Rio Arriba County Meetings

Please join the

Rio Arriba County

Planning & Zoning Department

For Community Meetings

Regarding the following issue:

1. Proposed changes to the Rio Arriba County Design & Development

Regulation System.

These meetings are your opportunity to provide your input into the

County planning process and we encourage you to come and express your

views. Document drafts may be found at Rio Arriba County Planning &

Zoning Department. Please call 505-753-7774 for more information.

Date: Monday, February 14, 2011 Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Tierra Amarilla County Complex Location: Onate Center

Tierra Amarilla, NM Alcalde, NM

Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Rural Event Center Location: La Arbolera Community Cntr.

Abiquiu, NM Chimayo, NM

Rio Arriba Task Force

Hi RAC Community. I just wanted to post and update. RAC Planning and Zoning Department has I guess disbanded the the Task Force and as done so without a word to the Task Force Members. The last contact with RAC concerning the Task Force was in February 2010 nearly a year ago.

RAC P&Z officials are now holding Public Meetings which are very limited in scope and have provided little information other than to let us know what they are deciding and without much Community Input and certainly no input from the Task Force Members.

It's been disappointing going to these Public Meetings as well. The P&Z Department says they want our input but when it comes down to it I think they really do not want Task Force Members or the Public's input. They would rather do the work on their own side stepping our input or what we as Task Force Members or the public actually care about.

This has been clear from the beginning of my involvement on the Task Force. As for the Task Force Members and the Planning Board. Again there has been little interaction between the members of the Board or from the Task Force concerning working together on these very critical issues facing our county and our residents.

.

The P&Z Department and Mr. Boyle are now trying to push through the latest round of Ordinances and they are going to pass it just like the other Ordinances they have passed over the last year plus and again without properly hearing our issues, concerns or comments.

The real issues here are not about making our communities better or they would truly involve the Task Force Members and community in a more formal way. Who were the members and what was the value of the Task Force. The Members I worked with for a short time were some really bright and intelligent people who were ready to be involved, discuss issues, come up with plans or ideas and yes objections but really they wanted to be involved and the P&Z Department just shut them out and have instead gone to Public Meetings.

Public Meetings vs Task Force. The Task Force was really a better way as far as I am concerned. These were dedicated folks from all of our communities. People who really cared and were willing to take the time to help. Folks who know their communities cause they live , work and play in them. Who would know the Community better? The Residents or P&Z. Sorry the P&Z Department found no value in COMMUNITY Members who actually care and want to be involved.

So this may well be the last post on the RAC County Comprehensive Plan Blog. The Task Force and P&Z approved this BLOG and it was to used as a tool for all RAC residents to comment and be involved. But again. No responses. RAC P&Z never got behind it or supported it. Why?

Seems like this is the way it is in RAC. The people care and are willing to do the work, but our officials are not willing to support community in this and many other efforts towards bettering our community.

Wish I could say this has been a productive venture. It has not.

Former Task Force Member

Lynn Noel

Ojo Caliente, NM

Anyone want to take over the BLOG please let me know.

Many Blessings to All in RAC.

Community Meetings

Please join the Rio Arriba County

Planning & Zoning Department

For Community Meetings

Regarding the following issues:

1. Proposed Amendments to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan

2. Proposed Amendments to the 2009-09 Design & Development Ordinance

Click here for Time/Location of Meetings

Please join the

Rio Arriba County Planning & Zoning Department

For Community Meetings

Regarding the following issues:

1. Proposed Amendments to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan

2. Proposed Amendments to the 2009-09 Design & Development Ordinance

These meetings are your opportunity to provide your input into the County planning process and we encourage you to come and express your views. Document drafts may be found at www.rio-arriba.org or in person at the County Clerk’s Office. Please call Louise Pocock at 505-747-5308 for more information.

Date: Tuesday July 13, 2010

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Dixon Library

Dixon NM

Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Rural Events Center

Abiquiu, NM

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Lindrith Fire Station

Lindrith, NM

Date: Tuesday July 20, 2010

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Tierra Amarilla County Complex

Tierra Amarilla, NM

Date: Wednesday July 21, 2010

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Location: Oñate Center

February 26, 2010

Dear Task Force Members,

Attached is the goals and strategies excerpted out of the Comp Plan, including all of the proposed edits which are in bold. Please ignore the numbering – we will fix that when we have a more concrete draft. We are trying to get the document on the website, but we are having problems – we might get it up there before the end of the day.

Planning and Zoning looks forward to seeing all of you at these meetings and receiving your input.

Thank you,

Louise

The entire comprehensive plan, including the proposed amendments can be found at this link:

http://www.rio-arriba.org/pdf/codes_and_ordinances/424/2010_proposed_comp_amend.pdf

The Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan 2010 Goals and Priorities.

The Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan 2010 Goals and Priorities.

PUBLIC MEETING ANNOUNCED. See the next post for dates and times.

Goals and Implementation Strategies

Land and Water

Goal 1: Strengthen the connection between the land and water, and protect the

water rights within the region.

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and

agricultural production purposes, increase the water storage capacity of the

County, and encourage/promote managed development and develop water foot-

print of future developments.

Goal 3: Protect Critical Management Areas designated and mapped in this plan in

order to protect and restore biodiversity and natural resources such as

headwaters, streams, rivers, riparian areas, springs, ciénegas, floodplains, critical

wildlife habitats, traditional range land and irrigated lands.

Goal 4: Educate citizens of all ages about the values, history, principles,

opportunities and economic benefits of the relationship between land and

water so that future generations can continue to work the land.

Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by maintaining the natural

function of the land, encouraging and pursuing funding for water shed management, protecting Critical Management Areas from development, mapping

and managing aquifers, and restoring function to damaged or unproductive lands.

Goal 6: Encourage compact and sustainable growth that reflects traditional

settlement patterns, promotes biodiversity, reduces our carbon footproint,

reduces our water footprint, and enhances our unique diversity and quality of life.

Goal 7: Support local agricultural production and promote the development of

local markets to consume local products and sustain a local agriculture economy.

Goal 8: Encourage use of xeriscape principles and native plants in landscape

improvements.

Goal 9: Recognize, honor and protect historical grazing rights and uses as a

means of local agricultural production which will be protected for future

generations.

Goal 10: Protect existing big game wildlife habitat from development to minimize

the pressure on existing range lands from big game.

Economic Development

Goal 1: Strengthen the connection between the land and water, and protect the

water rights within the region.

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and

agricultural production purposes, increase the water storage capacity of the

County, and encourage/promote managed development and develop water foot-

print of future developments.

Goal 3: Protect Critical Management Areas designated and mapped in this plan in

order to protect and restore biodiversity and natural resources such as

headwaters, streams, rivers, riparian areas, springs, ciénegas, floodplains, critical

wildlife habitats, traditional range land and irrigated lands.

Goal 4: Educate citizens of all ages about the values, history, principles,

opportunities and economic benefits of the relationship between land and

water so that future generations can continue to work the land.

Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by maintaining the natural

function of the land, encouraging and pursuing funding for water shed management, protecting Critical Management Areas from development, mapping

and managing aquifers, and restoring function to damaged or unproductive lands.

Goal 6: Encourage compact and sustainable growth that reflects traditional

settlement patterns, promotes biodiversity, reduces our carbon footproint,

reduces our water footprint, and enhances our unique diversity and quality of life.

Goal 7: Support local agricultural production and promote the development of

local markets to consume local products and sustain a local agriculture economy.

Goal 8: Encourage use of xeriscape principles and native plants in landscape

improvements.

Goal 9: Recognize, honor and protect historical grazing rights and uses as a

means of local agricultural production which will be protected for future

generations.

Goal 10: Protect existing big game wildlife habitat from development to minimize

the pressure on existing range lands from big game.

Goal 1: Strengthen and support opportunities for local arts and culture.

Goal 2: Promote and support the expansion of agricultural-based businesses.

Goal 3: Create a County-wide workforce training/education program, especially to

keep our youth in the area.

Goal 4: Promote the use and purchase of local goods and services that support

local businesses.

Goal 5: Encourage the creation and retention of home-based businesses.

Goal 6: Create and market an outdoors-oriented, historical and culturally-based

tourism program.

Goal 7: Develop a job retention program to keep jobs in Rio Arriba County.

Goal 8: Improve and expand the telecommunications system to provide local jobs

and education opportunities and to support business growth.

Goal 9: Designate and map existing and potential node development in the

County at community centers, commercial clusters, transportation intersections,

and traditional communities and, where compatible, encourage new development

to locate at these nodes to increase efficiency of service and transportation.

Goal 10: Encourage environmentally-friendly light industry and manufacturing

uses.

Goal 11: Encourage renewable energy resource development that is compatible

with the surrounding community and does not negatively impact the environment.

Housing

Goal 1: Promote site-built, higher residential density and infill developments in

areas where adequate infrastructure exists or will be provided.

Goal 2: Provide incentives and education for affordable home ownership.

Goal 3: Provide incentives for the rehabilitation of existing site-built residential

structures.

Goal 4: Encourage the use of sustainable development practices.

Goal 5: Encourage a diversity of housing opportunities.

Community Facilities/ Infrastructure

Goal 1: Incrementally improve electrical distribution and availability by promoting

the use of renewable energy and reduction of greenhouse gases.

Goal 2: Develop standards outlining an acceptable water foot print for a new

developments that address gallon per/day usage contingent upon available

supplies. Develop appropriate water and wastewater technology standards to

minimize the water footprint of new developments.

Goal 3: Limit the proliferation of individual septic systems and wells.

Goal 4: Promote reuse and multiple uses of existing community facilities, and

develop new parks and recreational facilities to meet community needs.

Goal 5: Promote local usage of natural resources for energy production, road and

construction materials when compatible with neighborhoods and the

environment.

Goal 6: Expand the animal control capabilities to ensure adequate protection of

people and animals.

Goal 7: Improve solid waste services and facilities and promote recycling to

beautify the County.

Goal 8: Provide adequate and accessible total health care facilities and promote

the County’s Health Commons and primary care facilities.

Goal 9: Work in collaboration with the Acequia commissions to improve and

maintain acequia access easements.

Transportation

Goal 1: Improve and maintain the County roads’ level of service and condition.

Goal 2: Encourage multi-modal transportation uses, such as bike lanes and

transit services.

Goal 3: Expand access and availability of the public transit system for all ages.

Goal 4: Improve safety of the roadway system.

Goal 5: Improve and maintain public access to traditional and communal lands.

Goal 6: Identify roads with level of service and road width restrictions.

Goal 7: Work with local communities to prioritize road maintenance for their area

of the county.

Hazards Mitigation

Goal 1: Reduce potential loss of life and damage to existing community assets,

including structures, critical facilities and infrastructure from all natural and

human-caused hazards such as wildfires, flooding, drought, severe weather,

earthquakes and contaminants.

Goal 2: Promote disaster-resistant future development by limiting development in

high hazard areas.

Goal 3: Promote education of hazard mitigation as a public value in recognition of

its importance to the health, safety and welfare of the population.

Goal 4: Enforce and improve fire protection infrastructure for the urban wildland

interface.

Goal 5: Upgrade and enhance the County’s emergency response system to

ensure that all areas have adequate police, fire and emergency services.

Implementation

Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan

Appendix A

OVERALL HIGHEST PRIORITY STRATEGIES

The following strategies were those that received the highest “votes” from the

community when asked to place a dot next to the strategies that were most

important to them during the community meetings. The total number of votes are

identified in parentheses.

• Recognize and encourage the adjudication of water rights of all acequias

in Rio Arriba County as per the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago. (74)

• Work with Northern New Mexico College to develop a diverse array of four

year degrees for health professionals in fields such as medicine, dentistry,

midwifery, social work, psychology, counseling, early childhood

education, and substance abuse. Develop a scholarship fund for students

and opportunities to pursue advanced degrees that encourages their

retention as health care professionals in the community. (50)

• Inform and encourage water right owners, before they sell their water

rights, to transfer, lease or extend first right of refusal to local acequia

water banks (44)

• Adopt stricter land use regulations for inoperable vehicles and abandoned

mobile homes and increase the County’s code enforcement staff. (44)

• The County should partner with PNM to provide natural gas to rural

communities. (43)

• Through capital improvements plans and grant writing, aggressively seek

state and federal funding for the Rio Arriba Health Commons and primary

care facilities. (41)

• Support the North Central Solid Waste Authority’s efforts to construct and

operate a recycling center, collect residential and commercial recycling,

develop a yard waste program, and provide large-item pick up and

problem waste disposal services. (41)

• Work with the New Mexico Departments of Economic Development and

Workforce Solutions to promote and expand training and opportunities for

less skilled or experienced workers through volunteer work experience, on

the job training, and workforce development programs. (40)

• Map the acequias with priority dates of water rights and Mutual Domestic

Water Associations and delineate the watersheds that serve them.

Encourage the acequia and mutual domestic areas with serious water

supply or water rights issues to work with the County and OSE in

establishing Critical Management Areas and Stream Corridor Areas. (40)

• Increase water storage capacity through watershed management and

snow retention at high elevations. (39)

• Form an affordable housing task force to identify housing needs that are

not being met in the County. Examples may include workforce, senior,

multi-family and special needs housing and identify opportunities that exist

for financing of special projects with organizations such as the New

Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. (37)

• Prepare a Rio Arriba Trail, Bikeway and Open Space Master Plan in

collaboration with land grant associations, BLM Rio Arriba Resource Area

and the Carson National Forest Ten Year Management Plan. (29)

• Improve the accuracy of the E-911 database by establishing agreements

with telecommunication providers to ensure that old phone numbers are

verified, new phone numbers are matched to accurate physical addresses,

and all phone numbers are recorded with the County. (28)

RAC Announces Community Meetings

Dear Taskforce Members,

The announcement below will be running in the paper beginning next Thursday. As you can see we will be holding several community meetings in the first week of March regarding the various projects we have going on in the office. I have debated as to whether or not to schedule a taskforce meeting on the same issues prior to the public meetings, but actually, I think it would just be better if taskforce members could attend the public meetings and offer their input there.

As you remember, we had discussed using taskforce members to rally public participation at our community meetings and this is exactly when we need that support. We hope to have engaging discussions and we need taskforce members to attend meetings and encourage neighbors to attend. If anyone would like digital copy of the announcement to email around, or would like to pick up some hard copies to post we can offer that assistance.

The current animal control ordinance and the proposed draft ordinance can be found under codes and ordinances on the Rio Arriba County website. www.rio-arriba.org. The current comprehensive plan is also there. We will be posting the proposed amendments as soon as we have them completed. I am always accepting emailed or written suggestions/comments and of course you will have a chance for public participation at the meetings.

Please give us a call if you have any questions or comments.

Thank you,

Louise

Please join the Rio Arriba County Planning & Zoning Department

For Community Meetings Regarding the following issues:

1. Proposed Amendments to the 2010 Comprehensive Plan

2. Verification of 2010 FEMA Floodplain Maps

3. Proposed Animal Control Ordinance

These meetings are your opportunity to provide your input into the County planning process and we encourage you to come and express your views. Document drafts may be found at www.rio-arriba.org or in person at the County Clerk’s Office. Please call 505-753-7774 for more information.

Community Meetings:

Date: Monday March 1, 2010

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: Lindrith Firehouse

Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: Rural Events Center

Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: Tierra Amarilla County Complex

Date: Thursday, March 4, 2010

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: Onate Center

ORDINANCE 2010-02 Draft Version – November 20, 2009

ORDINANCE 2010-02 Draft Version – November 20, 2009

Linked: Draft Animal Control Ordinance 12-21-09

Animal Control Ordinance: Rio Grande Sun

County Should Pass Tougher Animal Control Ordinance

By R. Braiden Trapp

Published:

Friday, November 6, 2009 9:12 AM MST

To read the complete editorial: Click here: Rio Grande Sun. Thanks! Support our local media!!

It’s hard out there for an animal control officer.

The two hardy souls who take on that task for Rio Arriba County are fighting a losing battle. Loose, uncontrolled, un-spayed or un-neutered dog packs roam much of the County and there’s not much David Gasca and Cipie Maez can do about it.

The County is preparing to pass a tougher animal control ordinance but the task will still be daunting. Two men, one county the size of New Hampshire.

Add to that there’s really nothing they can do except write a citation that a judge won’t fine them on or the offender will get it tossed with the aid of elected officials.

Assistant county planner Louise Pocock couldn’t have said it better. “It’s a politically unpopular thing to do,” Pocock said. “The commissioners don’t want you going around citing their relatives.”

Add to that, their voters and you’ve got a big problem no one wants to address. And it comes back to how the majority of County pet-owners refuse to spay, neuter, care for and protect their animals. Letting an un-spayed or un-neutered dog or cat run around loose all day and night is not proper care and that’s what Gasca and Maez are trying to address.

For the full article click here: http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2009/11/06/opinion/editorials/doc4af1a1616eb0a128997044.txt

1996-02 Control and Care of Animals Ordinance

Here is link to the current RAC Control and Care of Animals Ordinance

1996-02 Control and Care of Animals Ordinance

Solid Waste Ordinance or Nuisance Ordinance?

Here is a link to the RAC County Solid Waste Ordinance

1997-04 Solid Waste Ordinance

and a link to the DRAFT Nuisance Ordinance

Draft Ordinance - Nuisance

How will these be merged?

Correction: Sept. 30, 2009 Meeting

FYI – Rol Murrow requested that the following changes be reflected in the meeting minutes.

NOW =

Rol mentioned that there was another local man, Mr. Connolly, that had developed a book discussing the best design and construction techniques for roads.

CHANGE TO =

Rol mentioned that there was another local man, Mr. Conley, who helped develop a book discussing the best design and construction techniques for unpaved rural farm, ranch, and access roads. The recommendations could be very useful to those contemplating new development. Perhaps the County could make this information available as part of the permitting process.

November 2009 Task Force Meeting TO BE ANNOUNCED

The taskforce will now be meeting on an as needed basis as opposed to having regularly scheduled meetings. We are currently working on an animal control ordinance with the Animal Control Division and our next meeting, which we anticipate to be in late November, will be on that topic. Please contact us if issues come up around the County that you think we need to address at the taskforce level.

Thank you,

Louise

Taskforce Meeting Notes: Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 12-3 pm

Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan

Attendees:

Louise Pocock, RAC

Lucia Sanchez, RAC

Gabriel Boyle, RAC

Steven Gonzales, La Puebla, New Mexico Economic Development Department, Northern Representative

Rol Murrow, Lindrith, Private Landowner

Don Diego Gonzales, Velarde, Private Landowner and Hydrologist

Henry Ochoa, El Rito, Planning and Zoning Committee, Chairperson

Phil Kilgour, Chimayo, Planning and Zoning Committee, Member

Marie Markesteyn, Abiquiu, Planning and Zoning Committee, Vice-Chairperson

Randy Cordova, Gallina, Land and Small Business Owner, Planning and Zoning Commission Member

Darlene Schmitz, Lindrith, Land and Small Business Owner

Tony Schmitz, Lindrith, Land and Small Business Owner

Tony Schmitz, Jr., Lindrith, Land and Small Business Owner

*LUNCH*

On behalf of the Comprehensive Plan Taskforce Members, the Planning and Zoning Department would like to extend a big thank you to the Nielson’s and their neighbors and friends who hosted a wonderful luncheon for Taskforce Members before the meeting. The Nielson’s hosted the luncheon at the restored, historic Lindrith School House located on their property and we were happy to be using the School House as a place for community gatherings as it was intended.

Sign-in, Welcome, and Introductions: Location – Lindrith Fire House

Rol called attention to the facility in which the meeting was being held, the Lindrith Firehouse. The Firehouse has been recently established as a result of strong community effort and support, including the raising of over $24,000 from the community to support the initial funding efforts. Since the Firehouse’s recent establishment, there have been 11 first responders trained in the community, and the Volunteer fire department, as the areas first response team, was credited for saving the lives of two crash victims over the weekend. The establishment of the Firehouse, has dramatically increased the availability of trained medical and emergency responders in a community that had little access to those resources in the past.

Old Business: Health and Human Safety Ordinance

Louise explained that since we have discovered provision relating to the storage of materials, particularly litter, in the County’s Solid Waste Ordinance, we are going to refocus the departments energy on enforcing the existing storage provisions in the Solid Waste Ordinance and at the same time, still keeping in mind the necessity of creating a health and safety/ environmental hazards Ordinance, to address the issues the Taskforce has discussed in the past. The P and Z department still has legal authority to abate issues that cause an immediate health and safety concern, and the taskforce will reconsider the issue when the department has a more developed draft in the future. The P and Z department is in the process of updating several of its Ordinances, and that needs to take priority over the creation of new ordinances.

Appendix P – Land Subdivision

Staff presentation:

Louise explained that in the eighties, the state began to mandate Counties and municipalities to enact land subdivision regulations to regulate the process of local land subdivisions, which up to that point had received little oversight and was proliferating unplanned land subdivisions which didn’t have to adhere to any sort of standards.

When the County enacted the land subdivision regulations in the late eighties, they were the strictest in the state and are still considered very comprehensive, requiring detailed, and professionally engineered submittals demonstrating the land’s suitability for future use and development. However, the land subdivision regulations, Appendix P, allows for a summary review process for Type III and Type V subdivision types which are subdivisions of less than 5 lots of 10 acres or less in size, or less than 24 lots of 10 acres or more in size, respectively. The submittal requirements for the summary review process are significantly less detailed and there is no public hearing requirement for the application unless the Director deems it necessary. Because the requirements for the full-blown subdivision process are so expensive and cumbersome, most people tailor their subdivisions to fit through the summary process. Because the summary process has fewer requirements, there have been subdivisions created without adequately assessing or disclosing the suitability of the land for development, and without requiring the adequate infrastructure and planning – such as fire protection plans, drainage and erosions control plans, etc. People who buy property in these subdivisions have flooding and erosion problems, have trouble installing septic systems, experience road problems etc. Our subdivision regulations are leading to sprawl development and are straining County infrastructure. There is also a need for an increase of information required in the disclosure statement so that people buying property have a better idea of what they are buying.

Hence, we need to amend the summary process to reflect higher standards of disclosure development. The ordinance also needs mechanisms that the department can use to hold the developers accountable for required improvements and the maintenance of such infrastructure, such as roads etc. The department is considering the use of bonds and development agreements to better and legally ensure that improvements that the developer has committed to make are actually being made.

We would like the revisions to the summary process to still allow locals and others with smaller budgets to subdivide and earn money off of their land, but we need to make sure that land is suitable for development. We would also like to incentivize density in subdivision design, creating smaller denser lots and leaving open space, which is also makes infrastructure more cost effective.

We would like to increase the submittal requirements for summary subdivisions so that we can be assured in the application that the land is suitable for the proposed development and process them administratively which is less cumbersome.

Group Discussion

Henry stated that the disclosure statement should include information about road grade and quality.

Louise explained that the disclosure statement is a legal description of the land and any restrictions on development on the land. It is required by law and it is the document that informs the buyer of what they are buying.

Gabe suggested we need a soils report as a required submittal to show what the soils will support and that should also be disclosed. Flood plain is also something that should be required to be disclosed and has not been in the past.

Gabe said other things that need to be included are information about waste disposal and fire protection.

Phil suggested there should be information about who is responsible for maintaining the road.

Gabe said they should also distinguish between public and private roads.

Rol stated that there is quite a bit of controversy right now in Lindrith over which roads are public and private and who should now be responsible for maintaining them.

Henry suggested that in addition to information about how the lot buyer will be protected if the developer should go bankrupt, there should also be information about what would happen to any open or common space that might be in the development.

Louise said that we want to include a lot of language like common space in the Ordinance revisions to try and put ideas in potential developer’s head about the kind of development the County is trying to encourage.

Gabe said we also need to require more submittals such as a fire protection plan and drainage plan no matter what size the development is. Gabe said that some submittals can be obtained easily, such as the fire plan, and some will require more investment, such as an engineered drainage plan, but we have to require some of them even if they are expensive because you are putting other or future property owners at risk if you don’t put in the right kind of infrastructure and planning.

Someone asked if there was a requirement for a title search. Louise and Gabe explained that there is a requirement for the last three years of property information, but generally the title and ownership review would happen at the plat review level. Gabe argues that this ordinances functions mainly as a plat review right now and needs to be expanded to include some development standards.

Phil mentioned that some subdivisions are taking place on lots that were previously subdivided or have false ownership.

Gabe said that sometimes it is challenging to do title searches and obtain information because there is not always good or easily accessible information available about the property. There is a similar situation with the roads as is being seen in Lindrith.

Rol stated that there will be another community meeting, in November perhaps, about the roads to allow people express their concerns and once and for all sort out the naming of the roads and get all of the addresses correct. Lindrith will invite the County to the meeting.

Gabe said there is a need to complete a road atlas for the County. Public works is in the process of GIS mapping all of its infrastructure. We need to make sure the address are correct for emergency response. Sometimes historic names cannot be kept because they do not correspond to the emergency information.

Gabe moved the discussion on to design submittals and what requirements for design and development should be included in the Ordinance?

Gabe would like to encourage shared wells, metering of wells, and developing a standard for what an acceptable water footprint should be.

The lights went out in the fire house and Rol commended the County for its night sky protection Ordinances which is helping to keep the skies dark. The lights came back on shortly thereafter.

Louise asked Tony and Tony Jr. Schmitz if he had any suggestions for developing road construction and grading standards for the Ordinance. Tony Jr. stated that they generally follow the BLM Gold Book’s standards for construction.

Rol mentioned that there was another local man, Mr. Connolly, that had developed a book discussing the best design and construction techniques for roads.

Gabe mentioned that while this ordinance has no roads standards, the full blown subdivision standards require too much. Curb and gutter is not really an appropriate development style for most of the County.

Phil mentioned that you need to look at the percent of grade, the degree of the turns, whether or not it is surfaced, and the length of the road, because all those affect the function and safety of the road.

Gabe also wants to discourage long roads that dead end – better to save money for the developer, build denser, and spend less on the road. Leaving open space is also important for maintaining the integrity of the local ecosystems and continuing to support native ecosystems.

Rol mentioned that people can have financial incentives and tax breaks to create conservation easements.

Gabe would like to do a County study of where our wildlife corridors are or should be.

Don Diego suggested that the Ordinance does not do enough to require the applicant to justify water availability and quality for the future of the development. He stated that there needs to be better hydro analysis of the area and require as much detail as possible, shared wells. Water quality and quantity analysis needs to be done thoroughly and by someone that is qualified – not be the well driller necessarily. He did not agree that 40 year water prediction could possible be really accurate. He suggested that it be lowered to 20 year prediction with a requirement to reevaluate the prediction at that point.

Gabe mentioned that that was interesting because the Comprehensive Plan was now advocating a 100 year prediction.

Don Diego stated that the prediction will be affected by new development that comes into the area after the fact.

Phil said it was very important to concentrate on water quality.

Gabe asked if there was an acceptable standard level of water consumption per household or per person that could be agreed upon as the water footprint standards to be included in the ordinance.

Don Diego said that one set standard would be very difficult to achieve because it will be very site specific. Both quality and quantity will vary. Water analysis should be site specific. He suggests that it wouldn’t be too hard to develop some general hydrological data to get a general picture across the County and then put the onus on the developer to demonstrate water availability. Adjustments can be made to the water usage limitations on a development after twenty years another evaluation of water availability is made and it is determined that current usage is unsustainable.

Rol asked if we should include some guidelines or standards for developing liquid waste systems that protect groundwater from nitrates and other pollutants. What about guidelines for composting toilets?

Don Diego stated that nitrates are a serious problem and the County and taskforce need to push alternative liquid waste systems and community waste water systems.

Gabe and Don Diego stated that contamination, pollution, and erosion are negative impacts of roads.

Louise asked how we can incentivize and encourage the development features that the County wants.

Gabe said one of the biggest incentives we have is predictability, uniformity of process, and speed of process. If we make our ordinance clear as to what we are looking for in development, applicants that submit, will already have a better developed application which will be easier and faster to process.

Marie reiterated that site specific evaluations of applications is very important to keep in mind.

Henry said that it needs to be emphasized that the submittals need to be more site specific because right now some of the submittals do not relate to the specific site, but give an overview of a much larger area.

Phil stated that it may cost more, but the water availability and quality can vary immensely from one lot to another and it is pertinent to have that information.

Gabe asked Don Diego to think about coming up with water data from both hard and soft aquifers and a range of what he thinks reasonable per household water consumption would be. Gabe stated that we would like to have extensive data on aquifers and hydrology. We can try and get these developers to subsidize some of this data collection. Gabe said there should be two processes – one for conventional development, and one for model development implementing best management practices.

There was a discussion as to why most people choose a mobile home in Lindrith compared to building a house – speed, money, and availability of labor and supplies.

Phil had a last comment on the subdivision revisions and asked whether it would be possible to create a special tax district out of developments that go bankrupt and keep up their infrastructure, the tax would cover the cost of the County to do it.

Louise asked if there were any Lindrith specific land use issues that needed to be addressed.

Darlene said they are having a problem with the changes in NCSWA services. They now only pick up on the highway when before they were picking up at people’s houses. There are concerns that people will now just start dumping because it is easier, or that trash will get spread along the roadsides before it is picked up.

Tony Jr. said it wouldn’t be too big of an issue to bring the trash the highway, but they need to provide a receptacle for people and they haven’t done that.

Louise responded that unfortunately we do not have much sway over the NCSWA operations, in the meantime, people can build their own receptacles and that the County needs to coordinate better with NCSWA to make sure that service is adequate.

Discussion about Taskforce Form and Function

Staff suggested to the taskforce, that unless there was any major objection, we would prefer to convene taskforce meetings on an as needed basis as opposed to having regularly scheduled meetings. The reasoning behind this shift is that there are not always work items at hand on a monthly basis and we risk losing interest from participants if we hold meetings without work items. It would be more efficient and effective to convene the group when the Department has a tangible product or topic that they need the taskforce to review and comment on. The Department will notify the Taskforce of any upcoming needed meetings on an as needed basis.

This shift in taskforce form was agreed upon by the group. It was also clarified that if taskforce members felt there was an issue of concern, they could also contact the department to convene a meeting to discuss the issue.

Rol mentioned that Lindrith was in the process of reorganizing the Lindrith Llaves Area Community Association. He is hoping that this reorganization will help share some of the burden of work and will also enable the LLACA to rally more quickly and reach a greater number of people when certain issues need addressing.

The Next Meeting will be regarding the proposed animal control ordinance that the Planning and Zoning Department is helping the Animal Control Division to complete. We will email the taskforce with the time and date but we are expecting the meeting to be late November sometime.

If there are any issues in the County that taskforce members feel need to be addressed at the Taskforce level, please contact our office and we can convene a meeting!

Thank you all for your hard work so far!

Rol Murrow: Task Force member

BIO for Rio Arriba Task Force

Rol Murrow

William Rollins Murrow ("Rol") is a native of West Los Angeles, California. He has a wide-ranging background in high technology, management, media, and aviation. From initial work assisting in aerospace acoustics he has proceeded through his education and a career in film and video production, theatre operations, and management. Along the way his enthusiasm for aviation led from avocation to advocacy of local airports to vocation.

In the 60's Rol worked at Bolt, Beranek, and Newman, an acoustical research firm, then during and after film school worked on crews for various productions. He was a member of the multimedia group the Single Wing Turquoise Bird HYPERLINK "www.swtb.info" www.swtb.info, which produced the visuals for the Pinnacle Productions concerts and which later gave many performances at the Cumberland Mountain Film Company studio.

During the 70's he (as company president) and his partners founded and operated one of the nation's most celebrated repertory film theatres, the Fox Venice Theatre in California. In addition to presenting thousands of films from the entire history of the cinema, the theatre featured performers such as Bonnie Raitt, Mose Allison, Jerry Garcia and the Legion of Mary, the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, the San Francisco Mime Troupe, and many others.

His production company, Cumberland Mountain, has provided a wide range of services in feature, documentary, and educational productions (titles include Dennis Hopper's "The Last Movie" (Edited in Taos, New Mexico) and National General's "The Baby Maker"), and has also participated in aviation accident investigations and in preparing audio-visual presentations for legal cases.

In 1989 Rol completed a special project as Phase I Managing Director of the Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport, guiding it through its final construction, the development of a strategic plan, design and installation of aircraft and exhibits, and startup.

As an aviation advocate Rol was a leader in preserving Santa Monica Airport, serving as its association's President, and later acting as Regional Vice President of the California Pilots Association and Southern California representative for AOPA - the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association HYPERLINK "www.aopa.org" www.aopa.org. In California he was a member of the ShowHawks (an entertainment industry aviation group) and of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

He founded and served as President of Bernoulli's Soaring Association (Tehachapi, California), and was a founding member and Director of Systems and Concepts Development for the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, operating under the aegis of the Southern California Association of Governments and sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration. He worked with a team of aviation leaders to formulate a plan to redesign and reopen the VFR flight corridor over Los Angeles International Airport after its closure in 1986 and then to work on long term airspace management plans for Southern California's extremely congested airspace. He authored the working group's recommendations to the FAA for Airspace Reclassification and most of those recommendations were adopted by the FAA and incorporated in the airspace classification protocols now used in mapping and using airspace throughout the United States.

A major reason for Rol's working to preserve Santa Monica Airport in the 70's and 80's was to maintain its availability for life saving operations during emergencies, especially following Southern California's expected great earthquake. As a result of what he learned, he founded and serves as President of EVAC, the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps HYPERLINK "www.evac.org" www.evac.org, a national group promoting volunteers assisting in rebuilding airports and providing voluntary transport services after disasters or during major public emergencies. EVAC works to encourage pilot groups such as volunteer pilot organizations and airport associations to prepare and adopt disaster and emergency preparedness programs. He is also a founding member and Chairman of the Air Care Alliance HYPERLINK "www.aircareall.org" www.aircareall.org, a support group for more than sixty aviation groups engaged in volunteer pilot based public benefit flying nationwide and internationally.

He helped found the Connecticut and New York State Aerospace Education Councils and assisted other state councils. He is an officer of the National Coalition for Aviation Education HYPERLINK "www.aviationeducation.org" www.aviationeducation.org, a central source for information and collaboration involving more than fifty associations, agencies, companies, and trade groups. He was awarded the Crown Circle Award for achievement in aerospace education at the 2006 National Conference on Aviation and Space Education.

From 1990 through 2000 Rol worked as a management and media consultant and as Northeastern Regional Representative for the 415,000 member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), advising agencies and officials and assisting pilots, owners, and aviation groups in a seven state area ranging from New York to Maine. He worked with state and federal aviation agencies on planning issues and helped develop noise abatement programs at a number of airports.

Currently Rol serves as Executive Director of the Wolf Aviation Fund HYPERLINK "www.wolf-aviation.org" www.wolf-aviation.org, a nonprofit foundation which provides grants and disseminates information supporting general aviation and improving the public's understanding of it.

Other: Rol earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of California at Los Angeles Motion Picture and Television Division and an M.B.A. in Entertainment Management and Management Information Systems from U.C.L.A.'s Anderson Graduate School of Management. He also attended Santa Monica College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a 3000 plus hour pilot and has earned commercial, flight instructor, and glider certificates. He flies a restored 1958 Cessna 172 Skyhawk. In the late 90’s he lived in the former thread mill town of Willimantic, Connecticut, and now - thanks to internet communications – enjoys living and working in the ranching community of Gavilan, New Mexico.