Taos County adopts updated comprehensive plan, sets 90‑day window for final edits

The Taos County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt the county’s updated comprehensive plan on April 15, approving Resolution 2025‑10 with an effective date 90 days later, July 18, 2025. The change gives the board time to collect and incorporate additional edits from commissioners before the plan supersedes the previous comprehensive plan.

The measure was introduced by Rachel Romero of the Taos County Planning Department, who said staff and the county’s consultant, Consensus Planning, had collected public comments since the March draft and were continuing to incorporate suggested edits. “Since the release of the plan on 03/03/2025 emails were received… and as of yesterday the planning department was still receiving comments,” Romero told the commission.

The nut graf: commissioners and community members urged additions and clarifications — including stronger language on neighborhood associations, recognition of land grants and agricultural lands, and references to watershed and reservoir features — and the 90‑day effective date was added so the board can present proposed amendments before the plan becomes effective. Commissioner Veil pressed to retain and highlight neighborhood associations and agricultural lands, saying the plan will guide land‑use regulations and should reflect local priorities.

During discussion, consultant Jackie Fishman joined remotely and described the changes made between the March and April drafts and stood ready to answer technical questions. Romero summarized substantive edits already made: new sections for “former based residents,” expanded language on land grants and historic communities, an added description of Holy Cross Medical Center’s strategic plan, and strategy items including possible land‑use code language to require connections to nearby water and sewer lines and to collaborate on dam rehabilitation and a potential new animal shelter.

Several commissioners asked for more time and for staff to return with targeted amendments. County Attorney Trujillo recommended adding a clause delaying the resolution’s effective date 90 days so the commission and staff could finalize changes; the board agreed and adopted that amendment before the roll call vote. The motion to adopt the resolution as amended was made by Commissioner Veil and seconded by Commissioner Brush. The clerk’s roll call recorded five affirmative votes and the resolution passed.

The board and planning staff described this adoption as the plan’s formal acceptance; department staff emphasized the comprehensive plan will serve as the basis for a forthcoming unified development code and subdivision ordinance and that those implementing regulations will be the venue for more detailed zoning and neighborhood‑level provisions. Romero said staff would continue to incorporate changes and return with proposed amendments within the agreed window.

The county planning department acknowledged the scale of public response during the plan process and said it would provide updates while it moves to the next phase of code drafting. Commissioners asked for periodic implementation reports and for staff to coordinate with communities and recognized groups to ensure historically important features — including land grants and irrigation infrastructure — are reflected in the final regulatory work.