Aerial Applicant Rendering — Proposed Mobile Food Vending Court. Courtesy LAC
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
The Los Alamos County Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday evening is set to review a site plan for the vacant parcels at 1377 and 1399 Diamond Drive, across from Los Alamos High School.
Property owner Russell Ross of Russ NM, LLC, represented by McCloy Land Surveying, is proposing to continue using 1399 Diamond as paved parking for LAHS. The proposed use of the southern parcel at 1377 Diamond Drive) is a mobile food vending court with nine designated food-truck spaces, an open-air fabric shade structure with communal picnic seating, and associated patron parking.
According to P&Z Commission agenda documents for Wednesday’s meeting, proposed site improvements include a new parking layout, traffic-flow striping, and utility connections for the vending court served from an existing water stub-out, including a proposed 1-inch PEX water line, a proposed water meter and hydrant, a proposed 100-amp electric meter, and eight 50-amp electric outlets for vendor connections. No site lighting is proposed. Access to the southern parcel is provided via a recorded 24-foot mutual access easement along the eastern boundary.
The agenda packet notes that a pre-application meeting was held on February 11, 2026, during which staff determined that the proposal requires a change of use and the approval of a Site Plan Adoption (Major). Site Plan Adoption applications are reviewed pursuant to Section 16-74(i) of the Los Alamos County Development Code. Staff’s review evaluates whether the proposed development complies with applicable zoning and development standards, whether existing public infrastructure has adequate capacity, whether potential impacts to surrounding properties are mitigated, and whether the proposal is consistent with adopted County plans and policies.
“The County’s Interdepartmental Review Committee (IDRC) review was conducted from June 18 through June 25, 2026, with the formal IDRC meeting held on June 25, 2026. Participating departments included Public Works/Engineering, Environmental Services, the Department of Public Utilities, the Fire Marshal’s Office, the Building Division, and the Planning Division. IDRC recommended that the application proceed to the Planning and Zoning Commission, subject to applicable departmental conditions.
“Public Works requires permanent closure of the northern driveway access along Diamond Drive serving 1399 Diamond Drive. High-school overflow parking access shall instead be provided through the Sandia Drive entrance. The southern driveway along Diamond Drive, adjacent to the pedestrian bridge, may continue to serve the mobile food vending court. Environmental Services requires coordination regarding solid-waste container placement and collection-truck access. Final utility design shall be coordinated with the Department of Public Utilities, including use of the existing capped water line where feasible and review of future gas and sewer stub-outs if Diamond Drive is disturbed.
“The Fire Marshal’s Office requires a minimum separation of 10 feet between food trucks, vehicles, and structures, as applicable, and a minimum 15-foot clear area around fire hydrants. The Building Division will review the proposed shade structure to determine applicable building-permit and accessibility requirements. Planning staff also requested that the applicant provide proposed hours of operation for the mobile food vending court.
Applicant comments in the agenda packet include that, “The proposed development of parking for the high school and mobile food vending in an area without any nearby dining options meets a community need. This is part of the redevelopment of a former vacant, blighted, and underutilized property”.
County staff notes that the proposal “places two commercial uses on a long-vacant, underutilized commercial parcel along an established arterial within the Townsite, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s support for infill and the productive reuse of existing commercial land where infrastructure is already available. The high-school parking use addresses a documented parking demand adjacent to the site, and the mobile food vending court adds a small-scale commercial amenity in an area with limited dining options.”
To see the full set of documentation for the two parcels go to:
https://losalamos.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1415701&GUID=16EF9D42-479B-4860-90D1-37CAA83798EA,
P&Z Commission members are Karen Easton, Chair; David Hampton, Vice; Jennifer Best; Robert Chrien; Marlon Brown; Katherine Bruell; Rachel Grimm; Ronald Nelson; Rebecca White; and Jennifer Best, Commissioners
The in-person meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building.