Planning commissioners approve rezoning for Harmony Desalting site; conditional-use permit for pilot project denied

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Socorro on Oct. 7 approved rezoning for a proposed small-scale desalination pilot at 232 South Nevarez Road but denied the project's conditional-use permit to operate an on-site desalination container and evaporation pond.

The commission approved changing the property’s zoning from R-1 single-family residential to A-1 agricultural, clearing the way for agricultural uses under the newly adopted A-1 rules. Commissioners then voted to deny the conditional-use permit application for the desalination pilot. The decision will be forwarded to city council along with the rezoning recommendation.

Proponents said the project, led by Harmony Desalting and the property owner Marty Loya, would treat saline well water so it can be used for irrigation. Quantum Wei, founder of Harmony Desalting, told the commission the company plans “to set up a desalination container, remove the salts from that water, about 4,000 gallons per day,” and that the container “will be solar powered.” He also said the company’s technology reduces the volume…