County Planning Board to hear from Citizens of Tierra Blanca Neighborhood

Every Person Who Lves in Taos County Should Attend This Meeting

February 05, 2010

Keith Randall has constructed a huge warehouse (just under 9,000 sq. ft.) in the foothills of the Tierra Blanca neighborhood, off of Highway 68 and Christine Selphe Road. The building itself is ugly, but legal. The height of the building, however, exceeds the maximum height permitted in our land use regulations (by 10’ based on our calculations).

Randall is currently operating his auto business out of this building. Randall does not have a business license from the county to do so. Randall operates his earth moving equipment on a regular basis as well. The adjacent neighbors in the Tierra Blanca neighborhood can smell the fumes from the commercial painting booth, hear the noises associated with an auto shop, and live with the sounds and smells of his diesel equipment. The residents have been living in this area for over 20 years. They purchased land and built homes here because of the beauty and serenity of the area.

Marc Rossman offered, “Our Land Use Regulations aren’t written perfectly, but it isn’t the regulations that have been our problem, it has been our county’s lack of enforcement. We now have an opportunity for change. Taos County did the “right� thing on November 30, 2009 and denied Randall’s application for a “cottage industry� license. Unfortunately, Randall is appealing the decision (attached is both denial and appeal). According to our Land use Regulations, in addition to other requirements, a cottage industry must not alter the residential character of the neighborhood and must consider the historical use of the adjacent properties.�

This issue will come before the Taos County Planning Board on February 9, 2010. The hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Taos
County Complex, 105 Albright Street, Suite A Taos, New Mexico.

It is very important for every county resident to attend this meeting. If the lack of enforcement or cronyism can cause this to happen in the Tierra Blanca neighborhood, then it can happen anywhere.


The following excerpt is from the Taos County Agenda available on-line on the Taos County website.

Keith Randall (“Appellant�) d.b.a. Outlaw Garage, LLC appeals the November 30, 2009 decision of the Zoning Administrator/Planning Director to deny the Zoning Clearance approval for the business registration application submitted by the “Appellant� to allow him to operate a Motor Vehicle Restoration Business in a residential garage as a cottage industry, as defined in Ordinance 2005-10, Taos County Land Use Regulations Article I, Section IV Definitions. The proposed garage is to be located at #3895 New Mexico State Highway 68 south of Taos, NM in the Tierra Blanca area, Taos County New Mexico. The project is further described as lying in Section 10 Township 24 North Range 12 East and is further described as lying in the Cristoval de la Serna Grant.

Editor’s Note: Outlaw Garage (perfect name) is already in operation at the specified location. The image to the right is a March 6, 2009 letter to Keith Randall from the Julia Valeria, County Manager advising Randall that the business does not fit the criteria for a cottage industry.