Commissioners deal with land use issues


CONEJOS—
Power upgrades Working toward outage prediction and prevention, Public Service Company asked  to replace an existing communications tower with a taller one.
Located behind the AntonitoSolar Garden, the new tower wouldchange the current grid conditions for a faster response for isolation of problems, a reduced duration of outages and pro activity to prevent power loss and integration of non renewable energy.
As a field area network, this is wireless non-commercial communication connected with control center intelligent devices with advanced metering infrastructure and remote monitoring, enhanced control of the grid at various locations in the service territory.
This will be a three antenna array 120 feet tall with a wind load of 115 sustained miles per hour and gusts up to180 miles per hour.
The Planning and ZoningCommission granted the variance with a setback change caused by underground and overhead wires.
Short-term rental
A public hearing was held on the application of  William and Shirley Knox for a short-term rental — overnight lodging — in Rocky Mountain Estates near Rocky Mountain Lodge.
Opponents cited declarations in covenants by developers limiting the area to single dwellings and the Knox application sought two dwellings.
Shirley Knox appeared by phone and pointed out the short term rental would mean additional tax revenue for the county and the use shouldn’t affect commercial property in any way.
Land Use Administrator LindaDeHerrera said the owner of RockyMountain Lodge had expressed no opposition to the Knox plans.
Letters from neighbors opposed turning the structure into rental prop erty, becoming commercial propertyin a residential area,which could set a precedent for other businesses.
One letter said overnight lodging is essentially a commercial business and would introduce auto traffic into what is a quiet cul-de-sac.
Knox maintained the area is not a gated community and shouldn’t have restrictive covenants.
Following an executive session, the commissioners emerged and County Attorney Nicolas Sarmiento said deeds and covenants are “extraneous facts” and  overnight  lodging is defined in the land use code, which governs this application.
Special use reviews are allowed in all zoning, with a special use review, he said, and theBOCC must determine if the applicant has met all standards of approval.
BOCC members said they would need some more time to go through those standards, since the decision would be based solely on the land use code.
The matter will be heard again at 9 a.m. May15. Knox was told it could be done by phone.