Commission allows steel pergola in Unitarian Church front yard, citing site constraints and public access

The Los Alamos County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance allowing the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos to install a steel pergola in a memorial garden at 1738 North Sage, placing the structure inside the front yard where accessory structures are generally prohibited.

Joyce Nichols, representing the Unitarian Church, said the church does not have a usable backyard; the building sits at the back of the lot and the property slopes toward Canyon Road. Nichols said the front garden lacks shade and the pergola—designed to support wisteria vines—would create a shaded, publicly accessible outdoor area adjacent to the church entrance and parking.

County staff told the commission the building safety division had denied the initial permit application for detailed code and occupancy clarifications, and planning staff had previously denied the design because accessory structures are not allowed in the front yard except for garages and carports. Staff and the applicants subsequently explored alternatives (including designs that would not meet the definition of an accessory structure) and the applicants chose to pursue a formal variance. The staff report described the lot as approximately 1.21 acres and noted the pergola would be about 23 feet 8 inches from the front property line and 38 feet 5 inches from the main building; staff recommended approval after reviewing decision criteria.

During the hearing, the project designer from Los Alamos Landscaping explained the pergola layout and that benches would sit beneath the structure. Commissioners asked whether the orientation could be changed to avoid the front yard; the applicant said the chosen orientation preserves sightlines to the mountains and is intended to keep views between neighboring churches. The applicant confirmed the pergola will be built with code‑compliant materials and that building permit issues raised earlier would be resolved at the permit stage.

The commission moved to approve the variance and authorized the chair to sign a final order prepared by staff. The decision passed with all commissioners voting in favor. The approval is subject to the usual appeal period under the development code and to building permit review for structure, occupancy and safety requirements.