Why regulate? According to the Santa Fe city code, "Development is highly visible on ... the ridgetop areas of the foothills for great distances and detracts from the overall beauty of the natural environment and adversely impacts the aesthetics of the mountain and foothill vistas as seen from the city."

What does it do? The ordinance regulates permissible colors, architectural style, size and height of structures in the mapped area as well as the exterior lighting, landscaping, grading and revegetation. Prohibits development in the mapped ridgetop other than driveways and utility alignments for lots created after 1992. For lots created before 1992, it requires structures to only be located in the foothills unless the only "buildable area" on the lot is in the ridgetop. Structures can be no taller than 14 feet if within the ridgetop and a maximum of 20 feet in the most restricted areas of the foothills.

If Santa Fe has had an ordinance to protect the mountains since the late '80s, why are there so many houses dotting the foothills to the east and north of the city? The rules don't prohibit development there. They regulate it to "minimize" the visual impact.

My neighbor's new house will block my view of the mountains. Doesn't that violate the ordinance? Not necessarily. The ordinance protects views from certain "view gates" looking up, not from house to house.

How do I learn more about proposals to revise the escarpment map? Contact Wendy Blackwell, City Technical Review Division director, to get on a mailing list about the escarpment overlay district. Her address is wmblackwell@ santafenm.gov, or telephone number is 955-6127.