Taos City Zoning Code
§ 16.16.230.3
Planning and development process.
A.
Traditional neighborhood plan approval.
As hereinafter more specifically provided, such plans shall meet the following criteria:
1.
A traditional neighborhood plan should be assigned to neighborhood areas that are predominantly residential with one or more mixed use corridors or centers.
2.
A traditional neighborhood plan shall encompass one or more standard, linear, or network pedestrian sheds. Each pedestrian shed shall be no fewer than forty (40) acres and no more than one hundred sixty (160) acres. A network pedestrian shed may be oriented around one or more existing or planned common destinations.
3.
A traditional neighborhood plan shall include one or more maps showing the following, in compliance with the standards provided by this section 16.16.230:
a.
Borders.
The border(s) of the pedestrian shed(s).
b.
Proposed transect zones.
Proposed transect zones within each pedestrian shed, planned according to an analysis of existing conditions and future needs. The proposed transect zones at the edges of a traditional neighborhood plan should blend into adjacent neighborhoods and/or a downtown without buffers. Transects shall be allocated according to the parameters specified in section 16.16.230.11, table 12, item A of this chapter. The allocation of transect zones within the pedestrian shed does not include land designated for thoroughfares or civic zones.
c.
Proposed civic zones.
Civic zones shall contain civic spaces and/or civic buildings (see subsection 16.16.230.9.B of this chapter). The total of all civic zones should be at least five percent (5%) of the pedestrian shed but not more than twenty percent (20%). Any parcel or contiguous parcels identified as a civic zone should not occupy more than twenty percent (20%) of the gross area of a pedestrian shed, otherwise the parcel or parcels are subject to the creation of a special district. Each pedestrian shed should include at least one main civic space as identified by section 16.16.230.11, table 11, item C, “Parque Comunal”, or table 11, item D, “Plaza”, of this chapter. The main civic space should be located within eight hundred feet (800') of the geographic center of the pedestrian shed, unless topographic conditions, preexisting thoroughfare alignments or other circumstances prevent such location. One civic building lot should be identified for future development of a childcare center. At least one civic space designed and equipped as a playground should be identified within at least one thousand feet (1,000') of every proposed lot within the T-3, T-4, and T-5 transect zones. Civic buildings should be located within or adjacent to a civic space, or at the axial termination of a significant thoroughfare.
d.
Thoroughfare network.
A thoroughfare network, existing or planned (section 16.16.230.11, tables 2A, 2B, and 2C of this chapter). A bicycle network consisting of bicycle trails, routes, and bicycle lanes should be provided throughout the pedestrian shed. The proposed thoroughfare and bicycle networks should connect to the existing or proposed regional network wherever possible.
e.
Map.
A map identifying the field verification of existing infrastructure and utilities.
f.
Water, sewer improvements.
Proposed domestic water, sanitary sewer, and storm drainage facility improvements.
g.
Special districts.
Special districts, if any (subsection 16.16.230.9.C of this chapter).
h.
Record of warrants and variances.
A record of warrants and variances, if applicable.
i.
Record of existing nonconforming conditions.
A record of existing conditions within the plan area that are nonconforming and may prohibit compliance with the TND district requirements.
B.
Rezoning.
1.
Traditional neighborhood plan required.
Parcels of land may only be eligible for rezoning to the transect zones of the TND district following the adoption of a traditional neighborhood plan by resolution of the town council. Any updates to an adopted traditional neighborhood plan shall be approved by town council resolution. Any rezoning of land to the transect zones of the TND district shall be by ordinance. The rezoning ordinance shall include a regulating map or maps, which shall designate transect zones applicable to individual parcels within the rezoned area. The regulating map or maps should conform to the proposed transect zones of the traditional neighborhood plan.
2.
Site plan requirements exempt.
The initial rezoning of lands within the traditional neighborhood plan shall be exempt from site plan requirements of this code.
3.
Traffic study.
Prior to the rezoning to the transect zones of the TND district, a traffic impact report of the regulating map or maps shall be prepared only for existing and planned intersections located at the borders of the pedestrian shed(s).
4.
Town review.
Prior to rezoning to the transect zones of the TND district, the applicable departments of the town shall furnish to the planning and zoning commission and the town council written comments regarding the proposed domestic water, sanitary sewer, and storm drainage facility improvements identified in the traditional neighborhood plan.
5.
Relevant standards.
Upon rezoning to the TND district, the use, improvement and design of individual parcels shall be in accordance with the applicable transect zone or zones delineated by the regulating map or maps.
Upon rezoning to the TND district, a property owner may process subdivision or platting in accordance with this code, however, design and development standards of the TND district and applicable regulating map or maps will control the design and improvement of the subdivision or plat. |
C.
Special area plan.
The owner or owners of ten (10) contiguous acres or more within a TND district regulating map may prepare a special area plan as defined herein. In consultation with the code administrator, a special area plan may propose the assignment of new transect zones, civic zones, thoroughfares, and special districts (if any), with appropriate transitions to abutting transects or parcels. A special area plan shall include the same requirements as a traditional neighborhood plan, wherever applicable, and any rezoning of land within the special area plan shall be approved by the same process as a traditional neighborhood plan.
D.
Rezoning of transect zones in the TND district.
Following the rezoning of lands to the transect zones of the TND district, an applicant may apply to the code administrator for a zone change to another transect zone. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed zone change complies with all the requirements of the TND district and applicable transect zone. The applicant shall submit all requirements of subsection 16.16.230.10.A.2 of this chapter.
An applicant may only apply for a zone change to another transect zone provided that the proposed transect zone does not exceed the minimum or maximum requirements for the allocation of each transect zone as identified in section 16.16.230.11, table 12, item A of this chapter. The application will be heard as outlined in this code.
E.
Building scale and site plan approval.
After rezoning to the TND district, applicants may apply for building scale and site plan approval (see section 16.16.230.10 of this chapter).
Building scale and site plans should be consistent with the thoroughfare configurations, block sizes, and the types and locations of civic zones illustrated in the traditional neighborhood plan. If the code administrator determines that the building scale and site plans meet the requirements of the applicable transects zones and the applicable regulating map or maps, then the application shall be administratively approved. Following this approval, the applicant is then eligible to apply for building permits.
F.
Variance.
In the event that the code administrator determines an application is out of compliance with the provisions of the TND district or the regulating map or maps, then the applicant shall either revise the application or seek variance approval in accordance with the provisions of this code.
G.
Zoning compliance and certificate of occupancy.
After completion of construction of approved development, but before issuance of a certificate of occupancy, applicant shall demonstrate to the code administrator that the project, as built, complies with this TND district and applicable regulating map or maps, approved subdivision map or plat, and with applicable parking, parking location, landscape, signage, density, architectural, and lighting standards as provided hereof.
(Ordinance 09-01 adopted 2009)