Ms. Dinah Gonzales of the Planning, Community and Economic Development Department called roll and a quorum was present.  

Those present were:

Dennis Garcia

James Pollard

John Durham

Jan Debay

Eddie Lucero

Douglas Patterson (arrived at 5:38 p.m.)

Billy Romero (arrived at 5:44 p.m.)  

Also present were:

Dinah Gonzales, Planner I

Richard Bellis,  Town Manager / Acting Planning Director

The Planning and Zoning Commission amended the agenda to hear Item 7 Public Hearings B PZ2015-10 SUP Prodigy Church before Item 7 Public Hearings A PZ2015-3 - PUD.

Commissioner Debay made a motion to approve the Agenda as amended.
 
Commissioner Patterson seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Pollard, Patterson, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Commissioner Durham stated there is a typo on page 5, the forth full paragraph.  The word wonderers should be wanderers. 

Chairman Garcia would like to add the reason the Commissioners abstained to page 2 paragraph 5. He would like to add the Commissioners were not in attendance at the July 2, 2014 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting.

Commissioner Durham made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from the February 4, 2015 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting as Amended.

Commissioner Patterson seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Patterson, Pollard, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Chairman Garcia stated he would like to add with no action taken to Item 10 Adjournment.

Commissioner Pollard made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from the March 4, 2015 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting as amended.

Commissioner Durham seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Pollard, Patterson, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Commissioner Debay made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from the November 5, 2015 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting.

Commissioner Durham seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Romero, Pollard, Patterson, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Chairman Garcia abstained as he was not at the meeting.

Commissioner Durham made a motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from the December 3, 2015 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting.

Commissioner Debay seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Garcia, Pollard, Patterson, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Staff invited the Planning and Zoning Commission to attend the Historic Preservation Commission Meeting on April 8, 2015 at Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. to hear the informational presentation on the proposed exterior modifications of the Hampton Inn and the McDonalds exterior remodel.

Mr. Bellis informed the P&Z Commission of the two demolition cases that will be heard at the Historic Preservation Commission Meeting on the April 8th.

Mr. Bellis informed the P&Z Commission that Louis Fineberg. the new Planning, Zoning and Community Development Director, will start on April 6, 2015.

Mr. Bellis updated the P&Z Commission on the status of the Planning Department.

Pastor Patrick Rael gave a presentation on Case No. PZ2015-10 for a Special Use Permit for Prodigy Church.

Commissioner Patterson made a motion to approve  the Special Use Permit for Case No. PZ2015-10 SUP Prodigy Church.

Commissioner Lucero seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Romero, Patterson, Pollard, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Mr. Rick Bellis stated staff recommendation is to approve the PUD with conditions and read the conditions and recommendations from the staff report.

A discussion ensued between the Commissioners and Staff.  The Commissioners were concerned with the access points, traffic study, the intersection, the number of buildings proposed, using the site plan showing the number of buildings proposed, and the density bonus being requested.

Mr. Mark Yaravitz commented on the staff recommendations and conditions and gave a presentation on the proposed Planned Unit Development.

The Commissioners again stated their concerns which were a traffic study, no creativity, the Acequias, two access points, the use of a 36 inch culvert is not appropriate they would prefer a bridge, the site plan is not complete they would like to see schematics.

Chairman Garcia opened the public hearing.

Community members that came forward and were sworn in were:

Mario Suazo, the President of Los Lovatos Acequia, explained the location of the ditch to the Commission and stated the concerns of the Acequia Association.  Those concerns are the amount of traffic and people in the area of the ditch and the culvert or bridge that will be placed to handle the amount of traffic, erosion and drainage, sufficient access to the ditches and the safety of the child residents.  Mr. Suazo stated Los Lovatos Acequia completes it 300th anniversary this year of continuous use and they would like it to keep the water flowing.  Mr. Suazo added his basic concerns are to protect the ditch. 

Meliton Struck stated his concern is that this area is not zoned R-6 or R-14 it is zoned R-4 and gave a little history as to why the location is zoned R-4.  Mr. Struck stated he has never seen an R-4 with a bonus on it and added the only time he has seen a bonus is on an R-14.  Mr. Struck stated he is representing the Jeantete Family.   He stated this is the old part of town and a traffic study needs to be done, those roads cannot handle that much traffic especially in that corner.  Mr Struck stated Antonio Vigil has his cows on the other side of that road and Mr. Vigil is concerned about it and asked what if Mr. Vigil wants to develop that property next year.  Mr. Struck reminded the R-6 zone change was previously denied.

Jerome Lucero stated he lives at the end of Peralta Lane and stated he is on the Towns water system and added around 2:00 p.m.  the water pressure goes way down.  Mr. Lucero stated the Commission needs to consider how the 28 units will affect the water pressure in the area.  Mr. Lucero stated his concern is depending on what is decided here how do you hold the developer accountable and make sure the acequia is taken care of.

Mary Gray stated this is the one year anniversary of her and her husband moving to Taos.  Ms. Grays concern is she still does not know how many stories or how tall these proposed developments are and added at the last meeting it wasn't clear if they were going to be condominiums or apartments.  She is not aware of what Market Rate is.  Ms. Gray thanked the Commission and stated she appreciates that there may be just 20 units instead of 28, she is from the city and is used to lots of traffic but she is not used to blind traffic.

Mr. Paul Figueroa stated he is in favor of the staffs proposal of 20 units, he was very concerned when the proposed unit were at 28 given the R-4 zoning.  Mr. Figueroa agrees with what has been stated about the acequia and in particular the concern with traffic coming in and out of that development, oil, gas and debris will accumulate and will find the way into the very precious water system.  Mr. Figueroa read section 16.16.100.5 and stated he enjoys the beautiful area when he is on his way to Fred Baca Park.

Mr. Yaravitz stated he does not have an answer to the Commissions feedback but does not want to start from the beginning, he will need to speak to the property owner and discuss the Commissions concerns with him.

Commissioner Patterson made a motion to continue Case No. PZ2015-3 PUD to the  regularly scheduled Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting on June 3, 2015.
 
Commissioner Debay seconded the motion. The motion was Passed. Those voting AYE were: Commissioners: Romero, Pollard, Patterson, Garcia, Durham, Debay, Lucero

Commissioner Pollard asked about the status of the Committee to review the Sign Ordinance.

Mr. Bellis informed the Commission that the Historic Preservation had previously revised the sign code and they are trying to locate the information.