Land Use

This service displays polygons for current land use records and features used to inventory land use patterns. Data is updated, maintained and published from the enterprise GIS database to reflect the most recent information for the City of Las Cruces. Data is organized by activity, structure, or function. Layer Type: Polygon Data Owner: Community Development Authoritative: Yes Downloadable: N/A Initial Dataset Creation: Unknown Last update: 2018 Update Frequency: As necessary Status: Current Reason for Updates: Classify and inventory land use patterns Source data: N/A Reference Source: Land Based Classification Standards (LBCS) Projected Coordinate System: N/A Reference information: The classification is a snapshot at one particular time. Uses, businesses, and new construction occur on a daily basis. Also, there may be several parcels that make up a particular site. The classification used was the predominant use of that parcel (e.g., a residential condo plat has a parcel for common area that is mostly parking and parcels for each residential unit, the common area parcel was classed as parking and the parcels for the units as residential). It is important to note that parcel information will change if not updated. The Land-Based Classification System (LBCS) is the industry standard for classification developed by the American Planning Association. It is not an ideal system in that classification codes for certain dimensions do not exist, multiple classes may fit for any one dimension, and a level of subjectivity occurs during classification. LBCS consists of five major categories called “dimensions”: Web site can be found at: https://www.planning.org/lbcs/ Five Dimensions for Classifying Land-Use Data Activity 1000: Residential activities 2000: Shopping, business, or trade activities 3000: Industrial, manufacturing, and waste-related activities 4000: Social, institutional, or infrastructure-related activities 5000: Travel or movement activities 6000: Mass assembly of people 7000: Leisure activities 8000: Natural resources-related activities 9000: No human activity or unclassifiable activity Activity refers to the actual use of land based on its observable characteristics. It describes what actually takes place in physical or observable terms (e.g., farming, shopping, manufacturing, vehicular movement, etc.). An office activity, for example, refers only to the physical activity on the premises, which could apply equally to a law firm, a nonprofit institution, a court house, a corporate office, or any other office use. Similarly, residential uses in single-family dwellings, multi-family structures, manufactured houses, or any other type of building, would all be classified as residential activity. Activity Note:The five fields of Activ_20, Activ_40, Activ_60, Activ_80, and Activ_100 were used to identify different actual uses noted on a parcel. The intent was when multiple activity classes exist to determine visually the area taken up by each use (e.g., a parcel has a restaurant and an office, the office takes up 60% of the building to class the restaurant under Activ_40 and the office under Activ_60). This worked for some parcels, but many parcels had more than five possible classes or determination of square footage was difficult to determine because floor plan-site plan information was not readily available. Some pointers on using the activity field include: >On parcels having multiple activity classes an overall activity class was put under Activ_100 in order to extract data more readily. The ‘12’ class represents mixed use. Mixed use for this inventory meant a residential use existed on the same parcel with a non-residential use. It does not assess non-residential mixed use or the type of mixed use (e.g., vertical in same building or different uses in different locations on same parcel). The Activ_100 class for multiple activities used was the highest percentage class by area, except for undeveloped (9990) where the highest percentage class by area was used if 9990 area appeared to be less than 50% of the parcel area. >For contractor yards the 2013 Inventory used either 3000, Industrial-Manufacturing, as a catch-all if the activity was not very clear. It used 3300, Construction Activities, for activities related to construction contractors which is different than the APA Classification. 3300 in the APA Classification is actually describing the stage the parcel would be in physical construction. Function 1000: Residence or accommodation functions 2000: General sales or services 3000: Manufacturing and wholesale trade 4000: Transportation, communication, information, and utilities 5000: Arts, entertainment, and recreation 6000: Education, public admin., health care, and other inst. 7000: Construction-related businesses 8000: Mining and extraction establishments 9000: Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting Function refers to the economic function or type of enterprise using the land. Every land use can be characterized by the type of enterprise it serves. Land-use terms, such as agricultural, commercial, industrial, relate to enterprises. The type of economic function served by the land use gets classified in this dimension; it is independent of actual activity on the land. Enterprises can have a variety of activities on their premises, yet serve a single function. For example, two parcels are said to be in the same functional category if they belong to the same enterprise, even if one is an office building and the other is a factory. Function Note:The five fields of Function, Funct_40, Funct_60, Funct_80, and Funct_100 were used to identify different economic types noted on a parcel. The intent was to indicate the percentage of the building on the parcel related to that function. The function field chosen mimics the activity field in most cases. Unlike Active_100, an overall function class was not put under Funct_100 on parcels with multiple functions. Structural Character 1000: Residential buildings 2000: Commercial buildings and other specialized structures 3000: Public assembly structures 4000: Institutional or community facilities 5000: Transportation-related facilities 6000: Utility and other non-building structures 7000: Specialized military structures 8000: Sheds, farm buildings, or agricultural facilities 9000: No structure Structural character refers to the type of structure or building on the land. Land-use terms embody a structural or building characteristic, which suggests the utility of the space (in a building) or land (when there is no building). Land-use terms, such as single-family house, office building, warehouse, hospital building, or highway, also describe structural characteristic. Although many activities and functions are closely associated with certain structures, it is not always so. Many buildings are often adapted for uses other than its original use. For instance, a single-family residential structure may be used as an office. Structural Note:The predominant structural type class was selected when multiple structures existed on a parcel. Some pointers on using the structural field include: >1130, Accessory Units, in the APA Classification is for secondary units. The 2013 Inventory used this class to identify accessory structures like sheds, etc. Secondary units on the same parcel are noted in the Units field. >1140, townhouse, and 1121, duplex, were sometimes used interchangeably. Townhouse for the APA classification is three or more attached dwelling units. Efforts were made to correct errors, but several likely were not caught. >1150, manufactured home, should be fairly accurate. NM does allow a double-wide manufactured home set on a foundation in a single-family zone. Several instances in the 2008 inventory classed this as 1100 or 1110, single-family site built unit. Efforts were made to class these as 1150 in the 2013 inventory. >1350, Temporary Structures, was used for RV Parks that appear to be more transitory. Otherwise, 1150, Manufactured Home, was used. Site Development Character 1000: Site in natural state 2000: Developing site 3000: Developed site -- crops, grazing, forestry, etc. 4000: Developed site -- no buildings and no structures 5000: Developed site -- non-building structures 6000: Developed site -- with buildings 7000: Developed site -- with parks 8000: Not applicable to this dimension 9000: Unclassifiable site development character Site development character refers to the overall physical development character of the land. It describes "what is on the land" in general physical terms. For most land uses, it is simply expressed in terms of whether the site is developed or not. But not all sites without observable development can be treated as undeveloped. Land uses, such as parks and open spaces, which often have a complex mix of activities, functions, and structures on them, need categories independent of other dimensions. This dimension uses categories that describe the overall site development characteristics. Site Note:All efforts were made to follow the site classification. Some pointers on using the site field include: >2000, Developing Site, was used if the site was under construction. The entire Metro Verde South Phase 1C plat was used for this class. A lot of home building activity was occurring in this area, but many lots were not under construction at time of site check. Ownership 1000: No constraints--private ownership 2000: Some constraints--easements or other use restrictions 3000: Limited restrictions--leased and other tenancy restrictions 4000: Public restrictions--local, state, and federal ownership 5000: Other public use restrictions--regional, special districts, etc. 6000: Nonprofit ownership restrictions 7000: Joint ownership character--public entities 8000: Joint ownership character--public, private, nonprofit, etc. 9000: Not applicable to this dimension Ownership refers to the relationship between the use and its land rights. Since the function of most land uses is either public or private and not both, distinguishing ownership characteristics seems obvious. However, relying solely on the functional character may obscure such uses as private parks, public theaters, private stadiums, private prisons, and mixed public and private ownership. Moreover, easements and similar legal devices also limit or constrain land-use activities and functions. This dimension allows classifying such ownership characteristics more accurately. Ownership Note:The ownership classes require title research to fully use to determine the type of ownership/constraint. Most records were carried over from the 2008 Inventory. Any spot checks were verified with the County Assessor website. The predominant class is 1000, Private Ownership. The others included 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, and 5000 indicating some type of public or quasi-public ownership. Common Classifications: The bold class indicates the best way to sort/find the listed use. If there is no bold class, the Notes field is likely the best way to find the use since the other classes apply to multiple types. Use Activity Function Ownership Site Structure Day Care 4000 6562 - - 2230 Arroyo 4314 4300 1000 9000 Drainage 4314 4300 - 5000 6000 or 6240 Mixed Use 12 - - - - Parking 5210 4000 - 4000 5210 or 5220 Mini Storage 3120 2321 - - 2700 Movers 3120 4143 - - 2700 Golf Course 7160 5300 - 7000 4440 Outdoor Storage Yard 3000 3600 - 4000, 4100, 6000 - Water Well Site* 4310 4331 - - 6260 Park** 7000 5500 - 7100 - Landscape tract*** 9100 9910 - 5100 9000 Gas Station**** 2270 or 2591 * Water wells that occur on parcels with many other uses were classed as the other uses with the well notated under Notes. Some wells within rights-of-way and not classed since there is no parcel. ** These are mostly city-owned, but some privately owned *** Use 9100 and 5100 together since other activity classes exist like parcel slivers belonging to adjoining lots or undeveloped parcels that have landscaping used by adjoining parcels **** Structure class 2270 is a gas station. This class was only used if the gas canopy/pumps took more area than the convenience market typically associated with these parcels. If the convenience store occupied more square footage the structure class used was 2591 for convenience store. The Notes field will provide more information. There are a few instances a gas station is part of a parcel with many uses and the structure class is something other than these two classes. The Condition field was a new field to rate exterior physical condition. Please note only parcels actually field checked or built after Jan 2010 were classified. Condition was classified as follows: (1) Good: No visible deterioration to the structure; any on-site vehicles appear in good operating condition; vegetation under control and appears maintained; parcels without a structure are in a natural state or maintained without weeds/debris (2) Fair: Some visible deterioration; any on-site vehicles appear in operating condition, but are located off the driveway or street in the yard; vegetation shows signs of neglect, but not overgrown; parcels without a structure are in a natural state or maintained but have signs of neglect, weeds, and other debris (3) Poor: Abundant visible deterioration; any on-site vehicles appear inoperable with parts being stored in street, driveway, or yard; vegetation is overgrown, but does not include trash and debris; parcels without a structure are in a natural state or were previously graded/improved and now have major signs of neglect, weeds, trash, and other debris (4) Uninhabitable/Boarded Up: Structure has numerous visible life/safety issues like broken windows, worn roofing, and repairs that require immediate attention; vehicles are under major repair, disassembly, show sign of extended storage with surface staining or flat tires in yard, drive, or street; vegetation is overgrown and includes trash and debris </pre>