Opinion ID: 160224
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: delegate to the planning commission;

Text: 11 (1) the power, authority, jurisdiction and duty to enforce and carry out the provisions of law relating to planning, platting and zoning, and 12 (2) other power, authority, jurisdiction and duty incidental and necessary to carry out the purpose of . . . [Article 19] [and] 13 C. retain to the governing body as much of this power, authority, jurisdiction and duty as it desires; . . . . 14 Id. (emphasis added). 15 Pursuant to § 3-19-1, the Santa Fe City Council enacted Santa Fe, NM, Code § 14-2.1 establishing a Planning Commission. Section 14-2.2 delegates the City Council's authority for planning within the planning jurisdiction of the city, and for approving subdivision plats within the . . . city . . . to the planning commission, except for those powers retained by the governing body in the Santa Fe City Code. Id. § 14-2.2 (emphasis added). The City Code imposes a two-tiered plat approval process before the Planning Commission, i.e., preliminary plat approval, see id. § 14-82.2, and final plat approval, see id. § 14-82.3. 16 The City Council's delegation of authority to the Planning Commission, however, is not absolute. The Council retains the power to review the Planning Commission's decisions. Section 14-7.5A provides that within thirty days, the Council may decide to review any final order or determination of the Planning Commission upon proper notice, and such notice shall be a stay of execution of such final order or determination. Id. § 14-7.5A (emphasis added). In reviewing such final order or determination, the governing body may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirements, decision or determination as ought to be made and to that end shall have in addition to all other municipal authority, that authority of the planning commission. Id. § 14-7.5B (emphasis added). Thus, given the City Council's right of review, ultimate planning decisions within the City of Santa Fe clearly rest with the City Council. See Mitchell v. Hedden, 610 P.2d 752, 753 (N.M. 1980) (The Planning Commission is a creature of the City Council and has no authority independent of the City Council.). 17 For purposes of our review, we accept as true Hyde Park's allegation that [e]very city department having the duty to review the final submission for compliance with the subdivision regulations and other regulations of the City of Santa Fe has indicated that the final submission is in compliance with the subdivision regulations. Consistent therewith, the Planning Commission granted final approval of Hyde Park's proposed plat on April 3, 1997. At the City Council's regularly scheduled meeting on April 30, 1997, however, the Council, pursuant to Santa Fe, NM, Code § 14-7.5A, voted to review the Planning Commission's April 3 decision. Following a public hearing on the matter held May 28, 1997, the Council voted 5-2 to reverse the Planning Commission's decision, and disapprove the plat. The Council did not formally enter the reasons for its action upon the record. 3