City Planning and Land Use Director Announces Departure for Position in California. The City of Santa Fe announces that Planning and Land Use Department Director Eli Isaacson has accepted a new position with the City of Santa Barbara, California. Assistant Land Use Director Jason Kluck will be appointed Interim Director until the Director position is advertised and filled.
Eli joined the Planning Land Use Department in 2018 and was named Director in 2019. The Department administers the following operations: Building Permits, Current Planning, Long Range Planning, the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization, Historic Preservation, Inspections and Enforcement, Green Building Codes, Engineering, Property Management, City Annexation Plan, Short Term Rentals, and Impact Fees.
Among the Department’s accomplishments under Isaacson’s leadership were:
- Overseeing the recent increase of housing production in the City, including nearly 5,000 new residential units either under construction or in the development pipeline;
- Maintaining robust permitting during COVID restrictions by pivoting to an e-permitting system;
- Implementing significant changes to the Short-Term Rental Ordinance to preserve the quality and charm of Santa Fe’s neighborhoods.
“It’s been a pleasure to serve the City of Santa Fe during the Webber Administration,” says Isaacson. “I’m confident that as the City grows to meet its current and future needs, it will do so sustainably and in ways that connect growth to infrastructure, jobs, transit, and amenities—while preserving the unique Santa Fe quality of life.”
“I'm grateful to Eli for his outstanding leadership," says Mayor Alan Webber. "The future of Santa Fe goes through the Land Use Department and Eli has done an outstanding job in shaping that future. He has my thanks and my best wishes for his new opportunity and the promotion it represents.”
Rich Brown, Director of Community and Economic Development, says: “The City is grateful to Eli for all he has contributed and we wish him well as he moves on to Pacific pastures. We have every intention of maintaining the momentum and legacy he has set in motion.”