Reconsider ‘Glamping’ site
Iam a homeowner within reasonably close proximity of the proposed ‘Glamping’ site on County Road 110 which three of the five Taos County Commissioners unfortunately approved last week.
I know this decision is being appealed and we have the opportunity to have our voices heard. There is a great deal of opposition among the residents in this beautiful sparsely populated area. It is imperative that more Taos County residents understand that this affects everyone for a number of reasons both now and in the future.
During the hearing the emphasis was made that it really only affects those within a 1,000-foot proximity of the campground site boundaries. This is simply not true! I would like to point out that it would only take one spark from one of the 24 approved campfires to have a potentially devastating impact of the landscape and residences for quite a long distance.
We are all well aware of our extraordinary drought and lack of water here. If an uncontrolled fire begins from a careless camper it would spread incredibly quickly. The frequent and often sudden high winds are very common in this open and fragile land. This site is very close to the beautiful Slide Trail along the Río Pueblo canyon which are very precious and irreplaceable sites.
The approval of this development is a flagrant abuse of the power the commissioners have been given to be prudent in their decision-making powers and is very discouraging. This decision ignores many pertinent facts voiced by those opposed to this campground, not the least of which is our fragile environment and our limited resources.
The misguided ‘Glamping’ development should be of great concerns to all of us. The environmental impact of this inappropriate location and misuse of our very limited resources alone should be enough to halt this type of development. The imminent danger of fire here should be of concern to every citizen of Taos County.
I am urging that this decision be appealed. The three commissioners who approved this need to strongly reconsider exactly what is in the best interests of our citizens and the future of Taos County. This proposed development has little benefit to anyone but the property owner, but will have long-term devastating consequences for many of us if it allowed to be built.