SMA Appeals CPC Decision Regarding the Rancho Viejo Solar Project

JULY 26th 2025

The San Marcos Association’s Exhibits and PowerPoint presentation for the August 11, 2025, Appeals Hearing before the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are below. Each is a link by which you can access them to read what is included. If you wish to read exhibits and materials submitted from other parties for this hearing, you may do so at https://www.santafecountynm.gov/growth-management/building-development/large-scale-renewable-energy-projects-2024/appeal

Below is an outline of events involving SMA to put this appeal in context.

The San Marcos Association has felt that the Rancho Viejo Solar Project was Prohibited in the Rural-Fringe since March of 2023. Exhibit 8a is a letter SMA sent to the County when the developers submitted its first Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application.
We made those arguments before the Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC) Hearing Officer in December 2024, arguing that the CUP application for this project should be Denied, and she agreed. [Exhibits 4 and 5] o Additionally, at the December hearing, SMA further argued that this project is not what the SLDC intended as a Commercial Solar Energy Production Facility. The SLDC Hearing Officer also agreed with that contention.
In February, before the County Planning Commission (CPC), during its hearing concerning the CUP application for this project, SMA made the same arguments and recommended Denying the CUP. We also recommended denial based upon the fact that no independent Fiscal Analysis had been conducted for public review. The CPC ignored our arguments and Approved the CUP for this project. [Exhibits 6 and 7]
In April, the SMA Board of Directors voted to Appeal the CPC decision before the BCC.
The San Marcos Association has filed an appeal and submitted for the public record the Exhibits below. We will present our case on Monday, August 11, 2025. Due to the number of parties involved, that Monday will not be the day for verbal public comments; those will take place on Tuesday. If you wish to submit written comments, you may do so, and must do so by July 31, at .