Sandoval County commissioners deny appeals, approve Diamond Tail Ranch solar-and-storage rezoning

Sandoval County commissioners on Monday denied appeals and approved a zone map amendment allowing the Diamond Tail Ranch solar and storage project (case ZNCH24005) to proceed, voting 3-2 to uphold the Planning and Zoning Commission ecision.

The case before you this morning is an appeal of the Planning and Zoning Commission's Dec. 10, 2024 approval recommendation of ZNCH24005, the Diamond Tail Ranch solar and storage project, Daniel Beaman, director of planning and zoning, told the board during the meeting.

Why the decision matters: the approval changes the site esignation from rural residential agricultural (RRA) to special use (SU), clearing a statutory step before the applicant can submit development plans and apply for construction permits. The project site is roughly 1,800 acres in southeast Sandoval County, about 2 miles west of State Highway 14 and about 6 miles southeast of an existing PNM substation, Beaman said.

Appellants raised several concerns during a lengthy public hearing. Bill Parsons, president of the Turquoise Trail Regional Alliance, told the commission the project is "not a farm. It's not a park," and he characterized the…