Title
Case No. ZCA-2026-0019: The Los Alamos County Community Development Department requests the Planning and Zoning Commission make a recommendation on County Council to adopt Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-371, amending Chapter 16, Development Code, Article V (Administration and Enforcement), including updates to Sections 16-68 through 16-75, 16-79, 16-81, 16-83, 16-84, 16-91 through 16-93, and 16-98, to update neighborhood meeting and public notice procedures, clarify review and decision-making authority, and make technical corrections to improve clarity, consistency, and compliance within the Development Code.
Applicant
Elias Isaacson, Community Development Director, on behalf of Los Alamos County
Case Manager
Danyelle Valdez, Planning Manager
Summary
Case No. ZCA-2026-0019 is a Text Amendment application for consideration to change portions of the Los Alamos County Development Code ("Development Code") through Ordinance No. 02-371. The proposals are part of an ongoing "Clean-Up" process intended to address technical errors, omissions, and inconsistencies identified since the Development Code was repealed and replaced in January 2023.
The intent of the proposed changes is to improve clarity and consistency by correcting issues in procedures, cross-references, and terminology to make the Code more effective for staff, applicants, and the public. In addition, the changes enhance transparency and due process by clarifying processes and notification requirements. Lastly, the amendments streamline procedures by simplifying the implementation of the Code by removing redundant and confusing language, and supporting efficient administration of application procedures.
Explanation of Format: What you see in Code Ordinance 02-371 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.
Pursuant to section 16-69(b)(1) of the Los Alamos Development code ("Development Code"), the Planning and Zoning Commission ("Commission") shall have the review and recommendation authority for Text Amendments to the Development Code. Text Amendments are legislative decisions-a public hearing is required but the procedural requirements of a quasi-judicial hearing do not apply, and presentations and public comment are not submitted under oath or affirmation (Development Code, section 16-72(f)).
The Commission shall make a recommendation to the County Council to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application. If the Commission fails to convene a quorum, or to make a recommendation, the application shall move to the council without a recommendation unless the applicant waives this requirement and agrees in writing to any additional planning and zoning commission meetings (Development Code, section 16-72(f)).
Recommended Motion
I move to recommend that the County Council approve Case No. ZCA-2026-0019, a request by Los Alamos County Community Development Department on behalf of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, to amend the Los Alamos County Development Code, Article V (Administration and Enforcement), including updates to Sections 16-68 through 16-75, 16-79, 16-81, 16-83, 16-84, 16-91 through 16-93, and 16-98, to update neighborhood meeting and public notice procedures, clarify review and decision-making authority, and make technical corrections to improve clarity, consistency, and compliance within the Development Code through Ordinance No. 02-371.
Recommendation to approve is based on the findings established at the hearing and 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)(1) and (5) of the Development Code.
Alternate Motion 1
I move to recommend that the County Council approve Case No. ZCA-2026-0019, a request by Los Alamos County Community Development Department on behalf of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, to amend the Los Alamos County Development Code, Article V (Administration and Enforcement), including updates to Sections 16-68 through 16-75, 16-79, 16-81, 16-83, 16-84, 16-91 through 16-93, and 16-98, to update neighborhood meeting and public notice procedures, clarify review and decision-making authority, and make technical corrections to improve clarity, consistency, and compliance within the Development Code, with the following changes to Ordinance No. 02-371:
1. ...
Alternate Motion 2
I move to recommend that the County Council deny Case No. ZCA-2026-0019, a request by Los Alamos County Community Development Department on behalf of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, to amend the Los Alamos County Development Code, Article V (Administration and Enforcement), including updates to Sections 16-68 through 16-75, 16-79, 16-81, 16-83, 16-84, 16-91 through 16-93, and 16-98, to update neighborhood meeting and public notice procedures, clarify review and decision-making authority, and make technical corrections to improve clarity, consistency, and compliance within the Development Code through Ordinance No. 02-371.
Attachments
A - Ordinance No. 02-371
B - Legal Notice
C - Application