VISION STATEMENT*
"Our vision of the Lower Des Montes Neighborhood is that of a rural
community which
continues and encourages the traditional residential use of the
land along with compatible
farming and ranching activity. Central to this vision is the espiritu
of the land which includes
open spaces, rural atmosphere and natural beauty of place."
* to see erich's notes re which parts of the vision statement imply
contract terms go to [ vision
statement-annotated ]
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND ACTION ITEMS
I. Enhance residential use of the land
A. Preserve adequate clean
water sources.
1. Develop or adopt in conjunction with county / state officials,
regulations to preserve
and conserve potable water sources.
2. Develop an educational program to tell our residents of these regulations.
3. Encourage water conservation with a LDMNA developed educational program.
B. Limit commercial activity
1. Establish a land use regulation that limits commercial activity to cottage
industries.
2. Develop an educational program to tell our residents of this regulation.
C. Maintain a clean, litter
free community
1. Establish an active team of community volunteers which will periodically,
on specific
schedules, visit each public area Lower Des Montes to pick up and dispose
of,
trash and other debris.
2. Develop an educational program to encourage a litter free community.
D. Encourage reasonable
control of neighborhood animals.
1. Develop an educational program on animal control in the neighborhood.
E. Control light pollution
1. Develop, with Kit Carson Electric, a project to shade existing pole/building
mounted
mercury vapor night lights.
F. Promote clean air
1. Establish within the neighborhood a shared objective of eliminating
the use burn
barrels.
2. Develop an educational program to tell residents of this objective.
G. Encourage safe firearm
usage.
1. Research the existing ordinances on firearm use and make this information
available to residents.
II. Encourage and support ranching and farming activity
A. Protect and preserve acequias
1. Develop a formal program to support the efforts of parcientes and ditch
association to
maintain and preserve the acequias.
2. Develop an educational program to tell residents of this program.
B. Promote a farmer's market
1. Research the farmer's market possibilities. Make known the opportunity
to use the
commercial food preparation kitchen at the Taos County Economic Development
Park.
2. Develop an educational program around these possibilities
C. Encourage diversity in
farming
1. Research local, county and state resources to determine diverse types
of farming that can
be pursued in Lower Des Montes.
2. Gather and disseminate a developed traditional and alternative farming
practices pamphlet.
D. Encourage perma-culture
home gardening
1. Establish a standing committee to gather information on perma-culture
home and gardening
practices which involves water conservation practices.
2. Gather and disseminate this information.
III. Preserve open spaces
A. Conserve view sheds
1. Identify and record on maps specific view sheds that should be conserved
to protect the
open spaces important to our neighborhood.
2. Identify specific methods for conserving view sheds, such as protective
covenants and
conservation easements and undertake an educational program to teach the
community how
to use these methods.
B. Protect existing tree
stands and encourage xeriscape tree planting
1. Form a committee to locate and describe tree stands that require protection
and recommend
specific actions.
2. Develop the necessary tactics to protect these tree stands
C. Protect natural drainage
(arroyos) from erosion and pollution
1. Develop in conjunction with county planners a plan to preserve natural
drainage from erosion
and pollution.
D. Encourage conservation
easement
1. The LDMNA shall function as an information gathering source and contact
point between interested
members and the Taos Land Trust similar organizations in land conservation
and protection.
IV. Promote neighborhood safety and security
A. Initiate a neighborhood
crime watch
1. Identify sections of the community who wish to organize a crime watch
B. Complete an accurate
addressing system.
1. Form a committee to work with the county to bring the addressing system
up to acceptable
standards.
C. Promote fire protection
awareness
1. Work with local fire departments to collect and disseminate information
regarding fire
prevention and protection of lives and property in the event of fire.
2. Sponsor periodic educational programs, in conjunction with the appropriate
authorities,
to increase fire protection and prevention awareness.
D. Introduce informational
presentations
1. The board of directors, independently or when prompted by interested
residents, shall
identify and consistent with the vision, goals and objectives of
the Association.
E. Request road improvements
1. Monitor conditions of roads and make specific recommendations to appropriate
agencies
for needed repair, maintenance and signs for traffic control.
V. Regulate land use
A. Review and make appropriate
use of state/ county subdivision regulations
1. Designate individuals who will agree to review the regulations and determine
how the
association can effectively use them .
2. Ask the County Planning Dept. for a summary of these regulations.
3. Offer comments to the Planning Dept.
4. Adopt the county subdivision regulations consistent with our vision
statement.
B. Create appropriate density
ratios
1. Develop density ratios appropriate to the vision statement, so that
the concentration of
buildings is balanced by open space.
C. Encourage enforcement
of building codes
1. Pursue a campaign to impress the County Commissioners of the critical
need for adequate
staffing in the permitting and inspection departments
D. Require manufactured
and mobile homes to meet the same site development criteria as
constructed houses.
1. Develop or adopt in conjunction with county/state officials, regulatory
criteria for siting and
installing manufactured homes that are consistent with those of constructed
homes.
VI. Encourage awareness of the espiritu of the land
A. Share stories of the early
development of this place
1. Gather and share oral histories from long time residents and other reliable
historical sources,
regarding the early development of Des Montes.
B. Celebrate our pride in
living in this community
1. Consider for appropriate media publication significant neighborhood
events or accomplishments
by members of the community.
2. Publish a newsletter.
C. Encourage community projects.
1. Organize projects and events to promote community spirit, encourage
getting acquainted with
our neighbors, and support those who give valuable services promote our
association and its vision,
goals, and objectives.
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