In August 2025, the Taos County Planning Commission approved a 195-foot cell tower in the heart of our community. This structure would stand nearly 20 times taller than existing buildings, dominating our viewshed and altering the rural character of San Cristóbal forever.
San Cristóbal, New Mexico, is a small rural village surrounded by national forest land and bordering the largest wilderness area in the state. People come here for the clean air, the peace, and the breathtaking landscapes. This is a place where neighbors look out for one another and where our wildlife still thrives.
We are not anti-technology. We use internet, Wi-Fi calling, and modern tools every day. What we oppose is unnecessary, oversized infrastructure in the wrong location — especially when better alternatives exist that would meet communication needs without sacrificing what makes our home unique.
Why we are opposing this tower…
The approved tower is less than 3.5 miles from another approved cell tower site in Arroyo Hondo and 4 miles from a tower in Lama. County planning restrictions specifically prohibits towers within five miles of each other — yet this decision ignored that rule entirely.
Tourists and travelers come to this valley to escape the industrial noise and clutter of modern life. Many seek the peace, healing, and natural beauty that San Cristóbal offers. Adding a massive tower to our skyline risks undermining the very qualities that support our tourism economy.
There are locations outside residential neighborhoods and key viewsheds where a smaller, less obtrusive tower could meet service needs. Public land near the transfer station has been suggested as one such alternative.
A private company was hired to conduct the “environmental review” The review did not meet NEPA standards. They did not wait for responses from several tribes with cultural and historical connections to this land, and their analysis failed to address the true scope of environmental and visual impacts.
Residents chose San Cristóbal for its open landscapes, agricultural character, and limited electromagnetic exposure. A 195-foot industrial structure is completely incompatible with the scale, feel, and values of our community.
Independent studies show property values drop by 10–20% when cell towers are installed nearby. This loss would affect homeowners’ equity and could even impact county tax revenues.
Cellular coverage in our area has already improved significantly in recent months without this tower, thanks to other infrastructure projects and emerging satellite communication technology. The idea that this specific tower is the only solution is simply not true.
Indigenous artifacts have been found on land immediately adjacent to the proposed site, leading to stop-work orders in the past. Two historic properties would also be directly affected by the visual intrusion of this tower.
There is also a potential insurance cost. Some homeowners’ insurance carriers raise rates when large industrial structures are sited nearby, due to perceived risks.
The site is dangerously close to NM-522, a stretch of highway already known for accidents. The tower could serve as a roadside distraction, increasing hazards for motorists while doing little to improve actual emergency communications.
Our fight is also about process and respect. When a project like this is proposed, local voices and cultural stakeholders deserve to be heard — fully and fairly — before any irreversible decision is made. That did not happen here.
One study shows that the presence of cell towers increase lightening strikes in an area by up to 500%. In a community surrounded by national forest and wilderness, putting up a tower increases the risk of wildfires.
If our county can ignore its own land-use rules, rush environmental reviews, and bypass tribal consultation here, they can do it anywhere. Our fight sets a precedent for rural and scenic communities across the state — and beyond.
This is not a fight against progress. It’s a fight for smart, respectful, and lawful development that serves people without destroying the landscapes, wildlife, and heritage we all value.
