Glorieta seeks planning approval
Variances would cover existing work
SANTA FE — Facing opposition from Santa Fe County’s Planning Division, representatives of the group that now owns the former Glorieta Conference Center on Thursday made their case for a group of variances to allow for road improvements and structures, most of it already completed, on 2,400 acres of land about 15 miles east of Santa Fe.
Glorieta 2.0, a non-denominational nonprofit group that does business as Glorieta Camps and whose mission is to “inspire Christ-like change through outdoor adventure, authentic relationships and Biblical truth,” bought the property from Nashville-based Lifeway Christian Resources for a mere $1 in 2013, after the longtime Baptist conference center’s finances and upkeep had become unsustainable.
Since then, Glorieta Camps has spent more than $10 million on improvements, though much of the work was done without the necessary variances and building permits. Among the structures are platforms supporting more than two miles of zip lines, two tree houses, two bridges over streams on hiking and biking trails, and a platform next to a mud pit.
Glorieta Camps has also constructed a parking lot, added more than 10 miles of new
trails and cut down about 100 trees. It is also seeking variances to widen portions of two roads through the property.
The county’s staff is essentially asking Glorieta Camps to remove structures that have been built, remediate other work that’s been done and start the process over.
Hearing officer Nancy Long, who oversaw Thursday’s hearing, will now submit a letter stating findings of fact and conclusions of law along with her recommendations to the county’s Planning Commission within two weeks. Barring any postponements, the commission will make a decision on Feb. 15.
Officials with Glorieta Camps said that the facility attracted about 32,000 visitors from 27 states in 2017 and securing the variances was critical to its continued success.
While the camp primarily targets Christian youth groups, Glorieta Camps also hosted about 10 mountain biking events in the past year. Several members of the biking community spoke in favor of granting variances. “The word has spread this is an extraordinary asset that offers something quite unique,” said David Bell, owner of Mellow Velo bicycle shop in Santa Fe.
But a few people spoke in opposition, including Glen Strock, pastor of the nearby Pecos Valley Cowboy Church. He said Glorieta Camps has operated with “gross disregard” to people who either owned or were leasing land on the property, costing them millions of dollars and in some cases their homes.
“I’m all for what they are attempting to do. It’s the means in which they are going about it has been aggressive and it has led to significant financial losses and functional losses to our community.”