Planning Commission approves family transfer subdivision at 875 Camino D'Amelio

The Santa Fe Planning Commission on a unanimous roll call approved a family transfer subdivision at 875 Camino D'Amelio that splits an existing 4.59-acre parcel into three lots, two of which will be gifted to the applicant’s children.

Senior planner Alexa Hempel told the commission the applicant, Nancy Hoffman (agent NM Land Solutions), applied under the previous land development code and seeks approval to create two new roughly 1.25-acre lots while leaving the original residence on an approximately 2-acre lot. Hempel said the lots will remain on well and septic because the nearest water distribution line is about 2,000 feet away and the nearest wastewater line about 1,700 feet away. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions and technical corrections listed in Attachment A of the staff report.

In her presentation Hempel described the proposed 20-foot-wide gravel driveway extension with a hammerhead for emergency access, easements to allow the new lots to use the private driveway, and preliminary grading and drainage plans reviewed by the city engineer. She noted the property lies in annexation phase 3 and that the subdivision would not increase the street’s nonconformity; the existing road design had been approved by the extraterritorial zoning commission and Santa Fe County in prior approvals.

Applicant representative Toria Dalton said Nancy Hoffman is gifting two lots to her children and that the family has agreed to contribute to private road maintenance. Dalton read an email from Jordan Hoffman stating, “I’m happy to pay the first thousand contribution when construction begins,” and described a plan for staged contributions tied to construction of each new home.

Commissioners questioned whether creating the two lots would prevent other nearby landowners from developing under the street’s 30-dwelling-unit cap; Dalton and staff said they had counted lots and did not expect the subdivision to disrupt future building. Commissioners also asked about potential flooding from nearby arroyos; Dalton said culverts will be installed and Hempel said the preliminary drainage plan meets code and that retention ponds could be required during construction if needed.

Commissioner Capen moved to approve the case (202511270) subject to the staff conditions and technical corrections; Vice chair Smith seconded. The commission took roll call and the motion passed.

The approval carries the standard family-transfer restriction that the transferred lots may not be sold or leased for three years after the transfer is legally recorded. The subdivision will be implemented through the city’s normal permitting process, which includes final engineering drawings and building permits that must meet the conditions of approval.