Los Alamos County launches year‑long comprehensive plan update, targets December adoption

Los Alamos County on Feb. 3 heard a presentation on a year‑long update of its comprehensive plan, a document staff and consultants say will guide land‑use priorities, budgeting and future changes to the county’s development code.

Pete Lombardi of CZB, the county’s consultant, told the council the update began in January and will proceed in three phases: data and issue identification, scenario and vision development, and drafting and adoption. “The comprehensive plan itself doesn't grant land‑use entitlements, but it is the foundation for zoning and development regulations,” Lombardi said, describing public workshops and a community survey scheduled for March and a goal of presenting a final plan for adoption by December 2026.

The presentation outlined the project schedule and topics that will inform the code updates, including accessory dwelling units, parking standards, open‑space designations and development standards. Lombardi said phase 1 includes a review of prior plans and demographic, housing and economic analysis; phase 2 will present scenarios and trade‑offs for community feedback; phase 3 will refine drafts and support adoption.

Councilors pressed staff and the consultants about sequencing and specific issues. Staff and consultants said Articles 2 and 4 of Chapter 16 of the county development code — which address zoning and development standards — are interdependent with the comp plan and likely will be taken up after the plan is clearer; Articles 1 and 5 (governing provisions and administration) are near completion. Staff noted legal issues discovered in temporary sign code work that require coordination with the county attorney and may delay that particular amendment.

Councilor questions focused on open‑space parcels that residents identified as mis‑designated in past transitions, and whether the comp‑plan process will preserve those areas. Staff responded the future land‑use map developed by the comprehensive plan will be used to align zoning and that lot splits or rezoning may be necessary in some cases to preserve open space. Staff said there are no pending development projects tied to the parcels discussed and that any rezoning would follow public notice and standard procedures.

CZB and county staff described an outreach plan that includes steering and technical advisory committees, targeted stakeholder interviews, an online project website to be launched in late February, and three rounds of public workshops. Lombardi said the consultants aim to keep the process focused and implementable: “One thing you can expect the updated plan to address is where Los Alamos might grow into the future, how it might grow,” he said.

The presentation drew no formal council action; staff said details and draft materials will be returned to the council and Planning & Zoning Commission as the process proceeds.