Neighbors have sincere concern about proposal

In the June 8 article, “Fighting the Battle ‘all over again,’” developer Ernie Romero is quoted as saying the neighbors are being “disingenuous” because “they have always seen it (41 acres off Artist Road now proposed for development) as vacant land and they want it to stay that way.”

Santa Feans are faced with the prospect of an aggressive, high-density development that will compromise already fragile land. Our concerns are supported by the U.S. Tenth Court of Appeals that, in 1995, denied a less dense subdivision on the same site.

At that time, the land was described as “very steep with shallow soils on ridges that are broken by intermittent drainage. Runoff is rapid and the hazard of erosion is severe.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service also assessed that the hazard of runoff is severe and, even with a decrease in density, proper planning and landscaping, there would still be increased runoff. It was recommended that the land would have more benefit to adjoining areas if it remains undeveloped.

Experts all agree that if construction is allowed at this density, the amount of runoff would increase significantly enough to present serious problems to the neighboring home sites.

In our concern for the health and safety of our families, homes and property, neighbors are well informed, sincere, supported by precedent — hardly “disingenuous.”

ANN FOLKS Santa Fe