SF Council OKs San Isidro Project.(Journal North)

Byline: Martin Salazar Journal Staff Writer

* Vote is unanimous after officials get water plan

A proposed commercial and residential development off Cerrillos Road at Zafarano gained unanimous approval from the Santa Fe City Council after city staff late Wednesday presented the governing body with a water plan for the project.

The council voted 7-to-0 to annex 83 acres for the San Isidro Village development. Councilor Carol Robertson Lopez was absent from the meeting. The council also approved rezoning for the project, which could include a 120,000-square-foot Lowe's home improvement center, a multiplex movie theater, homes and apartments.

"I feel like we worked out an incredible amount of detail where the city is protected," City Councilor Patti Bushee said. Her motion included the provision that the developer be required to adhere to the water plan it had worked out with city staff.

The project would use an estimated 105 acre-feet of water annually, more than 34 million gallons a year. Developers Richard Gorman and Jeff Branch have been asking the council to sign off on annexation and rezoning of the property for some time.

But the council delayed a decision at its March 9 meeting, expressing concerns about the amount of water the project needed.