The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • Page 10

US Business Sign fracas pits Ford dealership against Town of Taos By Mike Stauffor The Taos News Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Brooke Cottam says the signs he has at his Cottam- Walker Ford dealership on Paseo del Pueblo Sur are just about right in terms of size and number. The town planning department says that added together they're too big. And the town council, caught in the middle, wants to know if they are too big, how too big are they and what can the towri do about it? In November, the Planning and Zoning Commission denied Cottam'n request for a variance to the number and of signs at his recently reopened dealership. Cottam appealed that decision to the Taos Town Council, which voted Dec.

20 to postpone any decision on the variance request until the amount of variance Cottam wants could be nailed down. According to planning director Allen Vigil, Cottam's request is for signage totaling 104.5 square feet. The sign code allows for either 60 square feet of signage for a business or 7 percent of the building's frontage, whichever is less. According to Vigil, that means Cottam wants a variance of 44.5 square feet. But Cottam told the council that he just needs a variance of three square feet, not 44.5.

"I think we're making a mountain out of a molehill," Cottam said. "These signs were erected in 1968, long before we were annexed by the city. And anyway, they belong to the Ford Motor Company, not to us. We're not doing something historically wrong, but in every area we've been fought and even dragged into court. Ford said they a be willing to take down the sign, and while we're working that out, we get slapped with a summons." Cottam has appealed a decision and fine imposed in Municipal Court to District Court.

Cottam said Ford would remove the Lincoln sign and combine it with the existing Ford-Mercury sign, thus reducing the amount of signage he has. Cottam said that under the code which he called "ambiguous, at best" the variance he would need would be for just three square feet. But Vigil said, "This is the first I've heard of a variance of three square feet. That's not what he requested of the Planning and Zoning Commission when they made their decision g- Cottam-Walker Ford, Lincoln, Mercury runs afoul of the town's sign ordinance for having too many big signs. Jeff Gales and not what this appeal is based on.

This particular request was not taken through appropriate channels." Cottam said it was "not fair to penalize his business for something that was always there, first as Harper Motor Company, then Taos Motor Company. "We're not changing anything," he said, "and we were in compliance before. It's not like we're putting up something new and different." Vigil countered that the sign ordinance, which passed in 1977, provided a five-year amortization period on signs that exceeded the code. There was no "grandfather" clause under the sign code. "That five-year grace period has long since expired," Vigil said.

"Taos Moj.gr Company was out of business much longer than six months, meaning any non-conforming sign variance would no longer apply. And it's not like we started working with Mr. Cottam in November. This goes back to November 1993 in an effort to enforce zoning compliance. It all stalemated in November and that's why we're here now." Mayor Fred Peralta said Thursday (Dec.

22) that the council decision to postpone a decision was necessary to give both Vigil and Cottam time to agree on the size of variance being requested. "But regardless of what the council's final decision will be, it will have real implications for any business in town," Peralta said. "If the code is vague in this area, we need to know that as well." Ojo Caliente: hot springs, cool comfort OJO CALIENTE Two years ago this winter, a fire destroyed the main bath houses at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, a fustic spa resort located between Santa Fe and Taos. But as the prehistoric Pueblo Indians realized long ago, this place is magical. This week, a new women's bath house opens, like a phoenix rising from the ashes of the old.

"We have been fully open and operational since the fire. But we are excited about the additional services the new bath house will provide our guests," resort manager Jerry Mauro said. The 3,720 square-foot building follows the northern New Mexico territorial style of the other historical buildings at the resort, featuring pitched roofs, portals and vaulted ceilings. builder Kim Uriger of Santa Fe designed and constructed the building. "One innovative feature of the new bath house is the heating system," Mauro said.

"Through a radiant floor sys we are using the heat from the natural geothermal waters to warm the new bath house, as well as the exterior walkways, swimming pool and outdoor hot tub. It's efficient and it's clean." The bath house's airy entrance features wall renderings and water sculptures by Santa Fe artist Gary Muuro. Inside, 13 private arsenic tubs pipu in the warm waters from the mineral springs. Seven new body treatment rooms, a ladies' changing room, sauna, fitness room and relaxation wrap room also are included. Considered to be one of the oldest health resorts in North America, Ojo Caliente's waters have been sought and enjoyed by many for centuries.

The ancient people regarded the waters as an opening to the underworld, the residing place of the Great Spirits. "Legends tell of trails leading to the springs like the 'spokes of a Mauro said. The Spanish conquistadors stopped here on their long journeys. During the first half of the 20th century, people flocked to the springs from all over the United States to seek relief for health problems. The resort's hotel building was built in 1917, the coed bath house was built in the 1860s and the springs themselves are on the state and national historical registers.

Jerry Muuro's grandfather, Frank Mauro, purchased the springs in 1932, believing he had found the fabled fountain of youth. It has been a family-owned and operated business ever since. "I am part of the third generation to have the opportunity and privilege of running it," Jerry Mauro said. Today, he said, people come to Ojo Culiente Mineral A look at the renovated exterior of the Ojo Caliente Hot Springs Hotel Springs for renewed spirits, rejuvenated bodies, and a complete relaxation experience. "Ojo Culiente is the only natural hot springs in the world with the remarkable combination of five bubbling waters: arsenic, iron, lithia, soda and sodium.

Each mineral provides a different benefit to the body," Mauro said. Arsenic, in trace amounts, has been known to help relievo arthritis, rheuma- tism, stomach ulcers and skin problems. Iron is beneficial to the blood. Many people believe lithia helps with depression and sluggish kidneys. Soda and sodium are good for over-acidic stomachs.

Weekday rates for the mineral pools start at $7. Ojo Culiente Mineral Springs, located on State Road 285 north of Espaftola, is open yoar-round. For more information, call (506) 6832233. In brief John and Barbara Cottam opened their newest ski shop location Dec. 18 at 208 Paseo del Pueblo Sur (next to McDonald's).

Cottam's Ski and Outdoor is open seven days a week, at 7 a.m., to serve alpine skiing and accessory needs. Rental equipment includes new, top of the line, high-performance demonstration skis, new sport skis and boots. Also available are a wide variety of hats, gloves, sunglasses, sweatshirts, T-shirts, fleece tops, children's clothing and accessories. Carolyn Lewis, a resident of Ranches de Taos, and animal teammate Hannah, a Rottweiler, have completed training through a nationwide program which registered them as a person-animal volunteer team qualified to provide animal-assisted activities (AAAVanimal-assisted therapy (AAT) to patients and residents of Taos. Lewis and Hannah were registered by the nationwide Pet Partners Program, which established guidelines for member people-animal teams to qualify them to enter hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

The program registers teams that successfully complete health and temperament screening and volunteer training. The Pet Partners Program was created by the Delta Society, a nonprofit organization based near Seattle, that works to improve health and well-being by promoting beneficial contacts among people, animale and nature. Boni Bryant and Joel Schantz of the Prudential Schantz Realty met in San Francisco with nearly 600 of the top real estate sales associates in the country for the "Summit Conference," a three-day gathering in which the state of the industry and some of the newest technological and marketing innovations in real estate were discussed. Bryant and Schantz are both members of the President's Circle Society, which recognizes the top 4 percent of the agents in the Prudential real estate network. High Desert Protective Services (HDPS) has announced that managing partner Dean Shrader has completed the National Rifle Association's law firearms instructor course.

The 45-hour intensive training course enables HDPS to train its officers to higher levels of proficiency. Marc E. Stewart with The Boot Doctors at Taos Ski Valley has completed the "pedorthic management of the foot" course which consisted of 50 hours of intensive study and workshop techniques. The course took place at Ball State University, Muncie, Ind. Richard Thorpe has completed Dean Witter Reynolds investment studies program in New York and has joined the firm's Santa Fe branch office.

He will focus on serving the needs of Taos County investors. Thorpe and his wife, Barbara, have lived and worked in the Taos area for five years. KACHINA LODGE invites you to bring in the New Dante to music performed by Los Amigos Unidos and enjoy our midnight snacks, complete nacho bar along with chile and plus complimentary champagne. Open; p.m. Band begins; 9 p.ra $12 per person $20 per couple 413 North Pueblo Road 758-2275 SPINAL EXAMINATION WITH THIS All Why FREE? Thousands of area residents have spine related problems which usually respond to chiropractic care.

This is our way of encouraging you to find out if you have a problem that could be helped by chiropractic care. It is also our way of acquainting you with our stuff and facilities. Examination includes a minimum of 10 standard tests for evaluation of the spine. While we are accepting new patients, no one should feel any obligation. MOST AIM At 1 DR.

GERALD SMALLING 925 Paseo del Pueblo Sur (across trorn Wal-Mart between Sun God Motel and Holiday Inn) Please 751-HEAL for an appointment. Please Bring Coupon OF IMNHIF.I) NKItVKM 1. Headaches, Dizziness, Blurred Vision 2, Neck Pain, Fain Down Arms, Numbness In Hands 4. Pain Between Shoulders, Difficulty Breathing, Abdominal Pains 5. Lower Back Pain, Hip Pain, Pain Down Legs, One Hip Higher Than Other i Shoulder Blades Not Level Spine Not Straight, Appears To Lean To One Side Buttock Folds Not Level Knee Creases Not Level CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN.