Town discusses Airport Master Plan
Tables public release until advisory board convenes
The Town of Taos Council voted unanimously at a meeting Tuesday (March 22) to table an approval of the Taos Regional Airport Draft Master Plan, pending a vote from the Airport Advisory Board.
The council members listened to a presentation from Armstrong Consultants, an airport consultation and planning business that came up with the first draft of the Taos Regional Airport Master Plan.
Armstrong’s representatives made clear the draft was “a living, breathing document” that was subject to change based on public input or the opinions of the Airport Advisory Board Members.
However, most members of the advisory board were not logged in to the council meeting. Councilman and mayor-elect Pascual Maestas said he wanted to make sure the plan receives input from the different advisory board members, including Taos Pueblo.
Town Manager Rick Bellis said in previous Airport Advisory Board talks that the Town had received positive feedback from all involved, including the governor, Sen. Bobby Gonzalez, and others. “They were all supportive of the development plan we are proposing,” Bellis said. “The plan was sent to the Pueblo as well, and my understanding is, they were generally supportive.”
Because the Airport Advisory Board had last met in July of 2021, Maestas made a motion to table the item. “I would like to give the advisory board a chance to weigh in on this officially,” he said, noting that only two members of the board were in attendance at the July meeting.
Maestas also asked if it would be an inconvenience to table the draft plan. Armstrong Consultants said it “wouldn’t be an issue. We can certainly accommodate that — no problem.”
Bellis noted that “the advisory board has been involved at every stage, and the plan is already in the advisory [stage].”
Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to table their approval of the Taos Regional Airport Draft Master Plan until the Airport Advisory Board could fully weigh in. The next town council meeting is scheduled for April 8 at 4 p.m.