strategy: create an inventory of all undeveloped land in the planning area and form a representative committee of stakeholders to devel op a
community open space protection program. The program should inventory all public lands as well as create a voluntary mechanis m for private
landowners to also participate. Such a program may employ methods including but not limited to land trusts, conservation ease ments and transfer
of development rights.
Strategy: Identify existing public trails and work with private land owners, the BLM and the State Land Office to develop voluntary use
agreements, easements or other arrangements for public use of these trails. This will include working with all parties to hel p identify trailhead
locations for existing trails. This will also include closure of all unauthorized trails and measures to educate the public to eliminate trespass on
private properties.
Strategy: Develop a voluntary notification process of all sales of open space properties identified in the above mentioned inventory. W hen
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possible, the community will negotiate a voluntary first right of refusal on sales or transfers in order that the lands may b e purchased for protection
and inclusion in community open spaces. This program will include exploring funding mechanisms to pu rchase the lands and maintain the lands.
Strategy: Develop an accurate inventory of wildlife habitat areas in the Planning Area and develop a management and protection program with
direct participation from local residents, property owners and business owners.
Strategy: identify and create a management program consistent with existing county and state regulations to preserve historical and
archeological areas within the Planning Area including but not limited to petroglyphs, Pueblo ruins, and other historic al sites.
Strategy: Develop a community-based stewardship and management program for public lands in and adjacent to the Planning Area. The
management program will create environmentally and culturally sensitive programs to maintain traditional activities such as common open space
areas, horseback trails, and grazing.
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AGRICULTURE
Farming, ranching, and the acequia irrigation systems
have been the defining characteristics of land use and
settlement of communities in the La Cienega and La
Cieneguilla Planning Area for hundreds of years. The
presence of ojos or springs that formed the area's
cienegas or marshes have been tapped by settlers to
irrigate crops, water livestock, and sustain households.
The agricultural and community traditions formed around
acequias have defined where people built homes and how
the community grew since at least the early 1600s.
Collective maintenance and management of acequias was
a primary basis of community governance along with
stewardship of both land and water resources needed to
sustain the communities. The waterways and irrigation of
fields has also led to the development of unique and
vibrant riparian ecosystems. The rich legacy of
agricultural production in the Planning Area includes
grazing in dry upland areas as well as harvesting food,
herbs and tree crops along the waterways and acequias.
The valley has become an attractive bedroom community
for Santa Feans looking for the rural amenities of quiet
living, low traffic and open spaces. The demand created
for new housing drives real estate prices up as well as
property taxes on undeveloped property. Higher property
taxes and low returns from agriculture create economic
pressure on valley residents. The pressure encourages the
sale and development of land traditionally used for
agricultural purposes. Once land is converted to housing,
it is virtually eliminated from future use in agriculture.
Agricultural plot at Tres Rios Ranch
Agriculture and associated farm activities are part of the history, culture, economic base and tradition of the area. Without taking steps to revitalize loca l agriculture,
residents fear that continued development will eliminate the option of farming in the valley and the communities wil l permanently lose agriculture along with the
rural character of the Planning Area. Maintenance of agricultural production and protection of agricultural land are primary goals of this Plan. (See Maps 2 & 3 for
more information on lands used for farming and ranching).
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Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Agricultural land, including irrigated fields, orchards, and grazing areas, are being lost to new development. This significa ntly alters the local communities, as
agricultural activities are integral parts of the rural character and historical heritage of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area.
The changing agricultural economy and decreased use of agricultural lands helps encourage the conversion of farmlands to othe r development. A lack of
education and promotion of economically viable agricultural practices exacerbates this problem for the typical small-scale farmer in the Planning Area.
Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) currently provide opportunities f or agricultural uses,
such as grazing, within the Planning Area. However, if these lands should change to private ownership through land swaps or s tate development, they could
be removed from use in the communities' traditional grazing practices.
The drop in spring flows in and near the Planning Area has dramatically impacted local acequias and has made the practice of irrigation difficul t because
there is less water available for irrigating than the total number of irrigable acres. Residents and long time irrigator s have identified the drop in available
water for irrigation as one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining agriculture in the area.
The Community supports a number of the keys to sustainability expressed in the County’s Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SGMP), including:

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(SGMP Goal 14) Preserve, support, promote and revitalize agriculture and ranching as a critical component of the local economy, culture and character.
(SGMP Strategy 14.1.5) Create an inventory of agricultural lands and conduct a land suitability analysis to identify agricultural potential and determine high
priority of protection for agricultural soils and other sensitive arable lands, especially historical agricultural land with water rights.
(SGMP Policy 14.2) Support the practicality of agricultural uses to include financing tools to support viability of agriculture.
(SGMP Strategy 14.2.1) Create a transfer of development rights program for agriculture and ranch lands.
(SGMP Strategy 14.2.2) Assess and develop resource tools such as conservation easements, improvement districts, development of impact fees and grants to
support the viability of agricultural uses.
(SGMP Strategy 14.2.3) Coordinate with local communities and organizations to promote the development of agricultural products and markets, including
the development of farmers markets, buy‐local campaigns, and a local products website to market and distribute fresh goods.
(SGMP Strategy 16.1.1) Develop education programs and outreach to support agriculture and ranching. Include materials on organic farming, year round
farming and better range management practices.
• Protect all agricultural lands in the Planning rea.
• Maintain and enhance active agricultural production in the Planning Area.
Goal: Develop an agricultural support program to help revitalize traditionally irrigated lands and agricultural activities such as small scale farming and
ranching in the Planning Area. This will include educational outreach, skills training, and marketing assistance to support economically and environmentally
viable farming practices for community members in the Planning Area. The program will also include educational outreach for a ppropriate scale gardening and
landscaping in newer subdivision areas.
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Map 5 - Lower La Cienega Irrigated Agricultural Lands
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Map 6 - Upper La Cienega Irrigated Agricultural Lands
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Map 7 - La Cieneguilla Irrigated Agricultural Lands
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TRANSPORTATION AND ROADS
Significant changes have occurred to a ienega’s transportation and roads.
Perhaps most significantly, new public transit services have increased connectivity
to the wider south Santa Fe region and enhanced the mobility of mobilityrestricted residents.
The Planning Area's roads are often narrow and winding. They were created over
several centuries, beginning with the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro from
Mexico City to Santa Fe and have been continually developing to serve increasing
populations while also following natural contours of the landscape.
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area is serviced by several County
Roads. The Planning Area is accessed from the north by County Roads 54 and 56
and from the southeast on County Road 50. Access from Interstate 25 is provided
at the intersection of NM 599, at Exit 271 and at the Waldo exit to the south, near
the La Bajada precipice. The Planning Area also contains several County subroads and many private roads. The Railrunner commuter train station is located
near the intersection of NM 599 and I-25, with current rail access to the City of
Santa Fe, and south to Bernalillo, Albuquerque, Belen, and stops in between. The
station is within 1 mile of 3% of the plan area (43 parcels including the Downs)
but there is not an easy pedestrian trails or bicycle routes connecting the area with
the station (See Map 8 for more information on area roads, arterial and connector
roots, highways, and railways.)
Unpaved road at La Cienega
The main source of traffic is from local residents with additional traffic generated by several tourist sites located in the Planning Area. Numerous large and small
businesses and home occupation businesses located throughout the Planning Area generate additional traffic. Due to its proxim ity to Santa Fe, the area also receives
some tourist traffic from "scenic drives" to enjoy the rural character and setting.
The County conducts minor repairs of its roads on a regular basis. Overlays and re-paving occur infrequently. Additionally, the County has a maintenance request
line at 992-3016 that residents can call to notify the County of road maintenance needs. Also, there is a Citizens Road Advisory Committee which meets to help plan
road improvements throughout the County.
Currently the Plan Area does not have public transportation or bus routes through the area. In 2010, as a founding member, the County of Santa Fe County began
contributing to and benefiting from numerous bus transportation routes from the North Central Regional Transportation Distric t (NCRTD). The closest connection
to NCRTD buses is the RailRunner Station where NCRTD buses pick up passengers for routes to the National Guard Facilities. The Santa Fe Trails bus service also
has a scheduled pick-ups at the station providing connections to a variety of locations in the City of Santa Fe. Another connection closer to the northwestern portion
of the plan area and within a mile of La Cieneguilla to the Santa Fe Trails Bus System can be made at a bus station on Airpo rt Road just east of its intersection with
NM 599.
The 2011 Transit Plan considered by the RPA did identify the possibility of future transit services in La Cienega as described in the following recommendation for
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future transit services:
 La Cienega and El Rancho de Las Golondrinas: These areas, southwest of Santa Fe, represent another potential future transit s ervice market. Further
discussions should be conducted with developers of the La Cienega Farmers Market to develop a transit connection from the Cit y of Santa Fe as well as
transit connections from the Rail Runner Station at NM599.
Draft MPO Bicycle Master Plan
The Draft MPO Bicycle Master Plan has identified both the Arroyo Hondo trail and the Los Chamisos trail (see map X for location) as key e lements of the future
bikeways network. Future bikeways planning for the proposed Pavilion development will include bicycle paths a long the Arroyo de Los Chamisos. Connection
from La Cienega to this arroyo would provide excellent alternative network connectivity to the Tierra Contenta development an d other connections in the ity’s
bicycle trail network. Similarly, connections could be considered along the Arroyo Hondo. Although this arroyo crosses through numerous private properties and it
would likely require more right of way to be purchased from private land owners, it also has the potential to be a significant connector.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Vehicles often travel at high speeds along the roads in the Planning Area. The majority of roads are quite narrow with sharp turns. The high vehicle speeds
create hazardous conditions for other vehicles, pedestrians, and others sharing the roadways.
Pot holes and poor road conditions exist on many roads throughout the Planning Area due to a lack of maintenance.
Roads in the Planning Area are subjected to frequent washouts and erosion damage due to runoff from the arroyos, the Santa Fe River, and other drainage
sites.
As the area has grown and tourist destinations developed, increased traffic including large trucks and busses have created ne w safety hazards for residents,
pedestrians, and livestock on the narrow roads and lanes within the Planning Area.
Senior citizens, the disabled, and others who do not drive or have access to transportation lack mobility both within the val ley and for trips to Santa Fe.
Blind and sharp curves often do not have guard rails or other protections.
The intersection of Las Estrellas Road and the Interstate 25 frontage road is difficult to navigate at night as it is difficult to determine wh ether headlights from
traffic are on the interstate or the frontage road.
Many roads leading to area homes have insufficient access for fire safety and emergency vehicles.


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(SGMP Goal 32) Coordinate with Local, State and Federal governments and transportation organizations to develop a cohesive, s afe, and efficient
transportation network and transit opportunities to serve County residents, workers, employ ers and visitors.
(SGMP Goal 33) Expand safe, convenient and efficient public transportation services to encourage reduction in automobile trips and provide mobility for all
people, including underserved populations.
(SGMP Goal 34) Ensure safe, context‐sensitive design standards for transportation improvements that reflect local preferences and the needs of all types of
transportation users.
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Comment [sbi1]: Note to self- reword-
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
(SGMP Strategy 34.5.1) Coordinate with the NMDOT to determine what types of traffic calming best management practices can be implemented along state
highways which pass through communities in Santa Fe County.
(SGMP Strategy 35.4.1) Establish a process for evaluating low‐water crossings based on traffic volume, road type, runoff volumes, and conjunctive use of the
drainage by wildlife and other traffic safety considerations.
In Addition, the Community Plan includes several area-specific keys to sustainability:
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Improved road and bridge infrastructure that maintains the rural character of the Planning Area.
Improved drainage to prevent bridge washouts and flooding.
Roadways that are safe and include traffic calming measures.
Alternative transportation systems that do not rely on auto commuting.
Signage that maintains the rural character of the Planning Area.
Accessible public transportation services for Planning Area residents.
Goal: All construction, widening and/or upgrading of public roads into the Planning Area shall be planned and designed through cons ultation with a
representative community body and shall include design standards that meet all legal requirements while also maintaining the rural character of the Planning
Area.
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Map 8 La Cienega Area Roads, Arterial and Connector Roots, Highways, and Railways
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UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
As the communities of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla have grown in the past few
decades, the number of overhead utility cables has dramatically increased. The lines
provide power and communications to Planning Area residents. However, the
proliferation of overhead lines also creates aesthetically unappealing alterations to the
rural landscape and scenic vistas in the area.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
Overhead cables alter the rural aesthetics of the roads and vistas of the Planning
Area.
Utility easement access is often missing for existing homes, and no reasonable
method exists to obtain easements over private property.
Stone building with overhead power lines
Goal: Enhanced visual appearance of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area.
Policy: All new and replacement utility services within the Planning Area must be installed underground or, if this is not possible, installed in such a
manner so as to mitigate the aesthetic impact on the rural character of the community and surrounding natural environment.
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SOLID WASTE
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area is rapidly
growing and the increased population has strained solid waste
removal facilities in the community. Traditionally, residents
disposed of household waste by burning it at home. Since the 1980s,
the county has managed garbage removal. Solid waste is collected at
a County operated transfer station located on County Road 54 B. The
transfer station is open five days per week and residents purchase
“unit” permits that allow a specified number of visits. Use of the
facility’s recycling bins is free of charge. The county transfer station
serves the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area as well as
several surrounding communities.
The station's location is nearest to lower La Cienega, just off of
County Road 54. The location is considered inconvenient for many
and this contributes to people illegally dumping garbage along
roadways and in arroyos. The large service area, including
communities outside of the Planning Area, brings additional traffic
to the narrow, rural roads of the Planning Area. Finally, the rapid
growth in recent years has increased the number of people using the
transfer station. Many users are unaware of the procedures for
disposing of waste or the community impacts of illegal dumping in
the Planning Area.
Transfer station at CR 54 B
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The location of the solid waste transfer station on County Road 54 B generates additional traffic on narrow roads in the Planning Area. This creates safety a nd
traffic problems.
The solid waste transfer station serves too broad of an area and results in a large amount of solid waste from outside of the Planning Area's communities
being brought into the community.
Illegal trash dumping on public and private property.
The impacts of illegal dumping create problems such as public health, water contamination and aesthetic detriment to the rural community character.
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
(SGMP Goal 27) Reduce solid waste production and support recycling to limit landfill use and move toward zero waste.
Goal: Solid waste facilities and services that meet community needs.
Goal: Enforcement of laws against illegal dumping in the Planning Area.
FIRE PROTECTION
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area is served by the Santa Fe County Fire Department and the La Cienega Fire District . Fire protection and
suppression services include Emergency Medical Services (EMS), fire protection and rescue. As the Planning Ar ea has grown, fire protection services have become
strained due to the increased number of residents to serve and the lack of development of fire protection infrastructure incl uding inadequate number of fire hydrants
and water sources to fill tankers. Traditional practices such as burning fields are often difficult to plan due to increased development and inherent fire dangers f rom
open burning. The Volunteer Fire department is understaffed and in need of additional volunteers to improve emergency respons e time in the Planning Area.
Additionally, improvement in water availability for fire protection is necessary to address serious public health and propert y protection problems in the Planning
Area.
As of 2001 there were eight hydrants available for use by the fire department with three connected to the La Cienega Mutual Domestic Water Association
(LCMDWA) lines, one connected to the County water system and four at the Sunrise Springs facility. The three hydrants connect ed to the LCMDWA system do not
have adequate water pressure to meet fire protection standards and only service areas of Lower La Cienega. The hydrant connected to t he County system also is
located in Lower La Cienega and is too distant from the Planning Area to provide timely fire protection se rvice. The Sunrise Springs facility is currently upgrading
their system to include a total of seven hydrants, booster pumps and a 500,000 gallon storage tank that will be available for community emergency uses primarily in
the Upper La Cienega area. There are no hydrants located in La Cieneguilla. Improvement in emergency water supply capacity is a main goal of this plan. (See M ap
6 for updated information on current fire protection systems.)
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The communities of the Planning Area have seen a dramatic increase in population over the past two decades. The increase in residents and home sites has
outstripped fire protection infrastructure development. This has led to a lack of accessible and adequately functioning fire hydrants throughout the Planning
Area.
Five of the eight working fire hydrants in the planning boundary do not have adequate water pressure to meet fire suppression needs.
The working fire hydrants are not positioned to provide timely service to all parts of the Planning Area.
The La Cienega Fire District does not have enough volunteer members from the Planning Area. More local volunteer firefighters woul d improve its ability to
provide timely responses to emergencies.
Developments and subdivisions in the Planning Area have been created with commitments to develop adequate fire protection services to new residences and
subdivisions. The actual installation of such facilities was not often observed at the community level in the past and reside nts have expressed concern that
facilities may not be fully developed or may not be in proper working order.
Permits for burning agricultural fields are necessary for local farmers yet are difficult to plan due to potential conflicts with residential developments that
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have been built in the community
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(SGMP Goal 28:) Establish and maintain an all‐hazard emergency response plan for Santa Fe County.
(SGMP Goal 29:) Preserve and protect public health, safety, welfare and property through adequate provision of law enforcemen t, fire and emergency
response, and emergency communication services.
(SGMP Goal 30:) Establish and maintain an 911 public education/community outreach program.
(SGMP Goal 31:) Obtain and utilize the latest in emergency communications equipment and technology.
In Addition, the Community Plan includes several area-specific keys to sustainability:
 Improved fire safety throughout the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area.
 Increased membership of Planning Area residents on the La Cienega Volunteer Fire Department.
Goal: Create a fire protection network for the entire community.
Policy: Require an access management plan for all new roadways, per SGMP Strategy 29.4.2.
Strategy: Ensure that developments and subdivisions in the Planning Area meet all commitments to create adequate fire protection servic es. These
commitments should be fully developed and in proper working order to service new residences and subdivisions.
Strategy: Increase volunteer fire fighter recruitment from within the Planning Area. This will include an educational campaign to incre ase awareness
in the Planning Area of the need for volunteers and options for volunteering. (Coordinate with County efforts per SGMP Policy 29.3 and Strate gy
29.3.1).
Strategy: Increase fire protection awareness in the Planning Area. This will include an educational campaign to inform residents of current County
Code requirements as well as practical measures that residents can implement to improve fire protection.
Strategy: Plan for coordinated permitting and burning of agricultural fields. This will include working with the local Aceq uia Associations to
coordinate burns and provide support to fire personnel.
Strategy: Ensure that fire protection is available for addressing the spontaneous burning of manure piles and ensure that similar stock piling of
manure does not occur in the future
Strategy: Extend fire protection to the end of Capilla Vieja and into the entire La Cieneguilla area.
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AIRPORT
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area is located directly south and southwest of the Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Th e airport was established in the
1950's and has expanded over the years as the region has grown. The airport currently serves as the main air traffic facility serving commercial, private and military
aircraft in north central New Mexico. All of the populated areas in the Planning Area are within a 5-mile radius of the municipal airport. Flight patterns for landing
and departing from the facility regularly direct aircraft over the Planning Area.
The communities of La Cieneguilla and Upper La Cienega are located directly adjacent to the airport's southern boundary and a large portion of the Planning Area's
population lives within two miles of the airport boundaries. These residents and communities have received rapid growth over the past two decades. Simultaneously,
as demand for air service from the Santa Fe region has grown, airport operations have intensified. The proximity of these communitie s to the airport has led to
increasing impacts from airport operations. Residents in the Planning Area have strong concerns that possible airport expansion will exacerbate the existing noise
and disturbance problems. One intent of this plan is to develop stronger planning and communication between the Planning Area communities and the Santa Fe
Municipal Airport in order to minimize and/or eliminate the airport's impacts on these communities.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
The current Santa Fe Municipal Airport flight patterns and flight schedules create nuisances from noise as well as safety con cerns for Planning Area
residents.
Training exercises conducted by the Air National Guard at and near the airport facility generate noise and vibrations due to low flying helicopt ers and jets.
Expansion of airport facilities including increased or intensified use by commercial, residential and military aircra ft will likely exacerbate existing noise and
safety problems.


Mitigation of airport operations' impacts on the surrounding communities in the Planning Area.
Alteration of aircraft flight patterns to minimize flights over populated portions of the Planning Area.
Goal: Mitigate the impact on the community from noise and flight traffic generated by the airport.
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COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Development in the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Planning Area has increased in the past two decades. As the community has grown, there has been an increase in
demand for a community facility. The existing Community Center is located in Lower La Cienega near the intersection of La Ent rada de La Cienega and Camino
San Jose. This facility was built in the 1930's and served as the community school for many years before becoming the communi ty center. The building also serves
as the La Cienega Fire District sub-station.
However, the existing Community Center is a small building with limited capacity for multipurpose uses. Additionally, the center is located near the southern end of
Lower La Cienega and is not in a central location to serve the growing populations in Upper La Cienega and La Cieneguilla. Th is center is the only community
facility and its limited size and location do not allow for either expansion or development of recreational facilities such a s a park and playground for area youth. One
aim of this plan is to develop and implement plans for a centrally located community facility to meet growing population and diverse needs of the communities in the
planning area.
Key Issues:
1. The Planning rea’s existing community center is note centrally located and does not have ade uate facilities to support a sufficient range of community
activities, particularly outdoor activities. The facility is too small, lacks adequate parking, and is not convenient or cen tral in location.
•
•
•
(SGMP Goal 44:) Ensure that adequate public facilities and services are provided and maintained .
(SGMP Goal 45:) Equitably finance facilities and services.
(SGMP Policy 44.2: The provision of new infrastructure and facilities should be coordinated with existing infrastructure and facilities an d should maximize
use of existing facilities capacity to the extent that any exists.
Goal: Adequate recreational, civic and educational facilities to meet community needs.
Policy: All proposed community facilities shall be designed through consultation with a representative community body and shall inclu de low water use
design, energy efficient construction, passive solar features, and low-maintenance design.
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SECTION III FUTURE LAND USE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Sustainable Growth Management Guidelines
Guidelines for growth and development based on the principle of sustainability reflect a number of changes in the ways that z oning densities are determined. Many
of the original components of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Plan incorporate su stainability. Preservation and stewardship of the traditional uses of
the land are important aspects of sustainability, as are principles of protecting water resources (in both quantity and quali ty), and supporting the viability of
traditional occupations including agriculture and grazing. In addition to these existing components, sustainability addresses the broader use of all resources,
including energy consumption, recycling, and the economic stability of the community.
The ounty’s Sustainable rowth Management Plan (S MP) outlines the principles that will define zoning and density in the ounty’s new building codes. The se
principles include consideration of water available and use, terrain, proximity to existing development, energy consumption, and economic viability. The La
Cienega / La Cieneguilla Community supports the principles established in the SGMP.
In conjunction with SGMP policies, the (future) SLDC, and the La Cienega Ordinance 2002-9 (including future updates), the following future land use plan and
provisions ensures compatibility among various land uses, provides flexibility and certainty, conserves local water resources , protects scenic features and
environmentally sensitive areas, enhances rural development patterns, delineates areas to incent agricultural preservation while accommodating the anticipated
natural growth of the community and the potential for appropriate commercial development
The future land use categories are consistent with the intention and descriptions of Futu re Land Use Categories in the SGMP. The Future Land Use Map refines and
amends the SGMP Future Land Use Map.
The future land use categories, general provisions and map provide an outline for zoning pursuant to the SLDC and the La Cien ega Ordinance 2002-9 (including
future updates). General uses, development types and water standards are described. Development types, such as family compoun ds and clustered developments are
identified for some of the future land use categories to preserve historic agricultural patterns with the anticipation that development standards will be drafted as part
of the SLDC and the La Cienega Ordinance 2002-9 (including future updates). The intent of the development types is to encourage compact development, encourage
historic development patterns and accommodate a variety of lifestyles including multi-generational families living together.
The proposed permissive, conditional and prohibited uses listed within each category is incomplete but will be used to guide the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla
Community District established through the SLDC and the La Cienega Ordinance 2002-9 (including future updates). Unique provisions and standards for the plan
area and each of the land use categories will also be drafted, including references to the SLDC for general regulations for each use and county wide application
procedures. The language below and future land use map anticipates the SLDC and should guide development until the SLDC Zonin g Map and SLDC are adopted.
Updated to the La Cienega Ordinance 2002-9 shall incorporate the principles and guidelines established in this Plan.
Restricted Land Uses based on Water Quality Protection
New development that poses a risk of spills and potential to contaminate surface and groundwater systems shall not be permitted within the Planning Area. Nonpermitted uses will include gas stations, asphalt batch plants and asphalt production plants, large -scale mining, any warehouse which stores or transfers chemicals,
large-scale agricultural operations which stockpile manure or have manure lagoons (e.g.: dairies, horse parks or stables, chicken farms), waste oil recycling, sep tic
tank pumping waste disposal, grease trap waste disposal, large-scale chili processing plants, cheese processing plants, gasoline storage facilities or transfer stations,
auto repair facilities, car washes, sludge disposal fields, mortuaries, and slaughter houses.
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Comment [sbi2]: Should we identify properties
?
Restricted Development Areas
Restricted Development Areas simply delineate all of the areas where development will be severely restricted. This can be ba sed on the FEMA Maps, the
SGMP Official Maps and the community identified Scenic Features and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Map. For example La Cienega Creek, Arroyo
Hondo and Alamo Creek and associated bosques could be delineated on a map using FEMA flood plains.
Steep Slope Areas – These are areas with greater than 30% slope.
Floodplain Areas – These are the 100-year floodplains that have been mapped by FEMA. Santa Fe County also generally prohibits development within a
75-foot buffer adjacent to the mapped FEMA floodplain boundary, which will also be included.
Wetland Areas And Riparian Habitat –the National Wetlands Inventory will be used for wetland areas and the New Mexico ReGAP Vegetative Land Cover
data will be used for riparian areas. “Riparian areas” are the willows, cottonwoods, etc. that are typically found near streams, but do not occur in the watersaturated soils that characterize wetlands.
Archaeological Sites – Archaeological sites identified in the under the Galisteo Basin Sites Protection Initiative
Stream And Arroyo Buffers – Streams will have at least a 25-foot buffer based on the current County Land Development Code requirements.
Critical Habitat Areas – these are typically defined as areas that are essential to the maintenance of viable populations of endangered or threatened animal
species. Likely areas that may be included as Critical Habitat Areas are usually within the wetland, riparian, and floodplain zones.
Key Issues:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Community residents have identified that family transfers and variances are sometimes used to divide properties below the min imum lot sizes to avoid
subdivision regulations and procedures, contrary to the intent of the family transfer procedure. This allows for increased de nsity on small lots and places
higher demands on local water resources to accommodate the new development. More careful examination of the potential impacts of increased densities on
local water resources as well as on infrastructure and the area's rural character is necessary before exemptions and variance s are granted.
The rapid development and subsequent changes in land uses, primarily from agricultural to housing, impacts property values and increases tax burdens. This
development has benefited some property owners, particularly in the case of large-scale developments. However, the development has also increased
economic pressure on families and small-scale landowners to follow the same pattern which has led to piecemeal subdivision of the Planning Area at the
expense of the community character. Community residents have identified that continued and uncontrolled development th reatens to destroy the rural nature
of the community. Additionally, rapid development places strains on limited local natural resources, including water.
The Planning Area includes various zoning districts including the Traditional Community Zoning Distric t. The maps which depict these different zones,
particularly the Traditional Community Zoning District, are interpreted on a case by case basis which has led to confusion on individual zoning decisions.
Thus, enforcement is complicated because of unclear boundaries between the various zoning areas.
Due to increased growth and concerns regarding water quality in the Planning Area, some community members have called for ext ension of County water
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Comment [sbi3]: Should we add this?
5.
6.
and/or wastewater systems into the Planning Area. However, if these systems were expanded in the Planning Area it might be possible to increase housing
densities to areas served by both sewer and water. The increased housing densities would lead to urban style intensive develo pment which would further
threaten the rural character of the communities in the Planning Area.
Zoning and density decisions are largely influenced by water availability and the adequacy of septic systems. This is an appr opriate approach in the Planning
Area due to the need to balance water resources with development. However, the rural character of the communities in the Planning Area is intrinsically
linked to development patterns and zoning decisions. Community members in the Planning Area have expressed the importance of including specific
consideration of important elements such as local infrastructure, traffic and other impacts of development on the rural communitie s along with the critically
important water resources.
In the past two decades, zoning changes and land use policies designed for the entire County have helped to direct new growth in the Planning Area. While
growth and change are recognized as inevitable and often positive, the rapid development in the Planning Area has also negati vely impacted the quiet, rural
character of the community. Community members have expressed frustration and exasperation at decisions and policies impacting the community in whic h
they feel community concerns were not addressed or considered. This has led to the impression of disenfranchisement at the co mmunity level and served to
discourage participation in community and County level decision-making




Land uses within the Planning Area will protect the natural resources, historical resources and rural character of the commun ities in the La Cienega Valley.
Increased awareness of the importance of maintaining rural and agricultural character of the communities in the Planning Area .
Protection and maintenance of clean air and water as community priorities in the Planning Area.
Incorporate sustainable land practices which preserve the rural, agricultural, ranching, and traditional ways of life within the commu nity.
GOAL:
Create a future land use plan to protect the natural and historical resources and rural character of the communities in the La Cienega Valley
while at the same time position the community to leverage its location adjacent to regional and interstate highway systems, regional transit systems and the
airport to increase economic viability.
See Map 9: La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Future Land Use, SGMP, for proposed land use designations based on this chart.
Future Land Use Designations and Proposed Densities
The Future Land Use Categories chart of the SGMP is reproduced here, with the addition of a Rural Residential category. This Plan adopts these land use
categories:
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Future Land Use Categories
Category Description
Rural/Agricultural/Conservation‐Primarily larger areas that include large residential lots
Conservation
Santa Fe County Open Space
Agriculture and
Agricultural, ranch, very large lot residential and equestrian uses. Also may include ecotourism and renewable resource‐based
Ranching
activities.
Rural
Agricultural, equestrian and large lot residential uses. Also may include ecotourism and resource‐based activities.
Rural
Residential development at low intensities while protecting agricultural and environmental areas that are inappropriate for more
Fringe
intense development due to their sensitivity. Review factors to be based on balance between conservation, environmental
protection and reasonable opportunity for development.
Residential ‐ A variety of residential lot sizes
Rural
Rural Residential Development with lower densities, which is sufficient to maintain a rural character that is conducive to
Residential
agricultural and equestrian uses, allows on site residential energy production with locally maintained infrastructure, and is
developed in a manner that is sensitive to conservation, cultural and environmental factors.
Residential
Rural homes on large lots, sometimes as part of rural subdivisions (a subdivision of only a few lots and very low densities).
Fringe
Provides intermediate steps in development density between more typical open space lands and low residential densities.
Residential
Single‐family large lot residential development, consistent with contemporary community development. May include limited
Estate
agricultural use secondary to residential.
Traditional
Single‐family residential development, consistent with traditional community development. Primarily limited to existing
Community
traditional communities.
Mixed Use ‐ A combination of residential and commercial areas and higher density development
Primary Uses are Residential. Provides a mix of residential and commercial developments requiring minimum densities to support
Mixed Use
the commercial uses. Residential, educational, non‐profit, public and private uses and commercial uses are developed within a
Residential
radius, which should be easily accessible by multiple forms of travel, including pedestrian travel, biking, public transit and
automobiles. Commercial uses in these centers primarily support nearby residential developments.
Primary Uses are Nonresidential. Provides a mix of commercial, office, light industrial, manufacturing and warehousing.
Mixed Use
Residential uses may be appropriate in certain locations to include multi‐family residential, live-work, and artistic opportunities
Nonresidential
that my require light industrial capabilities. Transportation facilities should be readily accessible.
Activity Centers‐Primarily commercial and special use areas
Neighborhood or community scale shopping centers and personal and professional services conveniently located near residential
Community
areas. Includes businesses which are agriculture and natural resource‐based, Intended to be designed and integrated as part of
Centers
mixed use / planned development.
Regional
Larger, regional scale shopping centers, which may be anchored by department or home improvement stores or other large‐scale
Centers
anchors, and employment centers. Intended to be designed and integrated as part of mixed use / planned development.
Opportunity
Centers
Unique, site‐ or purpose‐specific uses, not likely to be replicated in other locations, benefiting from locational attributes, such as
wind, natural resources, viewsheds or recreational/environmental amenities. Nonresidential uses range from energy, to
ecotourism, to supporting other economic development activities.
Figure 2‐9: Future Land Use Categories
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Map 9 - La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Future Land Use
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FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
Conservation- Tribal Land
Conservation State Land
Conservation Santa Fe County Open Space Program
Conservation – Private Land
Agricultural/Ranch
The Agricultural and Ranch designation applies to properties in the southern portions of the plan area that are associated wi th the historic ranch operations. The large
lots will continue to support ranching and associated activities.. Gross densities will match existing densities of the Homestead Zone and should not be subdivided
below the minimum lot size of 1 du per 160 acres. Incentives in the form of land transfers, density bonuses and small lot fam ily transfers will be used to encourage
compact development in conjunction with conservation easements that preserve agricultural land and open space.
Permitted Uses: The following general uses are to be permitted in the Residential Fringe Land Use Category, or as specified i n the Planned Community District:
 Single-Family Residential
 Agricultural Uses
 Churches
 Home Occupations and Businesses
Conditional Uses: As prescribed by the SLDC.
In keeping with the historic development pattern and to promote clustered compact development, the following residential development types will be allowed as a
conditional use when specific design standards and density transfers or bonus are employed:
 Family Compounds
 Clustered Housing Developments
 Secondary Dwelling Units
Prohibited Uses:
Rural Residential
The Rural Residential land use designation covers several large lot agricultural properties in the plan area, including Santa Fe Canyon Ranch, Tres Rios Ranch and
large grazing properties west of La Cieneguilla. These areas should continue with primarily agricultural uses. Maximum gross densities will be determined by water
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sources but will not be more than 1 dwelling unit per 10 acres. Incentives in the form of density transfers and bonuses will be used to encourage planned compact
development in conjunction with conservation easements that preserve agricultural land, open space and the aquifer.
New residential subdivisions and developments will be required to submit a specific area or master plan that protects adjacent properties, provides an environment
within the layout of a site that contributes to a sense of community, preserves and enhances natural amenities and cultural resourc es; protects the natural features of
a site that relate to its topography, shape, and size; and provides for a minimum amount of open space , pedestrian paths and trail; provide an efficient arrangement of
land uses, buildings, circulation systems, and infrastructure.
This area will be restricted to single-family development with options for clustering, agricultural related uses, home occupations and businesses. For residential
uses, the total roofed area of principal and accessory structures shall be no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area
Permitted Uses: The following general uses are to be permitted in the Residential Fringe Land Use Category, or as specified in the Planned Community District:
 Churches
 Community Facilities
Conditional Uses: As prescribed by the SLDC.
In keeping with the historic development pattern and to promote clustered compact development, the following residential development types will b e allowed as a
supplemental use when specific design standards and density transfers or bonus are employed:
Prohibited Uses:
Total Acreage: approx. 1,090 acres
Residential Fringe
The Residential Fringe Land Use Category is designated for areas associated with contemporary residential subdivisions that b egan in the 70’s in both a ienega
and La Cieneguilla This area will be primarily single-family development with options for clustering, agricultural related uses, home occupations and businesses.
Maximum gross density will be determined by water sources but will not be less than 2.5 acres per unit. For residential uses, the total roofed area of principal and
accessory structures shall be no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area
Permitted Uses: The following general uses are to be permitted in the Residential Fringe Land Use Category, or as specified i n the Planned Community District:
 Churches
 Community Centers
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Conditional Uses:
The following residential development types will be allowed as a supplemental use when specific design standards and density transfers or bonus are employed:
 Clustered Housing
Prohibited Uses:
Total Acreage: Approx 2,530 acres
Traditional Community
The Traditional Community Land Use Category is designated for primarily single-family residential and small scale agricultural development, consistent with
historic development patterns and uses. Community facilities, institutional uses, agricultural uses, home businesses and occu pations will be allowed anywhere in the
area. Maximum density shall reflect the current minimum lot size of ¾ acre, ensure that liquid waste disposal systems will not contaminate domestic wells, and that
there will continue to be an adequate supply of ground water in the future.
General Provisions:
 New development will respect its surroundings and contribute to the historic rural character of the community.
 For residential uses, the total roofed area of principal and accessory structures shall be no more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area
 Narrow Rural roads will continue to provide safe connections throughout the commun ity.
 The La Cienega Creek and associated bosque are the defining natural features of the area. The creek is the primary surface water source for the area and the
bosque provides a ground water recharge zone for several springs an important wildlife corridor and riparian habitat. It should be protected from new
development and accessible to the community for maintenance and restoration.
 Agriculture and acequias are the defining cultural features of the area and should be preserved and expanded through ince ntive zoning techniques.
Uses & Development Types:
Permitted Uses: The following general uses are to be permitted in the Traditional Community Land Use Category.Single -Family Residential
 Churches
 Community Facilities
Conditional Uses:
In keeping with the historic development pattern and to promote clustered compact development, the following residential deve lopment types will be allowed as a
supplemental use when specific design standards and density transfers:
 Family Compounds

Prohibited Uses:
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Total acreage: Approx. 770 acres
Traditional Community Proposed Expansion
Total Acreage: Approx 120 acres
Mixed- Use Residential
The residential mixed-use designation applies the property associated with the LAS LAGUNITAS subdivision at the intersection of La Entrada and the I-25
Frontage Road and property associated with Sunrise Springs Resort in Upper La Cienega. Due to the size of the parcels and loc ations adjacent or within rural
residential neighborhoods, the scale shall be residential in character. The intent is to accommodate higher density residential development with mixed types and
prices, commercial, office, service-related, and limited manufacturing activities that are provided with adequate infrastructure and that will not cause a detriment to
any abutting rural residential lands. Although a mixture of land uses is allowed, controls are needed to minimize or buffer a ny nuisances caused by such land uses.
Maximum floor area for each establishment shall not fifteen thousand square feet.
Permitted Uses:
Residential; single family attached & detached, townhouses, group homes and live-work units
Commercial: office, retail, medical, lodging, and entertainment use
Light manufacturing (fabrication and assembly only) and wholesale or distribution of non-hazardous goods
Conditional Uses
Prohibited Uses
Mixed-Use Non-Residential
The mixed-use non-residential designation applies to the area that includes the Santa Fe Downs Property and properties associated with Erica Road, portions of Los
Pinos Road, NM 599, and I-25 Frontage Road. The Commercial Mixed- Use designation is appropriate due to the availability of large tracts of land, high visibility,
close proximity and easy access to regional (NM 599) and interstate highway systems (I-25), the airport and regional transit systems including the Express
Railrunner Commuter train and North Central Regional Transit Authority buses. It should evolve as a master-planned, mixed-use development incorporating
primarily commercial uses including light manufacturing, office, medical, lodging and variety of ancillary uses such as resid ential with mixed housing types and
prices, retail, entertainment and recreational components.
Presently, the area lacks a dependable utility system with sufficient water supply and sanitary system for higher density res idential or most commercial uses. It also
lacks a district or on-site storm-water management system. Financing will most likely require a partnership with public agencies which may make public funding
sources available to increase project feasibility or offer support in the early stages. Funding mechanisms may include Tax
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The overall goal is to create a vibrant, self-contained business community that is more than just a place to work. The organizational system should follow natural
contours of the land and parcels sizes should vary to capture changing market conditions. Circulation, traffic, roads and parking standards depend on uses allowed in
the district. Standards should include road width and bearing capacity, truck loading and turning requirements and traffic ge neration guidelines. Major access points
should not conflict with pedestrian movement or adjacent residential areas. Developed public parks that are centrally located and connected by pedestrian paths
should be established as part of any new mixed-use or major residential developments.
Height and bulk standards, floor area ratios, and other density standards for structures should be compatible with competing mixed use commercial areas th roughout
the region, yet provide for land to be set aside for buffer zones located to separate the area from adjacent residential u ses, community parks and trails, landscaped
roadways , and protection of environmentally sensitive areas. Typically 30% lot coverage is sufficient for campus style mixed use districts.
Permitted Uses: The following general uses are to be permitted in the Commercial Mixed-Use Land Use Category, or as specified in the Planned Community
District:
Conditional Uses
Prohibited Uses
Opportunity Sites
Unique, site or purpose specific uses, not likely to be replicated in other locations, benefiting from locational attributes, such as wind, natural resources, viewsheds or
recreational/environmental amenities. Nonresidential uses range from energy, to ecotourism, to supporting other economic dev elopment activities.
BASE DENSITY FOR LAND USES (See Map 9 for locations.):
RESIDENTIAL USES
Proposed base densities for Future Land Use map categories will be established County-wide. Residential land uses specified within the LC Plan area include:
Land Use Category
Proposed Base Density
.
Agriculture & Ranching
160 acres per residential unit
Rural Fringe
Rural Residential
Residential Fringe
Traditional Community
¾ acres per residential unit
MIXED USES
Mixed Use land use areas will include a variety of density-related rules. These rules are not applied County-wide and define rules only for the Mixed Use designated
properties within the Planning Area: (see Map 7 for locations.) The three designated areas for mixed use are:
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Comment [sbi4]: See update land use map;
similar with the exception of showing Traditional
Community as its own land use category – not just a
boundary.
AREA 1: SANTA FE DOWNS PROPERTIES
AREA TWO: ERICA ROAD/LOS PINOS ROAD PARCELS AT NM599 and LAS LAGUNITAS MIXED USE PARCEL
AREA THREE: SUNRISE SPRINGS RESORT PARCELS
AREA 1: SANTA FE DOWNS PROPERTIES
All Mixed Use Zone development would be served by community or regional water and sewage disposal systems. Existing use of properties may continue using
on-site water and sewage treatment until community or regional water resources become available, after which the La Cienega Wate rshed Conditions would be
applied. Mixed Use development shall connect to community or regional water and/or sewer resources if and when those resources become available.
Any master plan for development must comply with the requirements established in the Land Development Code.
AREA ONE RESIDENTIAL USES:
Residential uses are allowed, with a maximum density of:
 1 unit per .75 acres for single family units with central water system
 1 unit per 2 ½ acres for detached single family units
 up to 15 dwellings per acre for attached apartments, condominiums, and group quarters uses.
A list of the specific residential uses and the number of dwellings to be allowed, as well as the minimum lot size (for singl e-family detached or attached
units) or maximum density (for apartments, condominiums, and group quarters), must be approved as a part of the master plan for any mixed-use
development project.
AREA ONE: NON-RESIDENTIAL USES
Commercial office, retail, medical, lodging, and entertainment uses are allowed, with a maximum floor area to lot size ratio of 0.5. (This includes the
building footprint plus any floor area of additional upper or lower stories.)
Public and institutional uses, such as educational facilities, places of worship, community centers, and government or instit utional offices and assembly
rooms area allowed, with a maximum floor area to lot size ratio of 0.5.
Light manufacturing (fabrication and assembly only) and wholesale or distribution of non -hazardous goods with a maximum floor area to lot size ratio of
0.5, entirely within enclosed buildings, provided that the portion of the site developed for such uses does not exceed 30 percent of the mixed-use project
area.
A list of the specific non-residential uses to be allowed must be approved as a part of the master plan for the mixed-use development project. For lodging
facilities, the maximum number of lodging units also must be specified.
AREA ONE OTHER USES
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Parks, squares, outdoor recreation facilities, storm water management facilities, utilities that serve the project, and conse rvation areas are allowed and
encouraged. These must be shown on the development master plan.
Residential densities and non-residential intensities of use may be applied concurrently, to those portions of the site where residential and non -residential
uses are vertically integrated within the same building or group of buildings.
Maximum building height is 3 stories and 35 feet. Within 150 feet of areas that are developed, subdivided, or zoned primaril y for single-family detached
dwellings or for residential uses with a density of 5 dwellings per acre or less, maximum building height is 2 stories and 25 feet.
For single-unit detached residential uses, minimum front building setback is 25 feet; minimum rear building setback is 15 feet, and mini mum side building
setback is 15 feet. For non-residential and multiple-family residential uses, minimum side and rear setbacks of 40 feet are required, adjacent to areas that are
developed, subdivided, or zoned primarily for single-family detached dwellings or for residential uses with a density of 5 dwellings per acre or less.
Maximum lot coverage for buildings is 35 percent. Maximum total lot coverage for all improvements, including building covera ge, parking areas,
sidewalks, etc. is 60%.
AREA TWO: ERICA ROAD/LOS PINOS ROAD PARCELS AT NM599 and LAS LAGUNITAS MIXED USE PARCEL
Minimum project area required for projects that include any non-residential development is 1 acre; for development projects that consist only of residential
development, the minimum project area shall correspond to minimum lot area per dwelling established by the residential density standards.
Where development would be served by on-site sewage disposal systems, state laws and regulations concerning on-site sewage disposal systems must be
complied with, including any use, density, intensity, and lot area requirements that apply where on-site sewage disposal systems are used.
Requirements for a development master plan that are established in the Land Development Code must be complied with.
AREA TWO RESIDENTIAL USES:
 8 dwellings per acre for live-work units
 3 dwellings per acre for all other residential units.
A list of the specific residential uses and the number of dwellings to be allowed, as well as the minimum lot size (for singl e-family detached or attached
units) or maximum density (for apartments, condominiums, and group quarters), needs to be approved as a part of the master plan for the mixed-use
development project.
AREA TWO NON-RESIDENTIAL USES
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Public and institutional uses, such as educational facilities, places of worship, community centers, and government or instit utional offices and assembly
Light manufacturing (fabrication and assembly only) and wholesale or distribution of non -hazardous goods with a maximum floor area to lot size ratio of
0.5, entirely within enclosed buildings, provided that the portion of the site developed for such uses does not exceed 30 percent of the mixed -use project
area.
AREA TWO OTHER USES
AREA THREE: SUNRISE SPRINGS RESORT PARCELS
For development of any portion of the area, the minimum project area required is 2.5 acres.
Where development would be served by on-site sewage disposal systems, state laws and regulations concerning on-site sewage disposal systems must be
complied with, including any use, density, intensity, and lot area requirements that apply where on -site sewage disposal systems are used.
Requirements for a development master plan that are established in the Land Development Code must be complied with.
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AREA THREE RESIDENTIAL USES:
 8 dwellings per acre for live-work units or for attached apartments, condominiums, and group quarters uses
A list of the specific residential uses and the number of dwellings to be allowed, as well as the minimum lot size (for singl e-family detached or attached units)
or maximum density (for apartments, condominiums, and group quarters), must be approved as a part of the master plan for the mixed -use development project.
AREA THREE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES
Public and institutional uses, such as educational facilities, places of worship, community centers, and government o r institutional offices and assembly
AREA THREE OTHER USES
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TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS (TDR) PROGRAM
A TDR program shall be developed in order to preserve:



traditional agricultural lands for agricultural use.
archeological or cultural sites as identified by Federal or New Mexico State registry.
other sites as determined by future community review and amendment of this Plan.
Participation in the TDR program shall be voluntary, and no development restriction or other penalty shall be imposed by non -participation.
The initial implementation of the TDR program shall be limited to preservation of traditional agricultural lands for agricultural use.
The program shall identify Sending and Receiving Areas (SAs and RAs) within the La Cienega Planning Area.
Sending Areas
SAs are specific properties eligible to send or transfer their development rights to other properties. Each property shall be evaluated by means of professional
appraisal or other acceptable valuation method. The valuation shall be used to determine the number of development rights, o r Development Units, for the
property. The valuation is not necessarily the ‘selling price” or “market value” of the property or the Development unit.
Sending Areas: Traditional Agricultural Lands
Properties identified as having traditional agricultural lands shall be identified and mapped. A land parcel need not be identified as 100% traditional
agricultural land to be qualified for the TDR program. The portion of a qualifying land parcel that is identified as having traditional agricultural use
shall be used to determine the Development Units available. For example, if a five acre parcel has two acres of traditional agricultural land, the two
acres shall be used in calculating the number of Development Units available to the parcel. Development rights transferred from the parcel shall only
affect the two acres of agricultural land, and the remaining three acres of the parcel shall maintain base zoning density.
To qualify as traditional agricultural land, the land must be identified as having long -term agricultural use. Surface irrigation water rights from current
or past acequias, or traditional use of acequias waters with or without identified rights, may be used to identify qualifying lands. Traditional surface
water irrigation from local streams and rivers, whether by acequia or not, may be used to identify qualifying lands. Other means of qualification of
lands may be employed.
Sending Areas: Archeological or Cultural Site
Properties identified as having archeological or cultural sites shall be identified and mapped. A land parcel need not be identified as a 100%
archeological or cultural site to be qualified for the TDR program. The portion of a qualifying land parcel that is identifi ed as having an archeological or
cultural site shall be used to determine the Development Units available.
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To qualify as an archeological or cultural site, the site must be identified by Federal or New Mexico State registry of such sites. Sites note currently
identified by Federal or State registry may become eligible if they are included in future Federal or State registries.
Receiving Areas
RAs are properties eligible to receive Development Units and thereby increase the allowable density of the property. Each p roperty shall be evaluated by
means of professional appraisal or other acceptable valuation method. The valuation shall be used to determine the number of development rights, or
Development Units, that the property can receive. The valuation is not necessarily the ‘selling price” or “market value” of the property or the Development
unit.RA properties shall have an established base zoning density determined by the land use category as established by the Santa Fe County Sustainable Land
Development Plan and as specified in the current La Cienega Community Plan and La Cienega Ordinance 2002 -9. Each RA property shall also have a
specified maximum zoning density that includes the base zoning density plus any increase in density allowed through the application of Development Units
from a qualified TDR program.
Qualifying Receiving Areas
Properties that may qualify as RAs include:
 Propertied with Mixed Use zoning as identified by this Plan and attached Future Land Use map.
 La Bajada Ranch tracts 4G, 4H, and 4I owned by Santa Fe County comprising approximately 470 acres.
 other sites as determined by future community review and amendment of this Plan.
Mixed Use Receiving Areas
The base density for Mixed Use properties is:
 35% maximum lot coverage for buildings
 60% maximum total lot coverage for all improvements, including building coverage, parking areas, sidewalks, etc.
The maximum density for Mixed Use properties with application of TDR units shall be 45%. This density may be adjusted as the TRD program i s
developed in order to promote and encourage the viability of the program.
Valuation of each property shall be used to determine the number of Development Units required to achieve the maximum density.
La Bajada Ranch Tracts Receiving Areas
The base zoning density for these tracts is 20 acres per residential unit, as set by the Rural Fringe Future land Use categor y (see Future Land Use chart,
SGMP page 47). Master planning (or equivalent), as permitted by County regulations, may be used to in crease density to a maximum of 2 ½ acres per
residential unit.
The development density is further limited by on-site water resources, as specified by the La Cienega Ordinance 2002-9. Application of TDRs may be
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used to increase the limit established by on-site water resources. Increased density allowed by TDRs in this manner shall require imported water. Use
of TDRs to increase density by importation of water shall not exceed a maximum density of 5 acres per residential unit.
If Mixed Use or other non-residential uses are permitted through master planning (or equivalent, including Opportunity Center zoning) the maximum lot
coverage shall be 20%, with proof of on-site water resources. Application of TDRs may be used to increase the Mixed Use limit established by on-site
water resources, up to the maximum lot coverage or 20%. Increased density allowed by TDRs in this manner shall require impor ted water. This density
may be adjusted as the TRD program is developed in order to promote and encourage the viability of the program.
Valuation of the tracts shall be used to determine the number of Development Units required to increase density through the u se of TDRs. A specific
ratio shall be determined for the number of Development Units needed to import water for each residential unit or Mixed Use density unit.
The TDR program shall be managed through the Santa Fe County Planning Department or other appropriate authority.
Unless specified by County or State regulation, the initial list of qualified Sending and Receiving areas shall include those specified in the La Cienega
TDR program as defined by this Plan and complimentary ordinance. The complimentary ordinance may be the La Cienega Ordinan ce 2002-9, the
Santa Fe County TDR Ordinance 2001-7, or the Santa Fe County Land Development Code. The list of list of qualified Sending and Receiving areas
may be expanded to include areas from other compatible programs by amendment of this Plan.
OTHER LAND USE GUIDELINES
Density Transfers:
A. Density transfer(s) should be used to protect community assets including but not limited to wetlands, open spaces, springs, watercourses, ripar ian areas,
agricultural lands, acequias, traditional community centers, archeological sites, historical and cultural sites and mult i-generational family housing compounds.
This will allow developments to transfer minimum lot size densities from an entire piece of property to a specific area of th e property in order to protect
important community resources such as those listed above. For example if a developer chooses to develop a 10 acre tract in the Traditional Community Zoning
District under permitted .75 acre lot size zoning, the county code would allow the developer to divide the land into 13 indiv idual parcels with one dwelling unit
per .75 acre parcel. Under density transfers, the developer would be able to cluster the gross density of 13 units on a porti on of the property, leaving the rest of
the property open and undeveloped.
1) When density transfers result in higher site densities, such development shall be clustered and sited in an organic manner to fit the land features and
existing rural character of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla, instead of in an urban grid pattern.
Residential Uses:
A. Residential uses shall be permitted in the entire Planning Area..
Mixed Uses:
A. The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Plan supports existing and planned mixed use development locations


the Santa Fe Downs/Erica Road/Los Pinos Road area at NM 599
the existing Sunrise Springs development
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
the Las Lagunitas area at the corner of Entrada La Cienega and the West Frontage Road
See Map 8: La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Future Land Use.
B. All new mixed use establishments shall submit a water resources plan as part of the master plan review process. The water resources plan must comply with all
SGMP and County land use code requirements, including sustainability and La Cienega Watershed Conditions. Mixed Use development shall connect to
community or regional water and/or sewer resources if and when the resources become available.
C. The Plan recognizes that the long-term well-being of the community will require a sustainable economic base and local services which are provided by
allowing the existing mixed use development areas to continue to meet the needs of the community and the County.
Home Occupations and Mixed Uses:
A. The Community Plan recognizes the importance of individuals and families to operate small businesses from their homes. Mixed use development consisting of
development that house both residential and non-residential uses on the same property and or in the same structures shall be permitted as part of a home
occupation. Small-scale arts & crafts and galleries already exist in the community as is demonstrated through the annual gallery t our. The Plan determines that
home occupations are appropriate throughout the Planning Area and supports the continuation of existing home businesses and s mall commercial operations in
the Planning Area. New home occupations shall meet the standards of the current County Land Code with the following changes:
1) Products to be sold are manufactured on-site
2) No more than four (4) persons, other than members of a family residing on the premise, shall be regularly engaged in work at the site of the home
occupation.
3) All parking for the residence and home occupation must be off the roadway and shoulders of the road.
4) Accessory structures used for the home occupation may not be larger than fifty percent (50%) of the total square footage of t he residence.
B. Small-scale retail establishments, such as arts and crafts stores, restaurants or galleries may be permitted as part of a home occupation .
C. Agricultural sales and roadside stands are important ways of supporting local agricultural traditions and economies and shall be permitted in the Planning Area.
D. Other development as defined by the County Code shall be permitted with the exception that all large outdoor recreation and l andscaping areas such as ball
fields or other large grass areas must use treated effluent rather than potable water for landscaping and turf. Any effluent treated to meet all state and county
regulations for water quality and use with public facilities.
Cell Towers and Antennas:
A. Cell towers and antennas shall meet all County Code requirements.
Family Transfers:
A. Because local families are one of the great community resources of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area, lots created by inheritance
or family transfer are allowed and shall meet the requirements of the County Code and zoning requirements included herein.
B. The maximum densities shall not be adjusted below those outlined in the Density Section.
Any applicant for a family transfer must demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years direct ownership of the lot(s) since the las t land division(s) or sale or transfer of
the property before any disposition can be taken on the family transfer request. An exemption to the five -year holding period may be applied for and must clearly
state how the additional family transfer lot division is necessary due to personal or family hardship, that the request is a minimum easing of the Ordinance
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requirements, making possible the reasonable use of the land and that it will have no adverse impact to neighboring propertie s, the community or the environment.
Such requests for exemption must be heard before the current County-authorized La Cienega and La Cieneguilla reviewing body.
Land Protection:
A. Open spaces set aside for density transfer or other easements for the protection of community assets, as described above, should interconnect to similar sites or
potential sites on adjacent properties whenever possible.
B. Developments shall design narrow roads and driveways that follow the natural terrain without creating large cut and fill area s; roads shall be designed with
more natural edges, using shoulders, ditches and grassy swales rather than curb and gutter. Roads and driveways must meet all Land Development Code
requirements, for example fire access and width.
C. Native vegetation should be preserved, when possible, on development sites and local native plants used for landscape buffers and screening.
Acequia Protection:
A. All development shall be set back from the six foot (6') maintenance right of way of the traditional acequias.
B. Prior to issuance of development permits, applications for development within twenty-five feet (25') of an acequia must be reviewed by the affected Acequia
Association. Such review will require a recommendation of approval or denial and/or any suggested conditions for approval . This will be a non-binding review
and recommendation to help protect the local acequias' integrity and function. The review period will be no longer than 30 da ys and if no response is received
from the Acequia Association by that time, the application shall proceed through the normal procedures. The County shall work with the Acequia Associations
to develop a contact list for review of proposals.
Lot Coverage:
A. For residential uses, the total roofed area of principal and accessory structures shall be no
more than twenty percent (20%) of the total lot area. For example, a 3/4 acre lot would
accommodate approximately 6,500 square feet of structures and a 2.5 acre lot would
accommodate approximately 21,700 square feet of structures.
B. For non-residential uses, the total roofed area of principal structures, accessory structures,
roadways/driveways and parking facilities shall be no more than sixty percent (60%) the
total lot area. For example, a one acre lot would accommodate approximately 25,200 square
feet of mixed use lot area.
C. Whenever density transfer is used to create open space which is protected in perpetuity by
easement or other legal means, lot coverage shall be calculated based on the total acreage of
the project rather than for each individual development lot and shall be apportioned to the
density transfer lots by means of building envelopes on the approved final plat.
Ridgetop Protection:
A. Building on hillsides and ridgetops will be subject to the existing County Code requirements
such as setbacks, screening and buildable areas. Additionally, in order to more effectively
protect the horizons surrounding La Cienega and La Cieneguilla, ridgetops in the Planning
Area will be defined with a lesser slope on the sides, from 30% to 20%, and with all sides of
a ridge formation being included instead of only parallel sides. The following changes shall
be made for the definition of ridgetops in the Planning Area: 1) A ridge or ridgetop shall be
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defined as a long, narrow land form with slope less than fifteen percent (15%) that includes the prominently visible portion of a hill or mountain that sits above
an area having an average slope greater than twenty percent (20%) on one or more sides.
Noise and Lighting:
A. Noise and lighting standards shall be strictly enforced. All outdoor lights shall be shielded pursuant to the standards of the current County Code.
Water Impacts:
A. Prior to issuance of commercial and residential subdivision building permits, landowners must provide documentation supportin g water availability and the
impact on neighboring wells and make them available for public review at a centrally located spot in the community, such as t he Community Center.
Santa Fe River flow through Tres Rios Ranch
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SECTION IV- COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Plan is essentially a partnership between the Community and the County to help ta ilor land use and services to best
fit with existing conditions in the Planning Area. The Plan establishes policies that can be ena cted through ordinances or implemented through programs and
projects. The Plan serves as an amendment to both the Sustainable Growth Management Plan as well as to the Sustainable Land D evelopment Code.
Program Actions:
Program actions outline proposed future programming or projects that the Community Plan identifies as important work to be addressed in the community. These
actions are not proposed ordinances and do not outline any legal changes for land use or future development in the community. Program actions describe various
actions that are important for future planning and development in the area. The community is responsible for working with the County and various agencies
mentioned to initiate the program actions.
Implementation and Responsibilities
The Planning Division of Santa Fe County's Land Use Department is the lead agency responsible for both assisting the resident s of the La Cienega and La
Cieneguilla Planning Area in the creation of this plan as well as for helping the community coordinate implementation of the various actions outlined in the Plan.
The actions contained herein are designed to address specific issues identified as important aspects of future development in the planning Area.
All adopted ordinances, including revisions for the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area, shall be enforced by the County. It is important to
note that neither the County nor the various agencies listed in the Plan are directly committing resources for the specific p rogram actions outlined. However, the
County recognizes the importance of the many projects and programs listed in this plan. The County is committed to assisting the Planning Area's communities in
addressing these problems or needs and in finding locally appropriate solutions
.
The Planning Division will work with representative community organizations to coordinate both planning and implementation of the Plan's many actions. The La
Cienega Valley Association (LCVA) has served as the lead community group in helping to org anize and develop this plan. However, the County recognizes that the
LCVA is not the only community group in the Planning Area and does not imply that the LCVA would be responsible for implement ing all of the actions listed
herein. Throughout the Plan, reference is made to the "community" working with the Planning Division and other agencies to implement program actions. The
ounty will collaborate with the community through ommunity Organizations ( O’s) in a collaborative, consensual process to address the program actions
called for in the Plan.
The Community Plan is intended as an active document that can and should be updated as conditions change throughout the Plann ing Area. Additionally, it is
recognized that the Plan may be tailored to include specific concerns and conditions in smaller geographic areas within the Planning Area boundary, such as La
Cieneguilla, Upper La Cienega and Lower La Cienega.
Community Action Plan
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The focus of the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Action Plan is to support responsible development in the Planning Area that is appropriate in level,
scale, and intensity to match the rural character of the area and its communities. The plan covers water quantity, water qual ity and wastewater, open space,
agricultural lands, roads, fire protection, utilities, land use, and the airport, among other issues. The following sections outline specific program actions to help solve
problems as well as direct development that will help maintain the rural character of the communities of La Cienega and La Cieneguilla in the future.
Program Actions:
The following actions describe future programming or projects that the Community Plan identifies as important work to be addr essed in the community. These are
not proposed ordinances and do not outline any legal changes for land use or future development in the community.
Water Resources
The community will work with the County Planning Division, Utilities Division, Hydrologist and other relevant county state, f ederal and nongovernmental
agencies to:

Ensure that commercial and institutional entities with on-site wells in or adjacent to the Planning Area connect to the County water system at the earliest
possible date. When possible, existing on-site wells should be retired or dedicated for emergency uses only, such as fire protection or in the event that the
County Water system should fail.

Extend the County water system, at the earliest possible date, to the area near the intersection of NM 599 and 1 -25 in order to serve both new and existing
households and non-residential well users in the Upper la Cienega area. This will include working with residents in connecting subdivisions and households
that have requirements to connect to a public system when possible as part of plat approvals. In determining availability of County water, existing water
users shall have priority over new development.

Investigate sources of supplemental water to use for irrigation. Sources might include water harvesting and/or other reuse in itiatives such as treated effluent
from the City of Santa Fe's wastewater treatment plant, the State penitentiary and/or National Guard facility as well as comm ercial, institutional and
residential developments in or near the Community Planning Area. Effluent must be treated to conform to the federal and state standards. Such effluent
should be periodically tested, at least once every six months, by a certified laboratory and test results should be provided in a timely manner. This Plan does
not support direct injection of effluent into the aquifer and such a process should not be used.

Develop accurate population estimates for the La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Area. These population figures will be used in
conjunction with a water budget for the Planning area to determine potential population impacts on local water resources and the development of realistic
water availability estimates to guide future land use decisions. 3This study should be completed no more than 3 years from the date that the Plan is adopted.

Develop water conservation and protection initiatives at all commercial facilities within and adjacent to the Community Plann ing Area.

Ensure that water users and all new utility, institutional, residential and commercial developments in the La Cien ega and Santa Fe River watersheds will
incorporate a balanced aquifer approach in the development of water sources. This should include use of imported water, aquif er storage and recovery,
recharge with adequately treated effluent, protection of recharge zones, and limiting production of ground water in order that withdrawals be balanced with
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a sustainable level of recharge. These policies will be based upon the best available data and should be considered as necess ary aspects of all development
approvals in the Planning Area and in the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds.
The community will coordinate with the Office of the State Engineer to:

Develop a monitoring and notification program within the Planning Area to inform all water rights holders of proposed initiatives and activities that may
impact and or potentially impair all water rights in and / or associated with the Planning Area

Monitor water rights retirement schedules and to ensure that compliance with said schedules is enforced for all w ater rights derived from the Community
Planning Area.
The community will:

Coordinate with the La Cienega Mutual Domestic Water Association (LCMDWA) to leverage community resources to acquire transfer able water rights in
the Planning Area and apply such water rights to the expansion of existing or creation of new community water systems.

Inventory transferable water rights in the Planning Area and when possible, develop a voluntary notification process with the water right owners to arrange
a preferential right of purchase for these water rights in order that they may continue to serve as a community resource.

Coordinate with the acequia associations, the La Cienega Mutual Domestic Water Association, residents, business owners and pr operty owners to expand
water conservation initiatives within the community by providing educational materials and practical examples of water conser vation techniques that can be
employed in the Planning Area
Waste Water
The community will work with the County Planning Division, Utilities Division, Hydrologist and other relevant county state, federal and non -governmental agencies
to:

Require existing commercial and institutional entities which produce animal or chemical wastes that have the potential to con taminate groundwater which
are located adjacent to or in the Planning Area to properly contain and dispose of all wastes either brought onto the propert y or generated through the
entity(s) operations.

Develop design requirements for new development that control runoff into arroyos through use of retention ponds and/or other techniques that control
runoff while also allowing for aquifer recharge.

Review all road projects that may affect run-off in the La Cienega and Santa Fe River watersheds and Planning Area such as the Arroyo de Los Chamisos,
Arroyo Calabasas, Arroyo Hondo and the Santa Fe River.
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
Develop a program that will assist homeowners with septic system compliance. Such a program should include education, outreac h and funding
mechanisms to help homeowners ensure existing and new septic systems meet NMED standards and local ordinance compliance as appropriate .

Develop guidelines and assistance for all new developments to install wastewater treatments systems which are designed to tre at effluent or wastewater to
10 milligrams per liter or less of total nitrogen, as per EPA and NMED standards. This may be included as an ordinance at a f uture date to develop a
program that allows for periodic testing of wells, springs and the Santa Fe River in the Planning Area. This will include working with the Drinking Water
Bureau of the Environment Department to disseminate information regarding how individuals can test their own water, all relev ant County and State
regulations regarding well drilling and maintenance, as well as scheduling periodic water fairs in the Planning Area.

Work with the EID to develop voluntary noticing procedures whereby when new wells or septic systems are installed within the Planning Area, the land
owner will provide a map of all wells, septic systems, open water courses, springs, arroyos and acequias on or adjacent to the property. A copy of the map
could then be mailed to all adjacent property owners with notice of intended actions. The intent of this is to prevent accide ntal placement of wells or septic
systems which might have potential impacts to water resources and drainage on adjoining properties.

Explore the possibility of establishing local financing mechanisms, such as an assessment district, to create a water and/or sanitation district to serve the
Planning Area.

Develop a study of best management practices to ensure quality of water, wildlife habitat and beneficial use of water resourc es along the Santa Fe River in
the Planning Area.

Develop a septic tank monitoring program. Such a program will require that individual septic tank sludge levels be measured every 2 years and pumped if
called for by NMED standards. A biennial report examining septic tank conditions and problems in the Planning Area will be co mpiled and distributed to
interested community organizations. This policy is intended to help homeowners ensure that septic systems will not fail, to a void large costs of repairing
failed systems, and protect surrounding water resources from potential contamination.
The community will work with the County Planning Division, Utilities Division, Hydrologist and other relevant county state, federal and non governmental
agencies to coordinate with the New Mexico Environment Department and the City of Santa Fe:

To develop a joint information sharing and dissemination program that allows for periodic review of the City's Wastewater treatment facility operat ions
and reports. This will be designed to allow for greater communication and cooperation between the City, the County, NMED and County residents
regarding facility operations' impacts on the community at large and the communities of the Planning Area. Issues of concern to the community include but
are not limited to facility design and potential for spills, reliable supplies for power generation and emergency back-ups, sludge treatment and storage
capacity, and sludge field injection practices and potentials for water contamination. The above parties will investigate mea ns to formalize such a
cooperative program through development of cooperative agreements between the various parties and agencies.

To ensure that quantity and quality of effluent flows from the City's wastewater treatment plant are sufficient, based on the best available data, to meet the
needs of downstream water users and in recognizing priority water rights of downstream users.
Open Space
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The community will coordinate with the County Planning Division to:
• Develop an accurate inventory of all public land uses and leases in and surrounding the Planning rea. This will include development of a reporting procedure
whereby all parties can be informed as to current and planned uses of these public lands.
• Develop voluntary open space protection programs including but not limited to: clustered housing, land conservat ion programs, Transfer of Development
Rights
programs, conservation easements, purchase of development rights programs and community-based land trusts.
Agriculture
The community will support all local growers by:
• reating an inventory of agricultural lands in the planning area.
• Developing a voluntary notification process of all sales of agricultural land. When possible, this will include negotiation of a first right of refusal agreement on
sales of
said lands.
• Forming a representative committee of stakeholders to develop a community managed agricultural land protection program using methods such as, but not
limited to,
land trusts, conservation easements, and transfer of development rights.
• Investigating various funding mechanisms to support agricultural land protection and management programs through mechanisms including, but not limited to,
improvement districts, development impact fees, grants, and legislative appropriations.
• Supporting public land access, including Federally managed and state managed land, for grazing, as it is a community tradition and directly tied to sustaining
economically viable agricultural enterprises in the Planning Area.
• Investigating the means to alleviate property tax burdens for small-scale ranching and farming operations in the Planning Area.
• Investigating the means to recharge area springs in order to support traditional agricultural uses of water resources in th e Planning Area.
Transportation and Roads
The community will coordinate with the Planning Division and the County Public Works Department to:
• Develop educational materials to inform Planning rea residents of the ounty's notification procedures for road maintenanc e needs and requests.
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• oordinate with the community representative of rea Nine (the area including La Cienega and La Cieneguilla) of the County's Road Advisory Committee and
the
County Planning Division to develop a community priority list of road improvements and funding priorities.
• Design road safety features, including but not limited to, lighting and signage that are designed to maintain the rural character of the community.
• Identify areas with speeding problems and develop a periodic monitoring schedule with the Sheriff’s Department to enforce s peed limits within the Planning
Area.
• Study the feasibility of implementing traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, on roads with consistent speeding prob lems.
• oordinate with establishments in the Planning rea that generate high traffic volumes in order to develop either alternative traffic routes and/or event planning
to
minimize impacts from high traffic.
• Study the feasibility of providing transportation services to low mobility residents through existing public, non -profit and private transportation services.
• Study the feasibility of developing alternative transportation services including options such as ride -sharing and park and ride
• Study the feasibility of implementing guardrails on dangerous and sharp curves in the Planning rea
• Work with the State Highway Department to improve the intersection of as Estrellas Road and the Interstate 25frontage road and create screening which will
clearly
separate headlights on the interstate and on the frontage road.
• Develop better walking trails and better pedestrian access along roadways.
Utility Infrastructure
The community will coordinate with the County Planning Division to:
• Develop design and installation standards for all new or replacement utility services in the Planning rea. All improvements must be designed to maintain the
rural character of the community. This will include a public process for input from residents, business owners and property o wners.
Solid Waste
The community will coordinate with the County Planning Division and Public Works Department, Solid Waste Division to:
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• Study how well existing solid waste management practices are serving the Planning rea. This will include investigating the possibilities for additional sites for
solid
waste transfer, particularly for areas on the eastern side of 1-25 and communities north of the Planning Area, as well as means to finance a new station.
• Study the possibility of opening the solid waste facility seven days per week in order to better meet the demand for waste disposal from the entire area served
by the
transfer station and to eliminate illegal dumping at times when the facility is not open.
• Develop more effective enforcement of illegal dumping fines and develop regular community wide sweeps to discourage illegal dumping.
• Develop new signage to educate people regarding illegal dumping and to deter the practice in the Planning Area.
• reate a community program for periodic trash pick-up days in the Planning Area for large items and waste not accepted at the transfer station on private,
County, State
and BLM lands.
• Initiate an annual community program lean-up". This will include developing a representative community committee to coordinate local waste management
activities
and projects. This may also include expanding an Adopt a Road program and creating affordable incentives for community participation on annual clean -ups
such as free
passes to the transfer station.
Fire Protection
The community will coordinate with the County Fire Department, Utilities Division and Planning Division to enhance fire protection.
• Investigate means to increase water pressure in existing fire hydrants. This may include but is not limited to connecting e xisting hydrants to the County water
system
and/or other available water systems at the earliest possible date.
• Identify additional public and/or private water sources and to develop use agreements in order to meet emergency service ne eds in the Planning Area.
• Develop an implementation and funding plan in order to expand the number and location of accessible fire hydrants throughout the Planning Area. This may
include, but
is not limited to, construction of water storage facilities for emergency use in the planning area. Improvements must be desi gned to maintain the rural character of
the
community and will include a public process for planning input from residents, business owners and property owners.
• ssess the capacity and working order of existing fire hydrants and develop a repair and or replacement program for hydrants which are not in proper working
order.
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• Assess
fire access conditions in the planning area and develop a community education program to ensure proper access conditio ns on roads, driveways and
gated drives
and roads within the Planning Area.
Airport
The community will coordinate with neighborhoods and communities adjacent to the Planning Area to develop a representative co mmunity body to work with the
FAA, the
City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County to:
• ddress the impacts of airport operations on surrounding communities. This representative group will work with the City of Santa Fe, the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and any other relevant agency or group on issues including but are not limited to development of flight patterns that do not cross populated
areas, timing of flights, placement of navigational beacons and noise abatement.
• Develop a representative community body which will re uest that Santa Fe ounty and the ity of Santa Fe ointly create a N oise Mitigation and Abatement
Program at the airport.
• reate and implement a planning process to develop all airport expansion plans.
• Re uest a limit on expansion of new carriers, daily flights by commercial aircraft and non-emergency operations until a new airport plan is developed.
• Explore options and constraints of locating an airport facility away from heavily populated areas in the county. This progr am action is intended as an
investigative measure and does not imply any type of commitments by any party for siting of future facilities
.
• Investigate options and means for developing a scheduling process to limit regular flights to daytime hours and decrease or eliminate regularly scheduled flights
after 8:00 p.m.
• Work
with the National Guard to reduce the impact of flights over populated areas and undeveloped private property in the Planning Area through higher flight
patterns,
noise abatement efforts, and other means.
• Encourage the airport
management to educate pilots and other airport personnel about the importance of noise abatement procedures, common courtesy toward
local residents, and the locations of private property in the airport vicinity.
Community Facilities
The community will coordinate with the County Planning Division and all other relevant a gencies or groups to:
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• Investigate means, including funding for development, operations and maintenance costs, to establish a community facility i n the Planning Area. Such a facility
may include but not be limited to a park, a local history center, recreational facilities for sports, and a multipurpose community meeting center. Coordinate efforts
to apply County resources to local facilities as described in SGMP Chapter 12.
• Investigate options including but not limited to linking public facilities with acquisition and management of county open space properties and /or other lands
held by
public agencies within the Planning Area. Coordinate efforts to apply County resources to local facilities as described in SG MP Chapter 6.
• Investigate mechanisms available to include public recreational facilities to new development and/or local funding mechanisms to support maintenance of
community
facilities. Coordinate efforts to apply County resources to local facilities as described in SGMP Chapter 6 and 12.
• Develop a message board(s) for announcement of development projects to facilitate greater public notification and review of pr oposed development in the
Planning Area.
Such board(s) shall be placed in centrally located spot(s) within the Planning Area and be used for public notification procedures as outlined in this Plan. A
message board or kiosk shall be included at the community center. Coordinate efforts to apply County resources as described i n SGMP Chapter 14
• Develop a commercial kitchen for community use.
• Develop a permanent funding source for community outreach, including announcement board signs, community website expansion and maintenance,
community
newsletters, and other informational program
SECTION V- GOVERNANCE/IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING ORDINANCE
Community Notification:
The community will work with the County Land Use Department to develop a Registered Organization (RO) for notification of dev elopment proposals. This
notification
process shall include existing community groups who send a letter of request to be added to a notification list along with a contact name, address and telephone
number. This
list is intended for active community groups and is not intended for individuals to request noticing. The RO list will be u pdated annually or as necessary.
Public Notice Requirements:
• ll development re uiring notice under the ounty ode shall follow notice re uirements as well as the following, notice sh all be posted prominently on the
property, building, or other structure subject to the application and be accessible from a public roadway. Notice signs shall be posted in such a way as to give
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reasonable notice to persons interested in the application. A laminated copy of the site plan showing existing and proposed d evelopment shall be firmly attached to
the poster. The notice sign shall be removed no later than seven (7) days after a final decision has been made on the applica tion.
• ll applications for family transfer must follow ounty ode re uirements and notice of the application shall be posted at Community notice boards identified by
the
Land Use Department.
Community Pre-application Review of Non-Residential Zoning Applications:
A. Applicants for any non-residential development shall hold pre-application meeting(s) in the community to present the development concept and gather
public comment and concerns about the development
B. The applicant shall publish notice of the time, place and purpose of the meeting (s) in a newspaper of general circulation in the community 21 days before
the meeting and shall mail notice to Santa Fe County, Planning Area community organizations, and to all property owners withi n one thousand (1000) feet
(excluding rights-of-way) of the subject property. Notice of the meeting shall be posted at Community notice boards identified by the Land Use
Department. The property shall be posted as set forth in this Plan.
C. The applicant shall record the meeting proceedings and submit a written summary of the meeting proceedings and a list of atte ndees to the County along
with the application for development. The summary and list of attendees shall be posted at Community notice boards identified by the Land Use
Department.
D. Applications for new commercial development shall submit a statement of potential major impacts to the community, both positive and negative, as part of
the master plan proposal.
Development Review:
A. The protection and maintenance of community assets including but not limited to wetlands, open spaces, springs, watercourses, riparian areas, agricultural
lands, acequias, traditional community centers, archeological sites, historical and cultural sites and multi -generational family housing compounds should be
interpreted as intrinsic community values that must be considered when reviewing all land use and development proposals.
B. All family transfer applications shall be preliminarily reviewed by the current La Cienega and La Cieneguilla reviewing commi ttee. Committee members
shall have five (5) working days to review applications; no response from any members shall constitute concurrence of the County administrative decision.
If a uorum of members re uest in writing that the application be reviewed, it will be placed on the agenda of the committee’ s next scheduled meeting. If a
quorum of the committee does not request review of the case, the County Land Use Administrator decision shall not be delayed. Family transfer
applications shall demonstrate that the parcel to be divided/transferred is suitable for subdivision, and follow County La nd Development Code noticing
requirements. Persons who write a letter of inquiry or comment regarding a Family Transfer application will be sent a letter stating the administrative
decision no later than one day following the decision.
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C. When examining developments which request variances for higher densities, all applicable review bodies will include consideration of the propose d
developments impact on factors such as but not limited to traffic, schools, water , liquid waste, and infrastructure as part of the development review process.
The Plan states that it is appropriate for development proposals to be denied in the Planning Area if the reviewing body dete rmines that there is a reasonable
expectation, based on the evidence presented, that the development would negatively impact the community and/or surrounding neighbors.
Community Plan Review and Revision:
Community Review of the Plan. The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Planning Committee requests that an annual communit y review of the La Cienega
and La Cieneguilla Community Plan be conducted each year to assess community concerns and assist in monitoring community cond itions as well as
implementation of Plan elements.
Formation of a Community Plan Committee to Implement and Monitor Plan.
The La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community Plan authorizes the County Planning Division to establish a permanent La Cienega and La Cieneguilla Community
Plan Committee to conduct this annual review of the Plan. The County Planning Division staff will pro vide support and help to coordinate the process. This
committee shall consist of three (3) representatives each from La Cieneguilla, Upper La Cienega and Lower La Cienega for a to tal number of nine (9) committee
members. Representatives shall serve for two-year terms and the terms shall be staggered to ensure continuity of the planning process. Representatives shall be
nominated by residents, property owners and business owners from each respective area. Nominees must be a resident, business owner or property owner in order to
be eligible to serve as a representative on the committee. In the case that more than three nominations are received for each area, three names shall be randomly
selected to serve on the committee. This committee shall follow the process established for community planning under Ordinance 1998-5 including consensual
decision-making and open public meetings.
Amendments to the Plan. A community must approach the Board of County Commissioners to request authorization to initiate amen d a Plan.. Thus, the community
would need to establish a representative planning committee for the Planning Area, describe the reasons for amending the plan and outline a public participation plan
that assures diverse representation of community residents, business owners and property owners to review the proposed amendment(s). If an amendment to the plan
is authorized, the Board may assign staff and resources to the planning process as described in Sustainable Land Development Code.
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La Cienega/La Cieneguilla Community Plan

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