Taos City Zoning Code
§ 16.16.220.6
Standards for historic overlay zone.
These standards shall apply within the area designated as a historic overlay zone on the town zoning map, and as otherwise made applicable by town ordinance or regulation to other areas of the town:
A.
The streetscape.
1.
The streetscape includes the street (public right-of-way) and the adjoining buildings, structures, and landscaping which define it. In some areas of the historic overlay zone of Taos, the streets are narrow and curvilinear, and are often physically very close to building facades, fences and landscaping, thus causing a zero setback;
2.
The town shall preserve the narrow or curvilinear character of these existing streets;
3.
The town shall make no effort to widen or straighten narrow or curvilinear streetscapes.
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B.
Streetscape criteria.
Streetscapes shall be defined by the following criteria:
1.
Project types.
The code administrator shall determine the applicability of this section to individual projects and the applicable streetscape as follows:
a.
If the project location is sited on a street which extends linearly with no interruptions or truncations, the streetscape shall include buildings, yard walls, and fences on both sides of the street on which the proposed new construction is to be located, for a distance of six hundred feet (600') measured from the midpoint of the street facing facade(s) of the proposed new construction in both directions parallel to the street centerline. See figure 16.16.220.01, “Linear Street - No Interruptions or Truncations”, of this section.
FIGURE 16.16.220.01. LINEAR STREET - NO INTERRUPTIONS OR TRUNCATIONS  |
b.
If the streetscape is truncated by an intersecting block or a visual intrusion (such as a curve or turn in the streetscape) before the six hundred feet (600') is measured, the streetscape shall include all buildings, yard walls, or fences up to and including those which front the intersection or intrusion. See figure 16.16.220.02, “Truncation by an Intersecting Block or Visual Intrusion”, of this section.
FIGURE 16.16.220.02. TRUNCATION BY AN INTERSECTING BLOCK OR VISUAL INTRUSION  |
c.
If the proposed new construction fronts more than one street, the streetscape on each street frontage as determined in subsection B.1.a of this section shall be considered. See figure 16.16.220.03, “Frontage on More Than One Street”, of this section.
FIGURE 16.16.220.03. FRONTAGE ON MORE THAN ONE STREET  |
d.
When the proposed new construction is located on a lot with no frontage on rights-of-way, the streetscape is defined by measuring a distance of three hundred feet (300') in all directions beginning from the midpoint of the facade which contains the principal entrance of the building. The height of a proposed yard wall or fence shall not exceed six feet (6'). See figure 16.16.220.04, “Interior Lot With No Street Frontage”, of this section.
FIGURE 16.16.220.04. INTERIOR LOT WITH NO STREET FRONTAGE  |
e.
When the proposed new construction faces a T- or a Y-intersection, the streetscape shall include buildings, yard walls, and fences as defined in subsection B.1.a of this section and buildings, yard walls, and fences on both sides of the street creating the leg of the “T” or the arm of the “Y” for a distance of three hundred feet (300') parallel to the street centerline. See figures 16.16.220.05, “Location at a Y-Intersection”, and 16.16.220.06, “Location at a T-Intersection”, of this section;
FIGURE 16.16.220.05. LOCATION AT A Y-INTERSECTION  |
FIGURE 16.16.220.06. LOCATION AT A T-INTERSECTION  |
2.
Streetscape standards.
a.
Streetscape borders shall not extend beyond the outer boundaries of the historic overlay zone.
b.
When determining an applicable streetscape, vacant lots or parcels shall not be included.
c.
If a portion of a structure or lot falls within an applicable streetscape, such structure or lot shall be considered as part of the applicable streetscape.
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3.
Streets.
The streets (public rights-of-way) shall be defined by a combined effect of the following: zero setback building facades, portales, stuccoed walls, or landscaping.
4.
Commercial buildings.
Commercial buildings shall line the sidewalk and have a portal over the sidewalk whenever possible.
5.
Off-street parking.
When off-street parking fronts on the street, definition and screening shall be provided by stuccoed walls or fences and landscaping.
6.
Preserving traffic visibility.
Stuccoed walls, latilla fences, and landscaping shall provide the necessary definition of the street, while preserving traffic visibility.
7.
Rehabilitation proposals.
Rehabilitation proposals shall maintain existing zero setback facades, walls, and landscaping. When no such definition is present, plans shall include appropriate walls and/or landscaping.
8.
Views of structure provided.
In all cases, walls and landscaping shall provide views of the structure, particularly if it is a contributing property.
9.
Parking areas.
Parking areas shall be placed to the rear or sides of buildings whenever possible.
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C.
The environment.
1.
The environment includes features which are important to the historic character of Taos. Features such as large trees, the buildings, the mountain vistas, and the town’s historical, cultural, and archaeological sites and resources shall be protected. All applications for a certificate of appropriateness must demonstrate that the proposed new construction does not deteriorate the existing mountain vistas from within the streetscape. See streetscape definition in this section;
2.
Historic, cultural, and archaeological sites and resources shall be protected and preserved in place per state law HB 360 3.22.201.6 as amended from time to time;
3.
Existing trees and mountain vistas shall be preserved. In the course of new construction and rehabilitation projects, existing healthy trees shall be preserved and incorporated into the landscaping plan, as much as is practical. If trees must be removed, they shall be replaced by trees of an appropriate species of a comparable size and must comply with all provisions of the town landscape ordinance, Ordinance 06-05 [07-08].
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(Ordinance 99-05 adopted 1999; Ordinance 11-04 adopted 2011)