Title
Case No. ZCA-2025-0018: The Los Alamos County Community Development Department requests the Planning and Zoning Commission make recommendation to County Council to amend Chapter 16, Development Code, Article II (Base Zone Districts), Division 2, Section 16-6; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 1, Sections 16-12 and 16-14; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 2, Sections 16-17, 16-18, 16-19; Article IV (Development Standards), Division 3, Section 16-28; and Article VI (Definitions), Division 2, through adoption of Ordinance No. 02-370.
Applicant
Elias Isaacson, Community Development Director, on behalf of Los Alamos County
Summary
This amendment improves the Development Code by correcting errors, resolving inconsistencies, and adding missing definitions to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with the County’s adopted plans and policies.
Explanation of Format: What you see in Code Ordinance 02-370 is a markup of changes to the existing Development Code. Strike-through text represents deletions. These are items currently in the code that will be removed by this amendment.
Underlined text represents additions. These are new provisions that do not currently exist and are being added to the code through this amendment.
Recommended Motion
I move to recommend that the County Council approve Case No. ZCA-2025-0018, a request by the Los Alamos County Community Development Department on behalf of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, to amend the Los Alamos County Development Code, Article II (Base Zone Districts), Division 2, Section 16-6; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 1, Sections 16-12 and 16-14; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 2, Sections 16-17, 16-18, 16-19; Article IV (Development Standards), Division 3, Section 16-28; and Article VI (Definitions), Division 2. Approval corrects technical errors in the use table, resolve inconsistencies within the use-specific standards, and add missing definitions to the Development Code through adoption of Ordinance No. 02-370.
Approval is based on the findings established at the hearing and the conclusion that the Applicant has met the decision criteria for a Text Amendment per Section 16-75(d)(3) of the Los Alamos County Development Code. The Commission acts under the authority of Section 16-69(b)(2) and (6) of the Development Code.
I further move to authorize the Chair to sign a Final Order approving the application, as well as the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for this case that reflects the decision of the Commission. This document will be prepared by county staff based on this decision.
Alternate Motion Option 1
I move to recommend that the County Council deny Case No. ZCA-2025-0018, a request by the Los Alamos County Community Development Department on behalf of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, to amend the Los Alamos County Development Code, Article II (Base Zone Districts), Division 2, Section 16-6; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 1, Sections 16-12 and 16-14; Article III (Use Regulations), Division 2, Sections 16-17, 16-18, 16-19; Article IV (Development Standards), Division 3, Section 16-28; and Article VI (Definitions), Division 2.
Denial is based on the Findings of Fact established at the hearing and the determination that the Applicant has failed to meet the decision criteria for a Text Amendment per Section 16-75(d)(3) of the Los Alamos County Development Code. The Commission acts under the authority of Section 16-69(b)(2) and (6) of the Development Code.
I further move to authorize the Chair to sign the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for this case that reflects the decision of the Commission. This document will be prepared by county staff based on this decision.
Attachments
A - Ordinance No. 02-370
B - Public Notice
C - Application Submittal