Taos City Zoning Code
§ 16.16.180.2
Subareas within the RHL overlay zone.
A.
All the land within the RHL overlay zone is separated into the following areas:
1.
Buildable area.
The buildable area is a consolidated and contiguous land area that may be used for buildings and associated development purposes. The purpose of the buildable area is to provide housing and accessory structures associated with agricultural uses such as parking, greenhouse, garage for farm equipment, corral, barn or other similar uses and structures on a portion of irrigated agricultural land lots.
2.
Conservation area.
The conservation area is a consolidated and contiguous land area set aside as permanent open space or agricultural land. The purpose of the conservation area is to retain land in productive agricultural uses, encourage locally grown produce and livestock, protect the historic culture of the community, and provide economic stability for future generations.
B.
The maximum size of the buildable area for lots existing as of the effective date of this section is set forth in the following table:
Size of Lot | Percentage of Lot Defined as Buildable Area |
|---|---|
Less than 1.0 acre | Not applicable |
1.0 to 5.99 acres | 30 |
More than 6.0 acres | 25 |
C.
The size of the conservation area is determined by subtracting the size of the buildable area from the size of the total land lot.
D.
Only one buildable area is allowed on a lot or parcel.
E.
The buildable area shall be defined and mapped based on a balancing of the following criteria:
1.
The area has already been disturbed:
2.
The area is nonirrigated or the driest portion of the lot or parcel;
3.
The area does not contain the primary historical resources on the lot or parcel; and
4.
The area has good access to a public road and to existing utilities systems in order to minimize disturbance of the land and reduce development costs.
F.
The conservation area shall be defined and mapped based on maximizing and balancing the protection of the following features:
1.
Historic agricultural structures, such as barns and corrals;
2.
Cultural features and archaeological sites;
3.
Acequias;
4.
Arroyos;
5.
Agricultural lands;
6.
Wetlands;
7.
Floodplains;
8.
Creeks and rivers;
9.
Riparian buffers;
10.
Well protection areas (public wells);
11.
Habitats and habitat corridors; and
12.
Natural drainage areas.
G.
The conservation area shall be defined and mapped based on the following principles:
1.
The conservation area should maximize common boundaries with other conservation or open space areas;
2.
The conservation area should maximize trail connections;
3.
No single area of a conservation area shall be less than one hundred feet (100') in its smallest dimension;
4.
The boundaries of the conservation area should be marked by natural features wherever possible; and
5.
If marking boundaries of the conservation area by natural features is not possible, landscaping or fences should be used to distinguish the conservation area from other uses.
H.
This section 16.16.180 shall be made initially applicable to a lot or parcel only with the concurrence of the landowner. Upon a rezoning to the RHL overlay zone, no development is allowed until the lot or parcel is divided into a building area and a conservation area, and the map of such division is approved by the commission.
I.
This section 16.16.180 shall be made initially applicable to a lot or parcel only with the concurrence of the landowner. Upon a rezoning to the RHL overlay zone, no subdivision or other division of land is allowed until the lot or parcel is divided into a building area and a conservation area, and the map of such division is approved by the commission.
(Ordinance 09-27 adopted 2009)
