Town of Taos News Brief #37, April 11, 2008

Posted by Jim Kimmons, Broker/Owner • April 12, 2008 • Printer-friendly

1) Town Hall Under Construction

Taos Town Hall is under construction, and half of the parking in the Town Hall/Taos Public Library parking lot is fenced off by the contractor for public safety/construction equipment/staging purposes. The public entrance to Town Hall has also been moved around to the side of Town Hall – on the side facing the Taos Public Library (parking and entrance signage is in place for on site guidance). We wanted to highlight this again for Town Hall, Library and Town Convention Center visitors. Please note that the Town is working with the Taos Farmers Market to make sure they are accommodated satisfactorily and details will be forwarded prior to the Market’s May start-up.

The attached map is specifically sent out this week for those seeking alternate parking for events at the Town of Taos Convention Center and other venues – beyond what is now available during construction at Town Hall. Please see the free public parking lots behind the Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and Taos Community Auditorium for current parking alternatives (Note: some of the TCA parking will also temporarily disappear around May 1^st when its long-awaited renovation begins). Soon, all parking meters in the Town of Taos will be labeled to indicate the beginning of Town-wide two hour free parking in metered spaces (with the ability for people to ‘feed the meter’ after the two hour mark should they wish to do so). The change in the metered parking should also assist with other parking alternatives.

More detailed spring/summer parking/public restroom/tourist oriented maps, including other visitor points of importance, have been coordinated through Town and community united efforts. These helpful, more consistent and comprehensive maps are part of the Taos News’ spring/summer Visitor Guide, the Taos County Lodgers’ Taos Vacation Guide and on their web site -- http://www.taosvacationguide.com/img/maps/TaosVicinity.pdf, the Discovery Map, and others, and will be distributed at the Town of Visitors Center. This office will also forward a generic, non advertising version of this improved map electronically within the next few weeks as we move into our summer season.

2) Attached: Town/County Joint Meeting Agenda for this Monday (JP Meeting 4/14); Taos Council Agenda for this Tuesday (RMA 4/15).

3) Public Meetings for property owners around Town of Taos Youth & Family Center, Chamisa Verde Neighborhood, Storyteller Neighborhood, and Environs…The SmartCode Comes to You.

· Do you own land in Taos?

· Do you drive your car everywhere you go?

· Would you like to walk to work?

· Can you or your kids ride a bike to the park or to school?

· Can you afford a house in Taos?

If these questions mean something to you, then mark your calendar for April 21st, 22nd, and 23rd to attend the SmartCode Workshop. The Town of Taos is holding a 3-day SmartCode Workshop to demonstrate how the Taos SmartCode regulates land and creates more livable neighborhoods. The result of the SmartCode Workshop will be a Neighborhood Plan for Chamisa Verde. Chamisa Verde is a subdivision owned by the Town of Taos and is designated for affordable housing. Chamisa Verde is located behind the Youth & Family Center.

Although the public is invited to participate in the entire Workshop, two public presentations are scheduled for Monday, April 21st at the Youth and Family Center at 6:30 PM and Wednesday, April 23rd at Rio Grande Hall at 6:30 PM. Please mark your calendars. More information is coming soon – contact Matthew Foster, AICP, Town Planner, Town of Taos Planning & Zoning Department, 751-2037, mfoster@taosgov.com.

4) This Weekend: 2008 Taos Home & Garden Expo

Come by the Town of Taos Convention Center--Rio Grande & Battan Halls--and see the latest in all things related to your home and garden. Free Event.

9am-3pm Doors open. 10am-2pm Seminars and workshops at the north side of Rio Grande Hall. 10am-12pm Live Remote KKIT/KKTC/ KVOT with Michael Dean. 12-2pm Live Remote KTAO Solar Radio with Brad Hockmeyer. For more information call the Taos County Chamber of Commerce at 751-8800.

5) June 2008 is bringing to Taos the conclusion to Race Across America – billed as “The World's Toughest Bicycle Race”. Find out more at www.raceacrossamerica.org.

6) NOTE: News Briefs will be “On Vacation” April 18-28, 2008