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Record of Proceedings

Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - September 22, 2026

Planning & Zoning — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyLas Cruces, New Mexico
SessionPlanning & Zoning
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:10:28

Original source
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2:26

You're live.

2:28

Good evening.

2:29

I will now call to order the September twenty second, twenty twenty six Planning and Zoning Commission at six PM.

2:35

I am Chair Crystal Downs.

2:37

First on the agenda is the conflict of interest.

2:40

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

2:48

All right, seeing none, we'll move on to public participation.

2:52

Next we have public participation.

2:54

At this time, I'd like to invite anyone from the public to come up and speak on anything that is not on the agenda under new business.

3:03

Or if you'd like to speak on any item that's on the consent agenda, please do so now.

3:09

You will have three minutes.

3:10

Please state your name for the record.

3:14

Is there anyone who would like to speak at this time?

3:37

Uh next we have the acceptance of the agenda by a voting to approve the acceptance of the agenda as presented.

3:57

I make a motion to approve tonight's agenda.

4:05

Ready for the vote.

4:12

Commissioner Turpin?

4:14

Yes.

4:14

Commissioner Corsna?

4:16

Yes.

4:16

And Chair Downs.

4:18

Yes.

4:19

Uh motion is approved.

4:20

Uh the acceptance agenda is approved.

4:23

Thank you so much.

4:24

We're ready for your presentation.

4:50

Uh yeah, ask for the motion to approve uh item seven point one and get a second if I could start my presentation, please.

4:57

I make a motion to approve item seven point one.

5:00

Madam Chair, I'll second that motion.

5:02

Thank you.

5:04

I'll go ahead and present now.

5:05

Adam O'Coah Community Development Department for the record.

5:07

Before you we have a proposed preliminary plat known as Crown Dancer Subdivision.

5:12

Basically, the scope of this discussion should really focus on kind of the general layout of the subdivision, uh, the adequacy of public facilities needed to serve the intended development in this case would be a residential development, and just the overall compliance uh with all adopted city plans, rules, and regulations, including our subdivision code and zoning code as well.

5:30

So the subject property itself is located on the east side of Valley Drive, kind of northeast of the intersection of the existing intersection of well, Miss Belt Valley there, Valley Drive and Isaac's Lane.

5:41

Uh it encompasses roughly 9.84 acres in size and is mostly vacant or undeveloped tracts of land.

5:46

There is just one single family home on those two tracks of land right now.

5:50

Properties are currently zone NH3S, neighborhood three suburban.

5:55

Shown here on the zoning map, as you can see here, these are those two kind of like wing-shaped lot uh tracts there.

6:02

Uh right next to what is the city limits to the north here, uh NH3 found throughout, and then NH1 zoning uh just to the east.

6:11

As you can see here, uh religious institution, uh Mayfield High Schools right around the corner here, large residential development here to the east, uh, and and commercial development along along what is Valley Drive.

6:25

So what is being proposed are 38 residential lots that'll be developed on these three tracks.

6:30

Uh and additionally on top of that, there'll be four tracts uh of land dedicated for drainage for post-development runoff, which will be uh owned and maintained by a homeowners association, and then also a another track for a mailbox cluster, which would be uh dedicated to the city.

6:44

Uh lots range in size from about 1.04 acres to about three acres in size, so they easily meet the the dimension requirements of uh the the NH3 zoning designation.

6:56

Proposed access for the subdivision is uh main one will be off of Valley Drive, and there is also a proposed extension or the the patch through of what is Gilmer Way, which is an existing cul-de-sac, as you can see here.

7:08

Uh which would basically patch patch that who put to provide a secondary access to the subdivision, and we'll allow this subdivision a secondary access point to Valley as well, instead of just Holkland, which is just down south here.

7:20

So it is providing additional connectivity, not just for the new subdivision, but for the existing subdivision as well.

7:27

Here is that preliminary plant with that layout.

7:30

Here is the proposed new road, which will be like I said, a cul-de-sac.

7:33

The one large tract here uh to the northeast, that is the where the existing home is.

7:39

Uh that'll continue to exist as is, and then just the residential lots will be lining the new roadway here.

7:47

Uh when staff did their analysis, we made sure that there were no life safety or welfare issues identified and there were none.

7:54

Uh the proposed subdivision does meet the objectives of the proposed uh the purpose of a preliminary plat as outlined in the subdivision code, and the lots do meet the standards of the 2025 development code.

8:05

The lots also do meet the design standards of the of our adopted codes as well.

8:11

Notice was sent out to Australia property owners uh per code.

8:14

Uh staff did receive one email uh just with general questions as what the layout would be and potential uh effects on their views or what's adjacent to them.

8:24

Uh gentlemen found out that the large lot was right next to their property, so they were happy about that.

8:29

There'd be no additional lots, so he had no issues with the subdivision.

8:35

Uh the proposed preliminary plat did go to DRC or a development review committee on August 19th of 2026.

8:40

Uh the DRC does review subdivisions from an infrastructure, utilities, and improvement standpoint after very minor discussion, including uh utility uh comments that were addressed and then uh also uh parts and rec comments which will be addressed at a final plat and actually still being worked out with the developer.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Public Safety████████████████████21%
Zoning Regulations███████████████████20%
Procedural███████7%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - September 22, 2026

The Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission met on September 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public testimony on the Crown Dancer Subdivision preliminary plat, approval of two preliminary plats, and discussion of future meeting schedules. Both agenda items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Residents of Gilmer Way (Ruben Reyes, Melvin Lueras, Vanessa Tavares Corral, Marcella Reyes) expressed concerns about the proposed connection of their cul-de-sac to Valley Drive as part of the Crown Dancer Subdivision. They cited safety risks for children playing, increased traffic, and potential cut-through traffic from nearby Mayfield High School events. They questioned the necessity of the connection and requested alternative access.

Discussion Items

Item 7.1 – Crown Dancer Subdivision Preliminary Plat

  • Staff (Adam O'Coah) presented a proposal for 38 residential lots on 9.84 acres zoned NH3S, with access via Valley Drive and an extension of Gilmer Way. The second access is required by fire code for subdivisions over 30 units. Staff recommended approval, noting compliance with code and DRC approval.
  • Applicant's engineer (Marty Piller) stated the lot sizes (minimum 47 feet wide) were based on builder preferences. He noted that the fire code requires two access points and the narrow frontage on Valley Drive prevents a second access there.
  • Commissioner Thurston suggested traffic calming measures on the connecting street to deter speeding. Staff noted that a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) would determine final design.
  • Public testimony opposed the cul-de-sac connection.
  • The motion to approve passed unanimously (5-0).

Item 7.2 – Lot 1 Pueblo de la Salameda Subdivision Replat #2 Preliminary Plat

  • Staff (Vincent Bonegas) presented a proposal to create seven commercial lots on 7.68 acres zoned CRS, located near North Rise Drive and Rinconada Boulevard. The plat includes right-of-way tracts for turn lanes and road improvements. Staff recommended approval, with DRC recommending approval after a minor note correction.
  • Commissioners questioned the necessity of additional turn lanes and the internal access easement design. Commissioner Thurston raised concerns about future connectivity to western parcels. Applicant Josh Skarsgard explained that a 24-foot access easement exists along the west property line to provide future access.
  • No public comments were received.
  • The motion to approve passed unanimously (5-0).

Other Business

  • Commissioner Thurston discussed concerns about the new lighting code increasing costs for developers and asked if the commission could waive it for this project. Staff clarified that lighting design falls under DRC purview.
  • Chair Downs announced that the November and December meetings will be moved to the third Tuesday due to holidays.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Crown Dancer Subdivision preliminary plat (5-0).
  • Approved Lot 1 Pueblo de la Salameda Subdivision replat #2 preliminary plat (5-0).
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:08 PM.

Meeting Transcript

You're live. Good evening. I will now call to order the September twenty second, twenty twenty six Planning and Zoning Commission at six 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 city staff have a known clo conflict of interest with any item on today's agenda? All right, seeing none, we'll move on to public participation. Next we have public participation. At this time, I'd like to invite anyone from the public to come up and speak on anything that is not on the agenda under new business. Or if you'd like to speak on any item that's on the consent agenda, please do so now. You will have three minutes. Please state your name for the record. Is there anyone who would like to speak at this time? Uh next we have the acceptance of the agenda by a voting to approve the acceptance of the agenda as presented. I make a motion to approve tonight's agenda. Ready for the vote. Commissioner Turpin? Yes. Commissioner Corsna? Yes. And Chair Downs. Yes. Uh motion is approved. Uh the acceptance agenda is approved. Thank you so much. We're ready for your presentation. Uh yeah, ask for the motion to approve uh item seven point one and get a second if I could start my presentation, please. I make a motion to approve item seven point one. Madam Chair, I'll second that motion. Thank you. I'll go ahead and present now. Adam O'Coah Community Development Department for the record. Before you we have a proposed preliminary plat known as Crown Dancer Subdivision. Basically, the scope of this discussion should really focus on kind of the general layout of the subdivision, uh, the adequacy of public facilities needed to serve the intended development in this case would be a residential development, and just the overall compliance uh with all adopted city plans, rules, and regulations, including our subdivision code and zoning code as well. So the subject property itself is located on the east side of Valley Drive, kind of northeast of the intersection of the existing intersection of well, Miss Belt Valley there, Valley Drive and Isaac's Lane. Uh it encompasses roughly 9.84 acres in size and is mostly vacant or undeveloped tracts of land. There is just one single family home on those two tracks of land right now. Properties are currently zone NH3S, neighborhood three suburban. Shown here on the zoning map, as you can see here, these are those two kind of like wing-shaped lot uh tracts there. Uh right next to what is the city limits to the north here, uh NH3 found throughout, and then NH1 zoning uh just to the east. As you can see here, uh religious institution, uh Mayfield High Schools right around the corner here, large residential development here to the east, uh, and and commercial development along along what is Valley Drive. So what is being proposed are 38 residential lots that'll be developed on these three tracks. Uh and additionally on top of that, there'll be four tracts uh of land dedicated for drainage for post-development runoff, which will be uh owned and maintained by a homeowners association, and then also a another track for a mailbox cluster, which would be uh dedicated to the city. Uh lots range in size from about 1.04 acres to about three acres in size, so they easily meet the the dimension requirements of uh the the NH3 zoning designation. Proposed access for the subdivision is uh main one will be off of Valley Drive, and there is also a proposed extension or the the patch through of what is Gilmer Way, which is an existing cul-de-sac, as you can see here. Uh which would basically patch patch that who put to provide a secondary access to the subdivision, and we'll allow this subdivision a secondary access point to Valley as well, instead of just Holkland, which is just down south here. So it is providing additional connectivity, not just for the new subdivision, but for the existing subdivision as well. Here is that preliminary plant with that layout. Here is the proposed new road, which will be like I said, a cul-de-sac. The one large tract here uh to the northeast, that is the where the existing home is.

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