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Council approves annexation and rezoning of roughly 83.5 acres (69 parcels) west of Echo Park
Summary
The council voted to annex approximately 83.5 acres (69 parcels) from Taos County into town limits and rezone portions to R-4 residential and M-1 light manufacturing after staff said 42 of 69 property owners signed petitions and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
The Taos Town Council voted on Oct. 8 to approve Ordinance 24-11, annexing roughly 83.5 acres composed of 69 parcels into the town and applying requested zoning changes, including R-4 (higher-density residential) and a limited M-1 light-manufacturing designation on one town-owned parcel.
Long-range planner Nathan Sanchez told the council that 69 notice letters were mailed and 42 property owners returned petitions in favor; staff said the area was shown as a potential annexation area in the town’s 2022 comprehensive plan and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its Sept. 4 meeting. Sanchez walked council through utility availability, noting sewer and water mains run along Paseo Del Canon West, Camino Del Merced and Camino Del Medio in parts of the area and that manufactured homes and accessory dwellings will be allowed and in many cases grandfathered.
Several property owners spoke during the public hearing to ask technical questions about setbacks, grandfathering of existing trailers and how taxes might change. Planner Sanchez estimated an illustrative tax increase for a residential one-acre lot "might go up a $100" depending on residency and assessment, and said vacant land generally would not see a similar jump unless improved.
Council members asked about timelines for posting and appeal. Staff said the annexation must be posted for 30 days in the newspaper to permit appeals and that, once posting and any appeals are handled, the annexation becomes official. Council moved, seconded and voted to approve the ordinance after the public hearing.
What happens next: Staff will record the ordinance and post required notices; the town’s ICIP and utility databases will be updated to reflect the change, and staff said property owners may contact the county assessor or treasurer to understand specific tax impacts once the annexation is final.
