On February 27, 2007, the County Council approved a text amendment to the County's Development Code, Ordinance No. 02-083, creating architectural standards for new buildings and additions in the downtown.  Existing buildings will not be affected.

Copies of Ordinance No. 02-083 may be obtained at the County's Community Development, the County's Kan Du Center, Mesa Public Library, and the link provided below. 

The goal of the text amendment is to create an inviting atmosphere with attractive building improvements that convey a unique, positive, visual message about the community and what it has to offer.  As an important component of the County's downtown revitalization strategy, the architectural standards should encourage downtown investment, new businesses, and vitality.  The ordinance should not increase the cost of building nor increase the amount of time required for project approval.  It should protect downtown investment by ensuring that all future downtown development will be held to the same high quality standard.

Most of our "key" downtown buildings, some old and some new, that residents claim to like and identify Los Alamos include stucco and native stone.  The use of these materials with colors drawn from our natural environment have been incorporated into the ordinance.  Modern advances in building technology have made the use of these materials and colors practical and affordable.  The text amendment includes the extensive use of photographs to clarify and illustrate the requirements of the text. 

The ordinance originated from a September 2005 Council work session.  Council members discussed architectural standards for downtown and how to deal with the possible subjectivity of aesthetics and standards as a burden for developers.  Staff suggested rather than mandate a specific aesthetic or style, that the ordinance cover major architectural elements such as colors and materials.  Architectural standards have become commonplace in many communities as a means to ensure a minimum level of design, compatibility, and economic investment in downtowns.

 Los Alamos Downtown Design Standards - Ordinance No. 02-083