The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department awards a $350,000 grant to protect Galisteo Springs
Santa Fe, NM, September 2, 2010—Commonweal Conservancy and the Santa Fe Conservanction Trust announced the award of a $350,000 grant toward the acquisition of 400-acre parcel protecting Galisteo Spring near Lamy, NM. The property shelters the most significant water source for wildlife on the Galisteo Basin Preserve. The spring has also been used for centuries by numerous cultural groups either passing through or settling in the 740-square mile Galisteo Basin. The Galisteo Spring project represents a three-way partnership between the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, Commonweal Conservancy, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.  It preserves the context of several culturally significant archeological sites, provides a critical link to other conserved parcels in the region, and represents another step toward Commonweal’s ultimate goal of protecting 12,000 acres of natural open lands, wildlife habitat, scenic views, and public trail networks.

Santa Fe County advances a new model of environmentally sensitive community development
Santa Fe, NM, February 11, 2010—The Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted 4-0-0 Tuesday to approve the Phase I preliminary plat for the Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve, a mixed-use, mixed-income community plan within the 13,522-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve. The Commission’s approval included four variances from the 1996 Santa Fe County Land Use Code to accommodate the project’s compact form and hillside topography.  Mirroring its carefully woven land plan, the conservation-based community was also renamed: Trenza, which is Spanish for “braid.”
Full February 11, 2010 press release>> [PDF file, 151k]

Santa Fe stands to advance national model of environmentally sensitive community development
Santa Fe, NM, February 2, 2010—On February 9, the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners (BCC) will be asked to advance the initial phase of a path-setting, environmentally responsible community plan, known as the Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve. The mixed-use, mixed-income Village and the 13,522-acre Preserve have won national acclaim for integrating landscape-scale conservation, water and energy efficiency, and clustered community design. BCC approval of the Village Phase I preliminary plat would be a significant statement about the county’s own emergent sustainable development-oriented management plans and development regulations.
Full February 2, 2010 press release>> [PDF file, 152k]
Phase I preliminary plat fact sheet>> [PDF file, 160k]

600 acres donated to the Galisteo Basin Preserve
Santa Fe, NM, November 24, 2009—Commonweal Conservancy has reason to give thanks a couple days early this year: 600 acres of open space was donated Monday to the Santa Fe-based nonprofit organization spearheading the creation of the 13,522-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve. The donation, valued at $1.86 million, was overlaid with a conservation easement, which Commonweal donated to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust (SFCT).
Full November 24, 2009 press release>> [PDF file, 143k]

CDRC approves Phase I preliminary plat for Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve
Santa Fe, NM, June 19, 2009—The Santa Fe County Development Review Committee (CDRC) voted unanimously to approve Commonweal Conservancy's preliminary Phase I plat for the proposed Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve.  "The Committee’s vote is a profound and timely endorsement of inclusive, conservation-based, and resource-efficient community development," said Ted Harrison, president of Commonweal Conservancy.
Full June 19, 2009 press release>> [PDF file, 150k]

National Museum exhibition featuring Santa Fe's Galisteo Basin Preserve opens today
Santa Fe, NM, October 23, 2008 – The National Building Museum exhibition featuring Santa Fe County's Galisteo Basin Preserve opens today in Washington, D.C. Green Community, the first major exhibition in the United States to explore the complexities of creating and sustaining healthy communities, introduces projects from around the world where citizens, leaders, designers and developers are working together on innovative planning solutions.
Full Oct. 23, 2008 press release» [PDF file, 168k]

National Building Museum features Santa Fe's Galisteo Basin Preserve in "Green Community" exhibition
Santa Fe, NM, October 10, 2008 – The National Building Museum will feature Santa Fe County's Galisteo Basin Preserve in its Green Community exhibition, opening October 23 in Washington, D.C. Green Community, the first major exhibition in the United States to explore the complexities of creating and sustaining healthy communities, introduces projects from around the world where citizens, leaders, designers and developers are working together on innovative planning solutions. The National Building Museum chose to include the Galisteo Basin Preserve as an example of landscape-scale conservation development.
Full Oct. 10, 2008 press release» [PDF file, 166k]

Commonweal Conservancy Donates $1.2 Million Conservation Easement to Santa Fe Conservation Trust
Santa Fe, NM, September 23, 2008 – Commonweal Conservancy has donated a 320-acre conservation easement valued at $1,225,000 to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust. The donation, presented on September 19, is among the highest valued conservation easements received by the Trust in its 15-year history and is the first of a series of easement donations the non-profit Commonweal will make to protect the Galisteo Basin Preserve. The 320-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve easement is also among the first to apply for a transferable tax credit through New Mexico's expanded program.
Full September 23, 2008 press release» [PDF file, 166k]

Commonweal Conservancy Acquires Third Phase of Galisteo Basin Preserve
Santa Fe, NM, April 28, 2007 – Commonweal Conservancy has completed its third land acquisition toward the planned 13,222-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve. Located in central Santa Fe County, the Galisteo Basin Preserve is a conservation-based community development initiative that will include more than 12,000 acres of protected open space. Monday's 2,444-acre land purchase brings the total acreage owned by Commonweal Conservancy to 8,235 acres, or more than 62 percent of the entire Galisteo Basin Preserve.
Full April 25, 2008 press release» [PDF file, 144k]

The Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve Accepted as LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot Project
Santa Fe, NM, July 27, 2007 – The Village at Galisteo Basin Preserve announced today that it is one of 234 projects—and by far the largest of three in New Mexico—to be accepted into the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) for Neighborhood Development Pilot Program.
Full July 27, 2007 press release» [PDF file, 129k]

Santa Fe County Commission Approves Village Master Plan
Santa Fe, NM, June 13, 2007 – On June 12, 2007, Santa Fe County's Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted 4-1 to approve Commonweal Conservancy's master plan for the Village at Galisteo Basin Preserve. Approximately 30 residents from Galisteo, Lamy, Eldorado, and elsewhere in Santa Fe County attended the public hearing. Perhaps without precedent for a project of this scale, not a single voice of opposition was raised during the three-hour hearing.
Full June 13, 2007 press release» [PDF file, 140k]

Village Master Plan Wins CDRC Approval
Santa Fe, NM, March 15, 2007 – The Santa Fe County Development Review Committee (CDRC) unanimously approved (7-0-0) Commonweal Conservancy's master plan for the Village at the Galisteo Basin Preserve.
Full March 15, 2007 press release» [PDF file, 125k]

Please direct all media inquiries to:
Lauren Whitehurst
Director of Marketing and Communications
505.982.0071, ext 105
[Email Lauren]

Quick links to useful information:
Map of the Galisteo Basin Preserve>>
FAQ >>
Trenza (village) Master Plan >>
Trenza (village) Phase 1 >>
Available Properties >>
Commonweal Conservancy >>