Taos Ski Valley commission moves to update comprehensive plan, fill planning post and formalize code enforcement role

Taos Ski Valley, N.M. — The Village of Taos Ski Valley Planning & Zoning Commission on March 3 reviewed a plan to update the village comprehensive plan, signaled steps to hire a Community Development/Planning Director and recorded the Village Administrator's role as the village Code Official.

Village Administrator Rick Bellis told commissioners that state rules require a comprehensive plan update every five years and that the Department identified as "DFA" in the meeting materials conditions certain financing on an up-to-date plan. Bellis said he has met with North Central Economic Development to explore grant-writing support for the update and that paper copies of the 2017 plan are available from the village office upon request.

The commission also discussed a newly written job description for a Planner/Community Development Director and directed applicants to submit materials to Bellis. Commissioners agreed the position needs to be filled to support plan updates and related zoning work.

Commissioners recorded that the Village Administrator, Rick Bellis, will serve as the village Code Official and Code Enforcement Officer for enforcing village nuisance, zoning and land-use codes. Bellis and the board clarified that enforcement of state codes remains the responsibility of state-level roles and technical officers such as the building official, police chief and fire chief, while the Code Official will enforce local ordinances.

Commission Chair Tom Wittman and Administrator Bellis emphasized sequencing: update the comprehensive plan first to avoid duplicative zoning code changes. The commission discussed using outside funding or grant writing to help cover the plan update.

The commission set its next regular meeting for April 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom and will continue reviewing the comp plan scope, job recruitment materials and proposed zoning changes in upcoming sessions.