Planning commissioners approve site plan for replacement Fire Station No. 4 at 4401 Diamond Drive

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — The Los Alamos County Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 13 approved a major site plan amendment to replace Fire Station No. 4 at 4401 Diamond Drive, after staff recommended approval and the applicant presented architectural plans and operational upgrades.

Danielle Valdez, planning manager for the Community Development Department, told the commission that the application (case SIT20250073) is for a 2.24-acre institutional-zoned site in the North Community No. 2 subdivision and that staff "recommends approval of case number SIT20250073 based on the findings of fact established on record and the determination that the application meets the decision criteria." Valdez summarized the entitlement steps completed to date, including a comprehensive plan amendment adopted June 24, 2025, and a required pre-application meeting on July 10, 2025.

The applicant, David Grooms of Vega Architecture, said the new station will be sited northwest of the existing facility so the current station can remain operational during construction. Grooms described site features including a proposed 32 parking spaces (five EV stalls), preservation of the adjacent open-space trail with a new connector, relocation of utilities into a common trench, and a target of LEED Silver certification. "This design...pays some homage to the history of Los Alamos Laboratory," he said.

Grooms detailed interior and operational upgrades intended to improve firefighter health and safety: the new design replaces single-depth apparatus bays with double-depth bays (doubling apparatus capacity in those bays), expands living and storage areas, and replaces shared bunk rooms with individual bunk rooms. He described mechanical and circulation systems to separate contaminated apparatus areas from residential quarters, saying, "we're really providing them a pathway to...get their gear off, get clean before they enter the residential area." The station's living spaces are designed to accommodate a crew of up to 10; current staffing was reported as about seven to eight.

After the public hearing was closed with no outside parties presenting evidence, a commissioner moved to approve the major site plan amendment and to authorize the chair to sign findings of fact and conclusions of law; the chair seconded. County staff conducted a roll-call vote: Commissioner Hill — yes; Commissioner Nelson — yes; Commissioner Easton — yes; Commissioner Brown — yes; Commissioner Adler — yes; Commissioner Nockley — yes. The motion passed.

The chair noted appeal rights under the county development code and a 15-calendar-day appeal period for affected persons. Staff will prepare the written findings and conclusions reflecting the commission's decision.

The commission then continued with routine department and council reports, including a council update on a market-rate housing project on 20th Street and an upcoming discussion of a wildlife feeding ordinance.