Proposal to place 44–50 affordable mobile homes at Salt Missions Park prompts town, county study

Tim Nisly, manager of Salt Missions Park, presented a proposal to develop 44–50 affordable mobile-home units at the Estancia RV/mobile-home park, using state DFA housing funds and a county-applied grant structure. Nisly said the site is already zoned for RVs and mobile homes, has 53 available lots, existing water and sewer infrastructure, and could be "shovel-ready" within 12 months if approvals and funding align. He said the county could either self-manage the homes or contract management to a nonprofit.

Commissioners and Town of Estancia officials raised infrastructure and zoning concerns. Town trustee Amy May said the town only learned of the proposal from the meeting agenda and flagged potential wastewater capacity constraints — the town is pursuing Water Trust Board funding to upgrade lagoons and is unsure if existing systems could handle a concentrated expansion of mobile homes. Chairman Ryan Schwebach stressed that "Estancia must be intricately involved" and that the county should avoid investing in improvements on land it does not own without a long-term lease. County Attorney Michael Garcia noted counties can pursue such projects under the Municipal Housing Act but emphasized the need for a formal partnership structure, clear lease terms, rent-setting policies, and liability protections.

Commissioners asked staff to analyze management models, long-term lease lengths (20–30 years was mentioned as preferable by commissioners), and whether DFA would accept the county as applicant and fiscal agent. No vote was taken; the commission requested further analysis and Estancia's explicit support before moving forward.