OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - August 25, 2026

Planning & Zoning — Tuesday, August 25, 2026
BodyLas Cruces, New Mexico
SessionPlanning & Zoning
DateTuesday, August 25, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:58

You're live.

1:04

Good evening.

1:05

I will now call to order the August 25th, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 PM.

1:10

I am Chair Crystal Downs.

1:12

First on the agenda is the conflict of interest.

1:14

Does any member of the commission or any member of staff have a known conflict of interest with any item on the agenda today?

1:21

Fantastic.

1:22

Seeing none, we will move on to POB public participation.

1:27

If someone would like to um wow.

1:34

Totally don't know that.

1:37

Uh next we have public participation at this time.

1:41

I would like to invite anyone from the public to come up and speak on anything that is not on our agenda under new business.

1:54

Great.

1:55

Seeing none.

1:56

Um we'll end public participation and move forward.

1:59

Next, we have the acceptance of the agenda.

2:02

Madam Chair.

2:04

Thank you.

2:06

Commissioner Costa.

2:07

I make a motion to accept the agenda as presented.

2:11

Second.

2:12

Fantastic.

2:14

This is a vote on the acceptance of the agenda.

2:17

Commissioner Thurston.

2:19

Yes.

2:20

Commissioner Toby Turpin.

2:24

Welcome.

2:26

Yes.

2:27

Commissioner.

2:29

Um got down there.

2:31

Scott Kaiser.

2:32

Yes.

2:33

Commissioner Acosta.

2:34

Yes.

2:35

And Chair.

2:36

Yes.

2:37

Thank you.

2:38

All right.

2:38

Motion passes.

2:42

Um item number one.

2:49

Can I have a motion to approve seven point one, please?

2:53

So moved.

2:56

Second.

2:57

Thank you.

3:01

All righty.

3:03

Good evening, uh, Commission.

3:05

Uh Adam Trail Community Development for the record.

3:08

Before you have a preliminary plat, uh which is the fourth phase, what is it?

3:12

Tierra Hermosa subdivision.

3:14

Uh basically the scope discussion for the subdivision division should really uh focus on the general layout of the subdivision itself and adequacy of public facilities needed to serve the intended development, which is essentially a single family subdivision is what we're reviewing here.

3:30

Overall compliance with all adopted city plans, rules and regulations, and assuring basically compliance with the original master plan, which is approved for this property back in 2024.

3:42

So the property is generally located uh south of Village Drive, uh east of Porter Road and north of Central Avenue in the east mesa of Las Cruces.

3:51

Uh compasses just under 30 acres in size and is uh basically vacant or undeveloped or now it's the vacant undeveloped portion of the uh The Mosa master plan area.

4:02

It is zone NH1S, neighborhood one suburban.

4:05

And like I said, that master plan was approved back in May of 2024.

4:10

Showing the property here.

4:13

Uh apologize.

4:14

The actual four kind of runs this area here.

4:18

It unfortunately phase two is under construction right now, not filed yet.

4:23

So it kind of encompasses that phase two area, so it's more like this general area here and runs out and south and up here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning Regulations█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Public Safety███████████████████20%
Procedural████████████████17%
Downtown Development██████████████15%
Summary of Proceedings

Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - August 25, 2026

The Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 25, 2026, at 6 PM, chaired by Crystal Downs. The meeting focused on two major development approvals: the Tierra Hermosa Phase 4 preliminary plat and the Metro West phases 2–7 final site plan. Commissioners also discussed concerns about traffic congestion in the Red Hawk area and expressed frustration over the commission's lack of involvement in the downtown master plan update. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • (None listed; the agenda was approved as presented without a separate consent calendar.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke on non-agenda items during the public participation period.
  • Paul Pompeio, project engineer for the Tierra Hermosa applicant, provided testimony but only to answer commissioner questions; no public opposition or support was voiced.
  • For item 7.2 (Metro West final site plan), no public comments were received.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7.1 – Tierra Hermosa Phase 4 Preliminary Plat: Staff presented a proposal for 63 residential lots on nearly 30 acres south of Village Drive, east of Porter Road, north of Central Avenue. The subdivision follows the 2024 approved master plan. Two tracts (Tract A and B) are included for future right-of-way and development phases 3 and 5. A 2-acre park in Phase 2 will serve the area. Staff reported two phone calls about dust from existing phases but no substantive concerns. The Development Review Committee (DRC) recommended approval on August 5. Commissioners questioned lot layout, future road connections to Central Avenue, and timing of Central Avenue construction (expected in Phase 3). The applicant confirmed two north-south roads will connect to Central. No public comment from neighbors. The commission voted unanimously to approve.
  • Item 7.2 – Metro West Phases 2–7 Final Site Plan: Staff reviewed a final site plan for 386 residential lots on 73.35 acres within the Metro Verde Planned Unit Development, west of Red Hawk Golf Club Road, north of Electra Avenue. The plan includes 17 interior roadways, three connections to Electra Avenue, one to Red Hawk Golf Club Road, and dedication of 10.58 acres for park, walking trails, and drainage. DRC recommended approval on August 5. Commissioner Costa raised concerns about emergency evacuation capacity in the congested Red Hawk area. Staff noted multiple access points (Sonoma Ranch, Petrie, Arroyo, Voyager) and mentioned the future Settlers Pass connection (anticipated to begin construction within 60 days). The commission voted unanimously to approve.
  • Downtown Master Plan Update Discussion: During staff announcements, Commissioner Kaiser expressed frustration that the Planning and Zoning Commission had not been engaged as stakeholders in the ongoing update of the downtown master plan. He argued that the commission should have a formal opportunity to provide input on long-range planning for the central urban district. Community Development Director Chris Faber responded that the update is being handled through the TID board (city council plus a county representative), which will approve the plan via resolution in October. He noted that commissioners were invited to participate in Charrettes the previous fall and that staff would bring future planning matters to P&Z when appropriate. Commissioner Kaiser acknowledged the explanation but reiterated his disagreement, stating that downtown planning falls squarely within the commission's purview.

Key Outcomes

  • Approval of Item 7.1 (Tierra Hermosa Phase 4 Preliminary Plat): Motion carried unanimously (Commissioners Thurston, Turpin, Kaiser, Acosta, and Chair Downs voting yes).
  • Approval of Item 7.2 (Metro West Phases 2–7 Final Site Plan): Motion carried unanimously (same voting members).
  • Agenda Approval: Unanimous.
  • Adjournment: Motion passed unanimously.
  • New Commissioner: The commission welcomed new Mayor-appointed Commissioner Turpin, which helped achieve a quorum.

Meeting Transcript

You're live. Good evening. I will now call to order the August 25th, 2026 Planning and Zoning Commission at 6 PM. I am Chair Crystal Downs. First on the agenda is the conflict of interest. Does any member of the commission or any member of staff have a known conflict of interest with any item on the agenda today? Fantastic. Seeing none, we will move on to POB public participation. If someone would like to um wow. Totally don't know that. Uh next we have public participation at this time. I would like to invite anyone from the public to come up and speak on anything that is not on our agenda under new business. Great. Seeing none. Um we'll end public participation and move forward. Next, we have the acceptance of the agenda. Madam Chair. Thank you. Commissioner Costa. I make a motion to accept the agenda as presented. Second. Fantastic. This is a vote on the acceptance of the agenda. Commissioner Thurston. Yes. Commissioner Toby Turpin. Welcome. Yes. Commissioner. Um got down there. Scott Kaiser. Yes. Commissioner Acosta. Yes. And Chair. Yes. Thank you. All right. Motion passes. Um item number one. Can I have a motion to approve seven point one, please? So moved. Second. Thank you. All righty. Good evening, uh, Commission. Uh Adam Trail Community Development for the record. Before you have a preliminary plat, uh which is the fourth phase, what is it? Tierra Hermosa subdivision. Uh basically the scope discussion for the subdivision division should really uh focus on the general layout of the subdivision itself and adequacy of public facilities needed to serve the intended development, which is essentially a single family subdivision is what we're reviewing here.

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