Planning and Zoning Commission approves variance to allow 720‑sq‑ft accessory building at White Rock property

The Los Alamos County Planning and Zoning Commission on June 11 approved a variance allowing Jacob and Lena Zeely to place a 720‑square‑foot metal accessory building closer to the front property line than the main house at 3 Grama (Acomaline) Lane in White Rock.

Staff presented the case as a quasi‑judicial public hearing and recommended approval. Desiree Luhan, senior planner with the Community Development Department, told commissioners the subject parcel is triangular, about 4.24 acres in Pottery Acres 1 and zoned Residential Agriculture (RA). She said the primary dwellings sit well back on the lot because of steep topography and a roughly 40‑foot drop toward the southeast; the accessory structure is proposed at 150 feet from the front property line and would be used to house small livestock. Luhan said the proposed 720‑square‑foot metal building meets all accessory‑structure standards except the front‑setback provision in Section 16‑18B‑4 of the Los Alamos development code and that DPU and engineering confirmed the variance would not affect utilities or easements.

Applicant Jacob Zeely said the structure is intended to protect animals his children show from predators and winter weather. "We're building this barn for my children. They show livestock nationally, and we raise them here in White Rock," he said, adding the lot's configuration and topography constrain placement. Luhan told commissioners the building permit application submitted April 18 had been denied because it failed to meet section 16‑18B‑4 and that the Zeelys chose the variance route after a meeting with staff.

Commissioners discussed visibility, drainage review through the building‑permit process and the structure's height, which staff said is proposed at about 12 feet. After closing the hearing and deliberating against the development‑code criteria cited in staff materials, a commissioner moved to approve the variance. The motion was adopted in a roll call vote with all commissioners present voting yes. The commission authorized the chair to sign a final order and the findings of fact and conclusions of law prepared by county staff.

The commission noted that appeals of the final written decision are available under section 16‑72G‑5 of the development code and must be filed within 15 calendar days of the final written decision.

The variance permits a specific placement of the accessory building only; any building permit remains subject to standard building‑permit reviews, including roof drainage and public works engineering requirements that staff said must be satisfied before a permit would be issued.