AGUA FRÍA — Gilbert Baca's two adult children, both in their 20s, reside in Arizona and Colorado, but he wants to ensure they have a place to live in their hometown on multigenerational Baca family land — the way any parent would.

As he has witnessed homeownership costs in the Santa Fe area swell to dizzying heights in recent years, Baca has grown concerned about the next generation of young adults being able to return home. He feels fortunate to have portions of property near his home, a couple of lots away, to hand down to his children.

He recently hit a snag, however.

The Santa Fe County Planning Commission voted 4-1 last month to deny an application from Baca and his wife, Rosalba Baca, seeking a land use code variance to subdivide their 0.77-acre property in Agua Fría village into

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