In any functioning democracy, the bedrock of local governance is the public trust — the solemn agreement that officials will act with transparency regarding the land we share. In Sandoval County, that trust is being dismantled through a zoning process that prioritizes corporate secrecy over the safety of its citizens.
The recent approval of Conditional Use Permits CU-25-002 and CU-25-003 represents a profound failure of oversight. By definition, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is a surgical tool. It is designed to evaluate a specific land use that isn’t allowed “by right” because of its potential impact on public health, safety and the environment. The law requires a specific review so that the community can understand — and the Planning and Zoning Commission can mitigate — the unique specific risks of a proposed use.
Yet, these applications were “blank check” requests by the Sandoval County Economic Development Department. Instead of disclosing a precise plan, Dora Dominguez requested permits to establish CUPs for “all uses” allowed within the General Industrial (I-1) district. By seeking blanket approval to “facilitate marketing,” the county effectively bypassed the very scrutiny that a CUP is legally mandated to provide. A recent Algodones homeowner’s conditional use permit, CU-25-001, to build a home on 4 acres received more scrutiny from the planning and zoning commission than this hypersonic missile factory did…