These procedures shall be known as the town addressing and road
naming [ordinance] and shall replace and supersede town Ordinance
633, adopted on January 8, 1975.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The purpose of these procedures are:
A.
To
provide a uniform building/property address system for the town and
the extraterritorial zone along both private and public streets and
roadways in order to facilitate provision of adequate public safety
and emergency response services and to minimize difficulty in locating
properties and buildings for public service agencies and the general
public.
B.
To
eliminate the duplication of existing road names and addresses, correct
erroneous or unapproved road names and addresses, and create policies
and procedures for properly obtaining road names and addresses through
the town planning and zoning department.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
These procedures are adopted under the authority of the town
council, effective February 21, 2006.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The town planning and zoning department shall be responsible
for assigning uniform and proper street names in all the incorporated
municipal jurisdictions within the county. These standards are adopted
to maintain efficient emergency response service by the Town of Taos
and Taos County Emergency Communications/9-1-1 Center. Numbering systems
and standards for the municipal jurisdictions of the town and the
extraterritorial zone, as indicated on the official street map, will
be established and maintained by the town.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
All land subdivisions that create a new road or road section
within jurisdiction of this chapter must submit preliminary and final
plats, prior to recordation, to the town planning and zoning department
for road name approval. All multi-unit and multi-structure developments
must submit the final site plan, for unit numbering, to the town planning
and zoning department prior to occupancy.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A means of ingress and egress from a building site or parcel
of land.
A wall between anchor tenants. These walls are generally
fire regulated. Four (4) hour walls are considered independent buildings
and should have an individual street address.
Structure containing two (2) or more dwelling units, including
units which do not have a separate entrance leading directly to the
outdoors at ground level.
A road that runs generally east to west, allowed only in
municipal (city) jurisdictions.
An unusually wide street typically in residential developments,
allowed only in municipal jurisdictions, often with a central dividing
median.
A structure or parts of a structure anchored to the ground
by a permanent foundation, and covered and connected by a permanent
roof and used for shelter, housing, or enclosure of people, animals
or property of any kind.
An area of land or property where development is undertaken.
A short road that returns to itself.
The legal arrangement of ownership of a dwelling unit as
provided in the New Mexico Building Unit Ownership Act or the New
Mexico Condominium Act, as may be amended, from time to time.
An enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying
all or part of a floor in a building or one or more floors or stories
regardless of whether it is designed for residence, office, the operation
of any industry or business, or any other type of independent use
and shall include such accessory spaces and areas as may be described
in the declaration, such as garage space, storage space, balcony,
terrace or patio.
A software based application that contains street information,
previous names, and alias street data that can be used to feed GIS
applications and other systems.
A dead end right-of-way often ending as a cul-de-sac.
As pertaining to north, south, east, and west, and will precede
street name. The planning staff will control the use of compass directions.
A curving secondary road.
Two (2) units, including modular homes, placed one on top
of another or attached side by side and sharing one or more common
walls.
A designated state or federal roadway.
A federal thoroughfare system designed for national defense
and population evacuation (I-#).
The portion of a roadway for the movement of a single line
of vehicles, not including the gutter or the shoulder of the roadway.
A short road that starts and returns to the same road.
A parcel of land or any combination of several parcels of
land occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal use or structure,
together with any accessory structures or uses and such accessways,
parking areas, yards, and open space required in these regulations.
Used by the U.S. Postal Service for the purpose of delivery
of the U.S. mail. Mailing address may or may not be identical to a
site specific address.
Movable or portable housing structure larger than forty feet
(40') in body length, eight feet (8') in width or eleven feet (11')
in overall height, designed for and occupied by no more than one family
for living and sleeping purposes. Mobile homes do not include structures
built to the standards of any municipal building code and other technical
codes.
A facility designed and used for single-family residential
occupancy exclusively in mobile homes with pads or sites that are
rented or leased for periods of thirty (30) days or more, and/or which
are sold, exclusively for mobile home placement and occupancy.
Street name approved and recognized by the Town of Taos and
Taos County Emergency Communications/9-1-1 Center.
Typically a four (4) lane or more roadway; allowed in municipal
jurisdictions only.
A road name suffix, allowed in residential subdivisions only.
The Town of Taos planning and zoning commissioners.
Any road that is not maintained by a governmental entity
or agency through the use of public funds.
A roadway located on a public right-of-way and which meets
the total improvement requirements for a public street as set by the
NMDOT, and is maintained through the use of public funds.
Includes any radio communications, transmissions, dispatching
or future enhanced 9-1-1 communications that may involve police, emergency,
fire, or rescue operations, but not limited to these aforesaid operations.
A suitable name suffix indicating a well-traveled secondary
roadway often connecting with a U.S. or NM primary highway.
A suitable suffix indicating a well-traveled roadway, allowed
only in municipal jurisdictions.
A unique identifier for each addressable structure within
the town and the extraterritorial zone. The minimum adequate address
consists of a numeric indicator and approved street name and suffix.
Anything constructed, erected or placed which requires location
on, in, or under the ground or water or is attached to something having
a location on, in, or under the ground or water, for use, occupancy,
or ornamentation, including, but not limited to: buildings, manufactured
buildings, mobile homes, gazebos, bridges, culverts, catch basins,
drop inlets, walls, sewers, fences, tennis courts, and swimming pools.
The numerical portion of the street address, as assigned
by the ordinance administrator or his designee, in accordance with
the official consolidated road data file of the town planning and
zoning department.
A general all-inclusive term for: roads, public or private;
street, drive, cartway, easement, right-of-way, or any other word
or words that mean a way of access.
An acceptable suffix for roadway names in the town and the
extraterritorial zone, allowed in residential subdivisions.
An acceptable suffix for roadway names in the town and the
extraterritorial zone, allowed only in residential subdivisions.
The portion of the street address used to distinguish individual
units within the same structure.
Any thoroughfare name that contains the whole name or that
designates a specific person.
Parcels of land that are accessible by waterborne law enforcement.
An acceptable suffix for roadway names in residential subdivisions
only.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The town planning and zoning department shall maintain the official
road database, in digital format, served by ECOM/9-1-1 Center including
the unincorporated area and for any jurisdictions for which this service
is provided under letters of agreement or arrangement.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A.
All
land subdivisions that create a new road or road section in any jurisdiction
within the town and the extraterritorial zone must submit preliminary
and final plats, prior to recordation, to the town planning and zoning
department for road name approval.
B.
All
roads, both public and private, shall be named, numbered, and have
road name signs installed if three (3) or more addressable structures
are located on and accessed by them.
C.
No
two (2) roads shall be given the same or similar sounding names.
D.
Each
road shall have the same name throughout its entire length.
E.
Road
names shall be pleasant sounding, appropriate, easy to read, and not
be more than fifteen (15) characters long.
F.
Road
names should be kept within the predominant languages of Northern
New Mexico (English, Spanish, and Tewa/Towa/Tiwa). Other languages
may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
G.
The
town planning and zoning department mapping department shall be responsible
for inserting new road names on the main GIS computer system.
H.
The
town planning and zoning department is hereby given the authority
to refuse or accept any road name.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A.
Permitted prefixes and suffixes.
1.
Road names that are pleasant sounding, appropriate, easy to read,
and relate to local history shall be promoted. The town planning and
zoning department is authorized to add compass point directional names
to a road name, for example: East Davie Ave. Compass points may only
be included in the body of a road name by writing as one word, e.g.:
Northpoint Boulevard.
B.
Public roads.
1.
All U.S. and state trunk highways shall be designated by their U.S.
and state highway numbers and they shall be U.S. Hwy “#”,
and St Hwy “#” respectively.
2.
All forest roads and forest highways which are presently designated
by number by the U.S. Forest Service shall retain such designation.
Forest road and forest highway signs shall be U.S. FR “#”
and U.S. FH “#” respectively. In addition, forest roads
may have a “common name” adopted by the town that will
be posted at all intersections as appropriate. This common name will
be used for assigning addresses.
C.
Abbreviations.
The following list is the approved suffixes
and acceptable abbreviations. No approved suffix shall be allowed
in the street name.
|
Name
|
2 Letter Abbreviation
|
3/4 Letter Abbreviation
|
|---|---|---|
|
Avenue
|
AV (municipal use only)
|
AVE
|
|
Boulevard
|
BL (municipal use only)
|
BLVD
|
|
Circle
|
CR
|
CIR
|
|
Court
|
CT (10 or greater houses or 500 feet)
|
|
|
Drive
|
DR
|
|
|
Highway
|
HW
|
HWY
|
|
Lane
|
LN
|
|
|
Loop
|
LP
|
|
|
Parkway
|
PK (municipal use only)
|
PKY
|
|
Place
|
PL (subdivision use only)
|
|
|
Road
|
RD
|
|
|
Street
|
ST (municipal use only)
|
|
|
Trace
|
TC (subdivision use only)
|
|
|
Trail
|
TR
|
|
|
Way
|
WY (subdivision use only)
|
|
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
If a property owners’ neighborhood desires to name a new
road or change an existing road name, they must submit a petition
with one hundred percent (100%) of the property owners accessible
from said road signing in favor of the name to the town planning and
zoning department. The petition is available from the town planning
and zoning department. The petition for name change shall be presented
before the town council for final approval. Cost of new signs shall
be the responsibility of the petitioners.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
All roads that are officially designated on the town official
road database, whether public or private, shall be numbered uniformly
and consecutively along the roadway centerline. Numbers shall be assigned
along the entirety of all named thoroughfares if three (3) or more
addressable structures are located on and accessed from them.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A.
The
address numbering system shall consist of the assignment of all even
numbers assigned to one side of the road, and all odd numbers to the
other.
B.
The
actual address number shall be based on the distance from the beginning
of the road to the center of the driveway. The result will be a two
(2), three (3), four (4), or a five (5) digit number. This number
will tell the emergency responders how far down the road they will
go before reaching the driveway.
C.
Every
structure with more than one principal use or occupancy shall have
a separate number for each use or occupancy. For example, duplexes
will have two (2) separate numbers.
D.
Apartments
will have one property number followed by an apartment number, such
as 235 Cuchilla Road, Apt. 5.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A.
Special lot or street design.
1.
Corner lots.
Number assignment for corner lots will
be made according to its access. Structures located on corner lots
shall display official numbers on the structure facing the street
from which the official numbers were assigned. These numbers shall
be free from obstruction. Address assignment to corner lots prior
to adoption of these procedures may remain. The exception is multiple
structures accessed from a private alley (see subsection A.4 of this
section). Address assignments shall in no way interfere with zoning
requirements.
2.
Flagged lots.
Buildings obtaining access through a panhandle
to a public street will be addressed to the public street to which
they obtain access. If the lot contains two (2) or more principal
structures and share a common access, the access shall need to be
named as a street for addressing purposes. Private streets will not
be maintained by the state unless they meet state standards.
3.
Private driveways or unnamed/unplatted driveways.
Three (3) or more addressable structures obtaining access on an unnamed, unplatted, drive sharing a common access will require the naming of that drive before number assignment, regardless of the length of the driveway. The street sign shall be the responsibility of the structures served by the driveway and shall meet town sign standards and be erected by the town. The street name may be selected by the property owners of the addressable structures and must meet naming standards of section 15.36.040 of this chapter.
4.
Waterfront lots and special case lots.
Waterfront lots
will be numbered according to their access; some waterfront lots will
be addressed on a case-by-case basis because of access unavailability.
In addition to the standard requirements of displaying the address,
structures located on waterfront property shall display official numbers
on both the street and waterfront sides of the structure. Waterside
addresses must be placed within seventy-five feet (75') of seven hundred
sixty foot (760') contour line and display the street address number
and the street name so that they are clearly visible and legible from
the water. Numbers must be a minimum of six inches (6") in height.
Special case lots developed facing a named street with access provided
by a private alley, from a side street, shall be numbered to the facing
street. Individual buildings on lots created facing an unnamed driveway
shall be addressed off the public street from which it gains access.
If the structure is more than one hundred fifty feet (150') from the
named road or is not visible from the named road, the address number
shall be displayed on the structure and at the end of the driveway
or easement that provides access to the structures, and be visible
and legible from all directions of travel.
5.
Multi-unit structures and/or developments.
One copy
of preliminary and final site plan shall be submitted to the town
planning and zoning department for approval of street names and numbering
of units prior to receiving preliminary and final approval, and the
issuing of building permits. The town planning and zoning department
shall assign capital letters (A, B, C) for units of one-level buildings
and add a floor/level number (1, 2, 3) to the unit identifying letter
for multi-level buildings.
6.
Shopping centers.
Shopping centers shall be assigned
one number for each anchor separation. The individual shops shall
then be assigned a capital letter (alpha) suite identifier. When there
are more anchor separations than block numbers available, then one
number will be assigned to the structure. The code administer will
assign the interior units a unit or suite identifier.
7.
Mobile home parks.
Any site or parcel of land under
single ownership where land is rented and utilities are provided for
the installation or placement of mobile homes constitutes a mobile
home park. The owner of the mobile home park shall provide a detailed
site plan to the town planning director, or assigns, at the time of
submittal for a special use permit to the planning and zoning commission,
indicating requested road names and unit locations. Town planning
will assign unit numbers and approve final road names. It shall be
the responsibility of the mobile home park to display official numbers
on the mobile home units or an address post for each lot in accordance
with this chapter. Townhouse units must be addressed from named roads.
Developments which create internal access must be named and signed
according to this chapter prior to occupancy.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Within thirty (30) days after notification of the assignment
of or change of a structure number, the owner of said structure shall
post the assigned structure number in compliance with the requirements
herein.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
All structure numbers shall be constructed of a durable material.
Official numbers must be Arabic. The color shall contrast with the
color scheme of the structure, and if mounted on glass, shall contrast
with the background and be clearly visible. The minimum number size
for residential structures or units shall be three inches (3") in
height. The minimum size for all other structure numbers shall be
three inches (3") in height. In all cases, a number size larger than
the minimum size may be required in any instance where the minimum
size does not provide adequate identification.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
For residential structures, the structure number shall be posted
and in a location visible sixty inches (60") above grade and readable
from the road.
Where the residence or structure is within fifty feet (50')
of the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned number shall be
maintained within a three foot (3') perimeter of the front entrance
of the structure.
Where the residence or structure is over fifty feet (50') from
the edge of the road right-of-way, the assigned number shall be displayed
sixty inches (60") above grade on a post, fence, wall, or on some
structure at the property line adjacent to the walk or access drive
to the residence or structure. Posting on the mailbox itself will
not fulfill this requirement, however, structure numbers on the post
supporting the mailbox is acceptable. In all cases, the structure
number shall be clearly displayed in such a way that the structure
number can easily be identified from the street or road during both
day and night.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Following the posting of the assigned number as required herein, the owner shall maintain the structure number at all times in compliance with the requirement of this section 15.36.060. Structure numbers and unit designators, as viewed from the road, shall not be obstructed from view. Every person whose duty is to display the assigned number shall remove any different number, which might be mistaken for, or confused with, the number assigned in conformance with this chapter. All residents should post the assigned number and road name adjacent to their telephone for emergency reference.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The duly appointed town planning and zoning director, or assigns,
is hereby given authority to administer and assign addresses, and
to enforce the provisions of this chapter. The planning and zoning
director, or assigns, shall be responsible for interpretation of this
chapter, and shall interpret questions arising from the enforcement
of this chapter. The ordinance administrator shall report to the planning
and zoning commission at their scheduled meetings as needed to keep
the members of the commission informed of any pertinent addressing
related matters and to provide them with a summary of any such matters.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The road signs placed along the town and private property owners
shall comply as follows:
A.
Each
sign plate shall have a deep green background with white lettering/numbering
which shall be totally reflective utilizing either engineer grade
sheeting (or a combination of) silk screen/die cut letters and numerals.
B.
The
face of the sign plate shall have the name of the respective road
located in the center (top to bottom and length) in a minimum of four
inch (4") letters.
C.
Each
intersection sign unit consisting of two (2) or more road name sign
plates on a post shall be oriented in the same direction as the respective
road.
D.
Road
signposts shall be:
1.
A “U” channel with a minimum length of ten feet (10')
weighing two (2) pounds per linear foot and finished with a protective
coating of deep green enamel. For signposts larger than ten feet (10'),
the “U” channel shall weigh at least three (3) pounds
per linear foot.
2.
The signpost ground anchor section shall be placed in the ground
a minimum of 3.5 feet. The signpost shall be inserted into the ground
anchor section and bolted with a breakaway bracket.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Final approval for a certificate of occupancy for any structure
or building erected or repaired after the effective date hereof shall
be withheld until permanent and proper structure numbers have been
posted in accordance with the requirements herein.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The town council may, from time to time, on its own motion or on petition, after public notice and hearing as provided by New Mexico state statute, amend, supplement, change, modify, or repeal the addressing regulations and assignments. Any amendment to the official road map established by this chapter may be initiated by the town council or by any legal or equitable interest in property, or an agent authorized in writing to act on said owner’s behalf. All petitions shall be in writing and filed with the town planning director, or assigns, and shall be heard at the next town council meeting at least thirty (30) days after receipt of completed petition. A fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall accompany all petitions for a change in text of this chapter or map. All petitions for changes to the map shall include the names and addresses of the current property owners whose property address will change by the map change.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
No text or map amendment shall be amended, supplemented, changed,
modified, or repealed until after a public hearing is held and the
general public has had an opportunity to be heard. A notice of such
public hearing shall be given once a week for two (2) consecutive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Taos County. Said notice
shall be published the first time not less than ten (10) days prior
to the public hearing date.
In the cases of map change, adjoining property owners shall
be notified of the time and place of the public hearing by first class
mail. The petitioner shall send such written notice at least ten (10)
days before the hearing date to the adjoining property owner’s
most current address, available from the county assessor’s office.
In addition, written notice of the public hearing shall be sent by
first class mail to the supervisors of Taos County tax department,
mapping/GIS department, emergency communications department, and local
governments having jurisdiction over the road segment of the proposed
change.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Once the public hearing has been conducted and closed, the town
council shall render a decision on the amendment. If the town council
has denied an application for a map change or for a particular text
change to this chapter, an amendment for the same road segment or
text change shall not be made until twenty-four (24) months from the
date of the previous denial. This provision is waived when the town
planning and zoning commission, tax department, mapping/GIS, emergency
communication, or planning department files the petition.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The town council may authorize a variance from these regulations
when, in its opinion, undue hardship may result from strict compliance.
In granting any variance, the town council shall make the findings
required below. No variance shall be granted unless the town council
finds:
A.
That
there are special circumstances or conditions affecting said property
that the strict application of the provisions of this chapter would
deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of his land;
B.
That
the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a
substantial property right of the petitioner;
C.
That
the circumstances giving rise to the need for the variance are peculiar
to the parcel and are not generally characteristic of other parcels
in the jurisdiction of this chapter;
D.
That
the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public
health, safety, and welfare or injurious to other property in the
territory in which the property is located.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
It shall be unlawful for any person:
A.
To
display a different address or portion thereof except as provided
by this chapter or the town official road map;
B.
To
name or designate the name of any private road except as provided
by this chapter;
C.
To
establish or erect any road sign, which does not comply with the standards,
set forth in this chapter;
D.
To
intentionally destroy, mar, or deface any town street sign.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
When the planning director, or assigns, finds a violation of
this chapter, it shall be his duty to notify the owner or occupant
of the property of the violation in writing, in person or by first
class mail to the owner listed on the county tax records. The owner
or occupant shall immediately remedy the violation. Notification shall
indicate the parcel and structure, the nature of the violation, and
the measures necessary to remedy the violation.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Any owner or occupant who has received a notice of violation
may appeal in writing the decision of the planning director, or assigns,
within fifteen (15) days following the date of notification. The town
council shall hear an appeal within a reasonable time, and it may
affirm, modify, or revoke the notice of violation. In the absence
of an appeal the decision of the planning director shall be final.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
The decision may be delivered to the aggrieved party either
in person or by first class mail.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
Any person or entity, being the owner or agent of the owner,
who violates this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The town
council may authorize the placement of appropriate signage on such
property in violation and levy fees as outlined below:
A.
Any
person who removes, vandalizes, or defaces a road name sign shall
be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00)
and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).
B.
Any
owner or occupant in charge of any house or building who refuses to
comply with the terms of this chapter by removing an address sign
or failing to install an address sign within thirty (30) days after
written notification, or who fails within said period of thirty (30)
days to remove any old numbers affixed to such a house, or house entrance,
or elsewhere, which may be confused with the address number assigned,
shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00),
and not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day for each day
of noncompliance. The procedure to achieve compliance shall be:
1.
A certified letter from the office of emergency management identifying
the issue(s), educating about the importance of the identifying sign,
the need for compliance, and including a notice of thirty (30) days
to correct the noncompliance will be issued to the offending party(ies).
2.
If not corrected within thirty (30) days, a second letter including
a citation and fine shall be delivered and appropriate fine(s) imposed.
3.
If within sixty (60) days the violation(s) have not been corrected,
the ordinance administrator, through the town attorney, shall file
charges against the violator(s) and fines will continue to be imposed.
4.
The violator(s) may, at any time, bring the violation(s) into compliance
by conforming to the language contained in this chapter.
C.
Any
agency, utility, business, or other unauthorized person or organization
acting in either a public or private capacity that issues a road name
or address shall be fined an amount of no less than one thousand dollars
($1,000.00) per incident.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
A.
For new construction, an addressing fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, per address, will be imposed at the time that the owner/builder or designated representative submits a zoning clearance application. This fee does not apply to nonresidential outbuildings (garages, carports, sheds, or the like) when the owner/builder has already been assigned a correct address through the office of emergency management. The fee will apply when the address is incorrect or nonexistent. A generic address placard is included in the cost.
B.
A subdivision addressing review fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be imposed on all subdivisions.
C.
An addressing review fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code will be applied to all zoning clearance applications.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
This chapter shall be administered by the ordinance administrator,
as designated by the county manager. The ordinance administrator shall
be responsible for the following:
A.
Maintaining
address records of each property and building.
B.
Maintaining
records and maps showing all of Taos County’s road names.
C.
Assigning
addresses to new construction and development.
D.
Approving
road names for roads created within subdivisions and new development.
E.
Recommending
road name and addressing changes to the commission in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter.
F.
Creating
and maintaining all forms required to administer this chapter.
G.
Collect
fees and process applications under this chapter.
H.
Give
notice to the public of all address and road name changes.
(Ordinance 06-01 adopted 2006)
