PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION

        DRAFT MEETING MINUTES                              

 

 

EDELWEISS CONDOMINIUMS

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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:

Elisabeth Brownell requested to add discussion of Village walkways under Old Business.

MOTION:  To approve the agenda as amended.

Motion:  Mary Mortimer                  Second: Steve Ruppert         Passed: 6-0.

 

III.        APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 30, 2007 MEETING

          MOTION:  To approve the minutes as presented.

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

 

IV.        NEW BUSINESS

A.         PUBLIC HEARINGS: Application for Conditional Use for multi-family condominiums, and Application for Variance to the parking and setback requirements, Lot 1-A, Block G, O.E. Pattison Subdivision, Paul Helfrich.

Staff explained that Paul Helfrich has applied to develop a 0.16 acre parcel located at 3 Ernie Blake Road for multi-family residential condominiums.  Helfrich is the owner and will be the builder.  The lot is bounded on both Ernie Blake and Twining Roads and is encroached on three sides by adjoining properties.  The owner is proposing a 3,000 square foot building envelope, with 3 floors and underground parking for 6 spaces.  The building height will be 45 feet, 10 feet less than allowed.  Some of the decks will be cantilevered out, which results in the need for a setback variance.  Snow will pile up against the building, so the bottom 15 feet will be concrete.  Snow will have to be removed between the Powderhorn and this proposed building.  The new building will connect to water and sewer lines on Ernie Blake Road, and drainage will be on to Ernie Blake Road.  The property has been utilized as a pedestrian short cut between Ernie Blake Road and Twining Road, but due to encroachments of adjoining property, snow discharge off those properties, and the liability of maintaining a pedestrian walkway, it is not practical or economical to accommodate future pedestrian traffic. 

PUBLIC HEARING: Paul Helfrich spoke in favor of granting the Conditional Use Permit.  No one spoke against.  The Public Hearing was closed.

MOTION: Move that the Application for Conditional Use for multi-family condominiums be approved.

Motion: Mary Mortimer            Second: Elisabeth Brownell    Passed: 6-0

During discussion, Bruce Kelly said that if the neighbors wanted to claim a prescriptive easement for a trail on this property, they would have to take it to District Court.  Helfrich said he plans on staging the construction materials at either the Terry property up Twining Road, or at the Sangre de Cristo site.  He will have to haul off extra dirt, or give it to the Village.  There is not currently a method for P&Z to place conditions to complete building projects. 

The variances needed for this project are for a 5 foot encroachment into the 15 foot setback, and for a variance from 12 parking spaces to 6 spaces (1 space will be designated for handicapped). 

PUBLIC HEARING: Paul Helfrich spoke in favor of granting the variances.  He felt that the decks would not intrude on surrounding properties, and the parking spaces would be one per unit, a common variance granted to other building projects.  No one spoke against.  The Public Hearing was closed.

MOTION: To approve the two variances, one for a 5 foot setback encroachment, and one for 6 parking spaces, from 12 to 6 spaces. 

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

 

V.         OLD BUSINESS

A.         Discussion regarding revising Subdivision and Zoning Regulations

Staff started an outline of discussion items related to adopting relevant changes to the Zoning Ordinance based upon the Brea, California Ordinance.  Kelly pointed out that this is a huge undertaking, and that staff does not have much extra time at the present to re-write the entire Ordinance.  Kelly will investigate the practicality of combining the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.  Kelly suggested that in considering Zoning Ordinance changes, the P&Z Commissioners should consider what items could or should be handled administratively by Staff, and what items need to be brought forth to P&Z.  The focus of the discussion that followed was determining how best for developers to bring plans to the Village.  What is the point at which it is neither too early nor too late for the developer, or for the P&Z Commission.  Developers can=t proceed with plans for financing until they have Village approval of their plans, and want to know that if they spend the money, they will get approval.  However, if the plans are brought too soon, then the developer ends up changing them.  P&Z wants to know that the final product will look like what they approved.  The Brea Ordinance adds an administrative step to the review process, that of obtaining a Certificate of Compatibility, which is conceptual approval of plans.  Other discussion items included the possibility of adding the landscape guidelines to the Zoning Ordinance, possibly changing the parking requirements, and looking more closely at the architectural design guidelines.  More homework needs to be done on possible changes to the Zoning Ordinance, and this discussion will continue at future meetings.

B.         Discussion of Village Walkways

Elisabeth Brownell asked about the design for walkways that she and Mary Mortimer had drawn up.  Don Schieber said he was unaware of the plan, but would take a look at it.  Brownell encouraged the Village to pursue designing and building walkways.  It was explained that the major difficulty in this is having to condemn private property to install walkways because the Village does not own any land for the walkways.  

 VI.       MISCELLANEOUS                   

VII.       ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DATE, TIME & PLACE OF THE NEXT MEETING: Monday, November 5, 2007 at 1:00 p.m at the Edelweiss Condominiums.  (This was later changed to December 3, 2007.)  

VIII.      ADJOURNMENT           

MOTION:  To adjourn.

Motion: Chris Stagg     Second: Elisabeth Brownell    Passed: 6-0

 

________________________________________

Tom Wittman, Chairperson