Residents urge county to reintegrate neighborhood associations into land-use update

Public comment at the Jan. 28 Taos County Commission meeting focused on the future of neighborhood associations as the county updates its land-use and subdivision codes. "Neighborhood associations play a vital role in planning and zoning," said Hank Sachs, secretary of the Rochester Neighborhood Association, who asked commissioners for a work-study session with administrators and planning consultants to review how associations can participate in the code rewrite.

Rose De Georges, vice president of the Ranchos Neighborhood Association, said the consultant outreach appeared to favor contractors and builders and asked the county to disclose who was contacted and what community feedback was incorporated into the draft regulations. "This whole process is anything but transparent," De Georges said, requesting examples of community input that were implemented. Cardinal Reager, another public commenter, said he agreed with the earlier speakers and urged commissioners to heed their concerns.

County staff told commissioners they had initially targeted contractors who pull permits and circulated flyers, but that stakeholder outreach will expand. Consultants told the panel they were not proposing to eliminate neighborhood associations and that conventional zoning combined with overlay districts and architectural review could preserve many neighborhood protections. The presenters said they plan ongoing public engagement, stakeholder meetings and a community survey as the code moves from assessment to outline and eventual rewrite.