Title
VAR-2025-0013. Wesley Lansford and the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, on behalf of the Los Alamos School Board (property owner), request a variance for the property located at 4000 University Drive, Los Alamos, NM. The request is for a variance to Chapter 16, Development Code, Article III - Use Regulations, Division 1 - Permitted Uses, to allow a 115 square foot accessory structure in INSTITUTIONAL (INS) zoning, and to Section 16-18(b)(8) to reduce the required setback from 10 feet to 5 feet from another accessory structure.
Property Owners
Los Alamos School Board
Applicant
Wesley Lansford and the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos
Case Manager
Danyelle Valdez
Section 16-74(g)(3), Variance Decision Criteria
An application for a variance shall be approved if it meets all of the following criteria:
a. The variance will not be contrary to the public safety, health, or welfare.
b. The variance will not undermine the intent of this Code, the applicable zone district, other county adopted policies or plans, or violate the building code
c. Granting of the variance will not cause an intrusion into any utility or other easement unless approved by the owner of the easement.
d. The variance request is caused by unusual physical characteristic or a hardship inherent in the lot or lot improvements and the peculiarity or hardship has not been self-imposed.
e. The variance will not create any significant adverse impacts on properties within the vicinity.
f. Granting of the approved variance is the minimum necessary easing of the Code requirements making possible the reasonable use of the land, structure, or building.
Section 16-72(f)(5)c.3., Public Hearing Decisions
The hearing body making a final decision shall take any one of the following actions:
1. Approve the application as presented if the proposal is in conformity with the criteria.
2. Approve the application with conditions. In granting conditional approval, the hearing body making the final decision may only impose such conditions as are reasonably necessary to meet the approval criteria.
3. Deny the application if the proposal is not in conformance with the decision criteria within division 3, Specific Development Procedures. Remand the application back to the recommending body for further proceedings.
EXHIBITS
A - Staff Report
B - Notice of Public Hearing
C - IDRC Review Emails
D - Variance Application