Valencia County, NM Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

154 creates the Historic Overlay Zoning District (HOD) to preserve the qualities of historic communities within Valencia County and to promote the county's economic, cultural and general welfare. 137, and where the two conflict the more restrictive standard controls. Subsection (D) sets the designation criteria: an area may become a Historic District if it forms a distinct section of the county and its properties or setting meet two or more of six tests, including possessing significance in history, architecture, archeology and culture; being associated with events that made a significant contribution to local, regional, state or national history; representing the work of a master designer, builder or craftsman; embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction; or standing as an established and familiar visual feature of the county.

077 and a detailed application covering the area's history, current and historical photographs, and a proposed community development plan addressing height, landscaping, parking, signage, lighting, walls and fences, and building design. The Planning and Zoning Commission must hold its hearing and recommend approval or denial within 60 days of a complete application, after individualized notice at least 15 days ahead under NMSA 1978, § 3-21-6(B). The Board of County Commissioners then holds its own public hearing before making a final decision. While an area is under review for designation, it is already protected by, and subject to, the chapter's construction and penalty provisions until the Board's final decision takes effect.