One of the ways the SmartCode protects and encourages the unique character of a place is by doing on-the-ground analyses of how its best-loved neighborhoods "behave." That means, for instance, surveying the ways buildings sit on lots, how many units-per-acre seem appropriate in particular places, or what building height is right in what location.

One of the categories has to do with building frontages, the area between a building and the street. In many American towns where the SmartCode has been applied, it's common to see around six standard building frontages. "But in Taos," says PlaceMakers project manager Susan Henderson, "we've identified and are adapting the code to 10 frontages totally unique to Taos. That just gives you an idea of how much diversity there is here.

"In all these cases, it's up to us to accommodate that diversity instead of imposing a standard code on Taos," says Henderson. "That also goes for fences and walls, which lend so much to the historic character of the town and county. We're looking at what the community considers appropriate fencing and walls for each of the zones, and we're incorporating them into the Taos SmartCode. That's also a first."