Sunland Park to vote on annexing land as Santa Teresa continues incorporation process

For years, Santa Teresa residents have fought to keep their community from being annexed by neighboring Sunland Park. Next Tuesday, Sunland Park city council will vote on taking 229 acres from the community.

Sunland Park City Manager Bob Gallagher says a private developer asked to annex the land. Gallagher says Bill Hagen with Socorro Partners is planning to build 900 homes on the 229 acres of vacant land on McNutt and Country Club Roads. Another portion of the land is just north of Country Club Drive.

“There are several different things a city provides that the county doesn’t necessarily provide and I believe that’s one of the reasons why many developers prefer to be within a municipality,” said Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea.

Mary Gonzalez, with The Provisional Government of Santa Teresa, said even if the ordinance is approved, she’s confident Santa Teresa will eventually get its land back.

In May, a judge ruled in favor of Santa Teresa after Dona Ana County Commissioners voted against allowing residents there to move forward with plans to form their own government.

ABC-7 learned the ruling meant Santa Teresa residents would be able to move forward with plans for incorporation, but only if they could prove Sunland Park cannot provide municipal services for their community.

Sunland Park immediately filed a motion for a re-hearing, stating the group fighting for incorporation provided false information.

The judge is expected to make a final decision in August. If the judge once again rules in favor of the Santa Teresa group, it will get four months to prove Sunland Park cannot provide municipal services.

Perea is not thinking that far ahead yet. “I don’t think that we share the same confidence. I believe we are in a good position as Sunland park and I think we will prevail through this process,” he said.