UPDATE As Of 12-10-24:

This passed the Taos County Commission and has now been appealed by private citizens to the Eighth Judicial District Court of New Mexico. Funding is needed for attorney fees. Please help and donate at:

GoFundMe (includes a 3% fee):  https://gofund.me/19bdcc78

All funds will flow into this account to pay the lawyer when invoiced.  If, at the end of the process, there are funds left over, they will be donated to the Community Against Violence (CAV).

Previous Post (The Historical Details):

BW Gas and Convenience Retail, LLC (parent company of Allsup's) have requested a Special Use Permit (SUP) to erect a 6,277 square foot gas station and convenience store on 4.73 acres, including a 12-pump (capacity for 24 vehicles) fueling station with canopy and a 3-bay diesel station for commercial full size semi-tractor trailer (big rig trucks) with canopy in El Prado on the corner at the OBL intersection (parcel located between NM 522 and HW 150) which is a rural/semi rural location within Taos County.

• This SUP unanimously passed the Taos County Planning Commission on July 30, 2024 even though many letters of opposition were delivered to the Taos County Planning Department prior to the filing of this proposal. The letters of opposition were never acknowledged, introduced, or discussed as part of the public hearing, so it is impossible to determine if they were given any consideration by the Taos County Planning Commissioners.
• The decision above is being appealed to the Taos County Commission.
• There are no other businesses open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in the area. All businesses in the area close by 9:00PM or earlier and only one closes at midnight. This would set a precedent for future development in the area.
• It is not commercially compatible with the surrounding area as it's within a rural, semi-rural, and predominantly residential and light commercial neighborhood.
• It's environmentally harmful as no emissions analysis was required for this project. Why? What is the in-depth environmental impact from emissions?
• It's environmentally also a concern because of groundwater contamination and wastewater runoff into private area wells.
• It's economically harmful and it will impact the economy in the Town of Taos which is the heart of Taos County. Where is the in-depth economic viability study?It violates the mission and vision of the Upper Las Colonias Neighborhood Association (ULCNA).
• It violates the zoning for the ULCNA as it is not compatible.
• A fourth gas station and convenience store on this stretch of road is not needed, let alone one that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and will also serve commercial full size semi-tractor trailers (big rig trucks). There are already three gas stations and convenience stores on Paseo Del Pueblo Norte/HW 64 between Hail Creek Road and the OBL intersection. Where is the in-depth economic viability study?
• The lighting needed for this business will violate Taos County Ordinance 2006-9 Night Sky Protection Act.
• Noise violation from the commercial full size semi-tractor trailers (big rig trucks) and other loud vehicles 24 hours a day and 7 days a week is a concern in this rural and semi-rural neighborhood.
• There is guaranteed nefarious activity because it will be open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, and late night beer and liquor sales until midnight will contribute to this problem.
• Traffic ingress and egress congestion will impact traffic for surrounding properties and beyond in all directions from the OBL intersection because the commercial full size semi-tractor trailers (big rig trucks) as well as all other vehicles can only exit south onto Highway 150 to go south, east, or west from the OBL intersection. Furthermore, the Traffic Impact Analysis completed for this proposal does not consider traffic from the Ace Hardware plaza, KTAO/Dalee, or Taos Mountain Grown, which are all on HW 150 and close to the proposed Allsup's.