Taos realtors challenge restrictions in land code - Taosnews.com

Depending on the county commission's schedule, the new code could be in place as soon as early October. Realtors The flashpoint of the current debate is the "Irrigated Agricultural (IA) Land and Acequias" section of the code, which outlines what percentage of a parcel within an Irrigated Agricultural zone can be used for building. According to the new code, buildable areas in Irrigated Agricultural zones vary depending on lot size: n There can be no building on lots smaller than one acre. To get approval to build in an agricultural zone, property owners must put a deed restriction on the property or provide proof of a conservation easement. But as criticism from the local Real Estate industry mounts, county officials are staunchly defending the code and the agricultural zoning section. Deputy county manager and planning director Rick Bellis suspects that those who claim to be defending property owners are really looking out for themselves. That may be (the Realtors') personal desire, but that's not the desire of the people that live there and own that land. He said these local groups created the "blueprints" for their communities by prioritizing where and how development should occur. In the case of Irrigated Agricultural land, Bellis said existing environmental regulations, standardized building codes and current land use regulations already prevent entire lots in agricultural areas from being fully developed. Instead, he said the language describing the Irrigated Agricultural zones essentially explains why such restrictions are desirable. Despite disagreements over a single zoning definition, the county and Realtors agree some kind of zoning is good for the community. The county held a work study Tuesday (July 26) to present the finished draft to commissioners and hear public comments. If approved, the new code would take effect 30 days after a vote takes place. Submit a Comment We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site. The Taos News requires all commenters to register before posting comments. The registration information we request is secure and for the use of The Taos News only & will not be given to any third party in any way. Your Member ID is the only part of this information that will appear on your comment posting. Any violation of our conduct policy will result in the suspension of your registration. Please read the email & click the link provided. This confirms your registration and you can post comments. If you have SPAM filters, please add registration@taosnews. Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts.