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Santa Fe County approves purchase of Bobcat Crossing Ranch for open space preservation
Summary
After public testimony and debate, the Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 to authorize staff to proceed with acquiring and managing the roughly 2,600-acre Bobcat Crossing Ranch as county open space, preserving trails, wildlife corridors and archaeological resources while requiring future public review of any change in use.
Santa Fe County commissioners voted to authorize county staff to negotiate and execute documents to acquire the property known as Bobcat Crossing Ranch and add the land to the county’s open-space portfolio. The measure passed 3-2 after public comment and debate over budget timing and long-range planning.
The Board’s action follows a recommendation from the county’s Open Land, Trails and Parks advisory committee (COLPAC), which called the property a “generational opportunity” to secure an expansive undeveloped parcel connecting the Santa Fe Rail Trail to regional open lands. Supporters told commissioners the ranch’s size, scenic views, and relative lack of disturbance make it uniquely suited for conservation and new trail connections.
The vote authorizes the county manager to sign documents necessary to complete the purchase, and directs staff to secure and maintain the property while preserving identified cultural resources. Opponents on the board cautioned that the acquisition is being considered outside the county’s regular capital budget cycle and asked for additional planning — including engagement with tribal and other community stakeholders — before committing funds. In response, commissioners who supported the purchase said the parcel is unlikely to remain available if the county waits for the next budget cycle.
Speakers at the meeting included local residents, conservation advocates, and representatives of community organizations who urged the county to preserve the ranch in perpetuity. Several speakers also asked the county to place the property under a conservation easement as soon as possible to ensure permanent protection. The owner of the property attended and told the board the sale would require partner approval if the commission proposed changes to the purchase terms.
The board recorded a 3-2 vote: Commissioners Adam Johnson, Hank Hughes and Chair Camilla Bustamante voted in favor; Commissioner Justin Green and Commissioner Lisa Kakari Stone opposed. The board attached conditions that require COLPAC and staff review before any future proposals to change the property’s use.
What’s next: staff will negotiate purchase documents and begin measures to secure the site. The resolution directs county staff to consult with Pueblo nations, other ancestral communities and county stakeholders about protection and future programming for the site; any later change in use would be subject to public processes described in the resolution. The county also intends to explore funding and partnership options to reduce net cost to taxpayers.
