Doa Ana mental health clinic may need to move, neighbors raise zoning concerns

Out in Dona Ana County is the Equine Assisted Program of Southern new Mexico, a behavioral and mental health clinic which uses farm animals to help patients develop skills to thrive in life.

“I’m not just cooped up in one place, and it helps me when I’m going somewhere because it’s like when I’m here, I’m comfortable here and I’m comfortable in other places,” said Madison McNeil, a nine-year-old anxiety patient.

Nearby residents no longer want the clinic in their neighborhood. They tell ABC-7 they’re tired of increased traffic. They say the clinic sees dozens of clients and add the business isn’t qualified to be located in a residential zone.

They add the clinic is also in violation of homeowner association rules which only allows for home-based businesses. There is a building on the property and two R-Vs but not a house.

Residents took their zoning concerns to the county which will be heard in early March.

While waiting for a final decision on their case the therapists here at the Equine Assisted Program have been barred from seeing and treating people on the ranch itself, something they say has been very hard on patients.

“Many of my clients are waiting through the week, because they’re going through the days, through events, to come to their safe place and be able to share, be able to heal,” said Nancy Marshall, the Equine Assisted Program’s therapist and co-owner.

Marshall told ABC-7 she had written permission from the developer allowing a business.

We reached out to the developer directly, Jonathan Boldt, who confirms he sent an email to Marshall back in November which reads home-based businesses are allowed in the neighborhood per its covenant, but no greater exception had been made for the ranch.

Boldt said with no permanent home being built on the property, the therapy operation ends up making business the primary use of the lot, something not allowed in the neighborhood.

If special zoning is allowed by the county permission would still be needed by neighborhood voters to allow an exception for the ranch.

The developer said judging from how residents in the neighborhood have spoken to him he believes if a vote were held today in the Homeowners Association to allow an exception to the ranch it would go overwhelmingly against the ranch.

The county’s meeting will be held on March 8th.