PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

                     MEETING MINUTES                             

 

 

EDELWEISS CONDOMINIUMS

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

 

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2007 1:00 P.M.

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL

Chairperson Tom Wittman called the meeting to order.   A quorum was established with Commission members Elisabeth Brownell, Mary Mortimer, Susan Nichols, Steve Ruppert, Chris Stagg, and Tom Wittman present  Richard Duffy was absent.   

 

II.         APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

It was requested to add discussion of one property=s recent land improvements to the agenda. 

MOTION:  To approve the agenda as amended.

Motion: Chris Stagg            Second: Mary Mortimer        Passed: 6-0.

 

III.        APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 2, 2007 MEETING

          MOTION:  To approve the minutes as presented.

Motion: Chris Stagg            Second: Susan Nichols          Passed: 6-0.

 

IV.        NEW BUSINESS

A.         PUBLIC HEARING: Request to abandon utility easement, Block 0 Subdivision, (Porcupine Road), Pattison Trust.

Staff explained that the development of Block 0 in Kachina Village Subdivision by the Pattison Trust was dependent upon relocation of utility lines from an easement onto the Village right of way located in Porcupine Road.  Village owned water and sewer lines were relocated by the developer and have been in service for the last eighteen months.  The electric and telephone lines have also recently been established in the Village owned right of way, and Kit Carson Electric and Qwest have confirmed that the easement can be abandoned.

PUBLIC HEARING: No one spoke for or against.

MOTION: To abandon the referenced utility easement.

Motion: Chris Stagg     Second: Susan Nichols                        Passed: 6-0

 

    B.     PUBLIC HEARING: Application for Variance to the Setback Requirements in the Riparian Zone, Block A, Lot 11A, O.E. Pattison Subdivision, Tim Van Camp.

Don Schieber elaborated on the variance requested by homeowner Tim Van Camp for a four foot encroachment into the riparian zone near Lake Fork stream by a deck.  Impacts to the riparian vegetation are minimal with the exception of one woody plant species, and near this plant the deck will be only 3 feet wide instead of 6. 

PUBLIC HEARING: Jerry Barber, the architect for the project, spoke in favor of the variance, saying that it had very minimal impact.  Steve Ruppert also spoke in favor, saying that the addition at the Van Camp house would be an asset.  No one spoke against.

MOTION: To approve the variance with the findings as listed in the Zoning Ordinance.

Motion: Chris Stagg     Second: Elisabeth Brownell    Passed: 5-0 (Ruppert recused himself since he is a neighbor of the applicant)  

C.         Discussion regarding Kachina Village cluster sketch.

The Pattison Trust has entered into a sales agreement with a development group to sell 100 acres around Kachina Village.  John Halley, who said that he was representing himself and not the buyers, explained that they are proposing a one lot subdivision of the 100 acres from the rest of the land.  The developers are planning a single fammily cluster, a condominium cluster, a walk-in cabin cluster, and single family estate lots.  This new subdivision would conform to the new cluster ordinance and would preserve no less than fifty percent of the acreage as open space reserved for recreational activities.  A final subdivision plat will come forward later with individual development plans for approval.  The presentation today was for the Commission to give guidance on the proposal so that the developer could modify the plat if necessary.    

 

V.         OLD BUSINESS

A.         Discussion regarding revising Subdivision and Zoning Regulations

The Commission watched the second half of the movie about the presentation on ARethinking Suburban Sprawl@. 

Staff had given Commissioners the Zoning Ordinance from Brea, California to stimulate discussion of the Village=s Zoning Ordinance.  Their Ordinance has many good ideas that could be incorporated into the Village=s regulations, and there may be many other good examples from other municipalities.  The Village Zoning Ordinance and related regulations are cumbersome and need to be consolidated.  Staff is to suggest an outline for a new Ordinance which will be discussed over the next few months.   

 VI.       MISCELLANEOUS

A.         Don Schieber said that there are no regulations preventing a property owner from paving their driveway, in response to questions about this.   

B.         People were encouraged to spread the word that the Village is accepting applications for a new Administrator.     

 

VII.       ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DATE, TIME & PLACE OF THE NEXT MEETING: Monday, September 10, 2007 at 1:00 p.m at the Edelweiss Condominiums.   

VIII.      ADJOURNMENT           

MOTION:  To adjourn.

Motion:  Steve Ruppert            Second: Elisabeth Brownell    Passed: 5-0 (Mary Mortimer left during item V.A. )

 

________________________________________

Tom Wittman, Chairperson