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County seeks authority to remove fire-damaged structure at 89 Camino De Los Ranchos
Summary
Santa Fe County told Hearing Officer John Ziegler the fire-damaged property at 89 Camino De Los Ranchos remains unsafe and recommended removal, cleanup and a county lien to recover costs; the owner's son, Jose Duran Jr., attended and said he has demolition bids and wants the structure removed.
Santa Fe County Code Enforcement recommended that Hearing Officer John Ziegler find nuisance violations and authorize initiation of the county’s clean-and-lien process for the fire-damaged property at 89 Camino De Los Ranchos.
Joseph Martinez, Santa Fe County Code Enforcement Supervisor, presented case number 258041 under “ordinance 20 20 three-four, Nuisance Abatement Ordinance,” saying a site visit on Feb. 21, 2025, documented extensive fire damage, a collapsed roof and debris. Martinez said photographs and inspection reports taken Feb. 24–25, 2025, and multiple follow-up inspections (including Mar. 11, Jul. 10 and Jul. 25, 2025) showed no corrective action. A notice of written order was issued July 9, 2025, and the county posted legal notice at the property on Sept. 10, 2025.
Martinez told the hearing the property “remained in a hazardous and unsafe state” and that violations included accumulation of trash and debris, structural hazards from the collapsed roof and deteriorated walls, and that the structure was vacant and unsecured in violation of sections 3 and 4 of the ordinance. He recommended the county be authorized to remove the fire-damaged structure, clean the property and recover costs through a lien under section 10 C 5 of the ordinance.
Jose Duran Jr., who told the hearing his father, Jose A. Duran Sr., had died last year, attended and said he has two bids to demolish the structure and wants the property “thrown down.” “I just want it thrown down, I want it done. I want to sell the property,” Duran said. He told the hearing he had not received earlier mailed notices because mail at the prior address was returned; he provided his current address to county staff and said he is willing to negotiate a cleanup plan.
Martinez said the county would prefer to work with Duran Jr. but asked the hearing officer for an immediate determination to preserve the county’s option to present a resolution to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) if negotiations fail. Hearing Officer Ziegler noted he has five working days to issue a decision and that any county request for a BCC resolution would follow his written decision if necessary.
No formal order was entered at the hearing; the matter remains pending the hearing officer’s written decision, expected within five working days.
