An overview of the proposed development of 44 four-story residential units on Arkansas Street. Courtesy image

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Council will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting Tuesday, April 2 on an application for rezoning of two lots on Arkansas Street to allow for a proposed development of 44 four-story residential units.

The area in question is currently zoned as “light commercial and professional business” and the developer, Chris Taylor of T2 Development, LLC is asking that the zoning be designated as “mixed use”. The application is accompanied by a site plan and a request for a height waiver of 15 feet. The lots in question total 4.5 acres and are the site of the Black Hole and the Omega Peace Church and are currently owned by the Grothus Living Trust. The Black Hole was closed in 2012 and the church was demolished in 2018.

The proposed rezoning was approved Feb. 27 by a 6-1 vote of the County Planning and Zoning Commission which also supported the site plan and the height waiver contingent on the Council’s approval of the rezoning request.

The proposed 44 3,000 square-foot townhouses would be in 23 buildings at a density of 9.75 dwelling units per acre. Each will have a side and rear yard and a two-car garage designed to face an internal network of streets. The development will be governed by a homeowners association.

County staff is recommending that Council adopt the code ordinance required to rezone the property.