Taos Canyon Projects
FOREST THINNING UPDATE 2011
The North Shady Brook forest thinning project is approximately 65% complete. No slash was burned last winter due to the snowfall not lasting long enough to support safe burning. The US Forest Service received Federal Stimulus money for this project last year. They contracted with Chimayo Conservation Corps to work this project. CCC has not had a crew available to work on this project as of 6/10/2011. We have ween assured by the Forest Service that the money assigned to this project will still be available next year to finish it, if CCC is not able to finish this year.
New this year, the USFS is working to get a non-federal land (NFL) grant. It would be used to thin an area at the lower end of the canyon, identified by the USFS as the next area in Taos Canyon that should be thinned for fire defense. Since this is just in the beginning stages, we will post more information as it becomes available to us.
TRASH TRANSFER SITE REPORT 2011
We have a new Taos County Solid Waste Director, Edward Martinez. He has been instrumental in providing Taos Canyon with a Free Dumpter Day (June 25) in 2011. We have been informed by Rick Bellis, Deputy County Manger, that all problems encountered at the Chamisal transfer site have been cleared by all departments involved. As a result, the Taos Canyon Trash Transfer Site has finally been approved. Unfortunately, the county no longer has any money available to break ground on this site. All county surplus money is being spent for the new county administration building, especially the jail. So this issue will need to be pursued in 2012 before next year's county budget of 2012-2013 is approved.
TAOS CANYON LAND USE PLAN
The Taos Canyon Land Use Plan is a comprehensive plan that establishes the Neighborhood Land Use Regulations for Taos Canyon. The boundaries and zoning districts established herein are shown on the Taos Canyon Neighborhood Land Use Plan in the Taos County Planning Department. On April 29, 2011 the County Planning Commission met with representatives of the Taos County Neighborhood Associations. The Taos Canyon Neighborhood Association was represented by three members of the Board. Rick Bellis, Nathan Sanchez, and David Maes represented the county in their professional positions. The county attorney, Barbara Martinez, was also in attendance. The TCNA Land Use Plan is on file with the county. A question/answer period followed. The finalization of the land use code is in progress and implementation is hoped to be in place by 2012.