Rio Rancho Planning & Zoning Board Meeting Summary - May 27, 2025

On May 27, 2025, the Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board met at 6:00 PM at City Hall, considering several subdivision approvals, a major text amendment to the subdivision code, and an update to the Development Process Manual (DPM). The meeting highlighted tensions between city staff's efforts to update regulations and developers' concerns about increased costs and lack of notice.

Consent Calendar

• May 13, 2025 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scooter Haynes (Richmond American Homes): Spoke in opposition to the text amendment (Item 8), stating he was not aware of the proposed changes, had multiple meetings with staff but was not notified, and urged the board to continue the item to allow stakeholder input.
• Jared Liker (AMREP Southwest): Opposed the text amendment, citing lack of notice and specific concerns about park requirements and the half-mile walkable park rule, which he argued could make many subdivisions non-conforming and force HOA-maintained parks, adding costs to homebuyers.
• Brian Aragon (AMREP Southwest): Delved into concerns on fire code references, fair market value appraisal timing, and non-conforming lots, requesting a continuance to resolve questions.
• Carrie Plant (AMREP Southwest): Requested a continuance to allow more time for dialogue with staff, emphasizing the housing crisis and the impact of added standards.
• Aaron Cook (Brazo Homes/Gamma Development): Spoke in opposition, arguing that additional requirements increase costs and slow development.
• Lana Smittle (Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico): Thanked staff but requested a delay to address unanswered questions.
• For Item 9 (DPM): Multiple speakers, including Jared Liker, Nicosia Shuttlebauer, Scooter Haynes, Rihanna Samuel (NAOP), and Aaron Cook, raised concerns about the reduced master plan threshold from 20 acres to 10 acres, the 75% ownership requirement, lack of clarity on when master plans are triggered, and increased costs. Several urged a continuance for further stakeholder engagement.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – Preliminary Plat Extension (Broadmoor Heights Unit 4): Approved unanimously (7-0). Ben Isaacs (city planner) presented the request from Richmond American Homes for a 12-month extension to May 27, 2026, citing construction began in February 2025. No public comment.
• Items 3 & 4 – Subdivision Variance and Preliminary Plat (Dos Soles): Both approved unanimously (7-0). Tim Dvorak (planner) presented the variance for 10-foot front public utility easements instead of 5-foot side/rear easements for 42 townhome lots. No public comment.
• Items 5, 6, & 7 – Subdivision Variances and Preliminary Plat (Broadmoor Hill): All approved unanimously (7-0). Tim Dvorak presented two variances for dead-end street stubs (Mimbres Drive and Salado Loop) and a preliminary plat for 56 lots, 2 tracts, and 1 parcel. Commissioner Tortorici asked if the fire department approved; staff confirmed yes.
• Item 8 – Text Amendment to Chapter 155 (Subdivisions): Michelle Castilla (planner) presented the proposed updates, aligning chapter 155 with the DPM. Changes included redefining "open space" to "parks/recreational," adding definitions for developed/undeveloped park area, updating platting procedures (e.g., 35-day review period from completeness), requiring parks under 3 acres to be HOA-maintained, reducing the in-lieu fee threshold from 25 to 10 acres, and adding a half-mile walkable park requirement. After public comment and board discussion, the motion to approve failed (0-7).
• Item 9 – Resolution to Update the Development Process Manual (DPM): Michelle Castilla reviewed the DPM update, highlighting changes such as reducing the master plan threshold to 10 acres, requiring 75% ownership for master plans, and updating design standards (including parks, fire code, and traffic analysis). Board discussion focused on concerns about costs, the reduced acreage threshold, and the 75% ownership requirement. A motion to postpone the item to July 22, 2025, passed (6-0). Commissioner Tortorici and others emphasized the need for further stakeholder input and clarification on park maintenance policy.

Key Outcomes

• Items 2-7: All subdivision items approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 8: Text amendment to Chapter 155 failed (0-7) due to board concerns about increased costs, lack of stakeholder outreach, and ambiguous provisions (e.g., half-mile walkable park rule, HOA-maintained parks).
• Item 9: DPM update postponed to July 22, 2025 (6-0), to allow additional public input and discussion on specific issues, including master plan thresholds, park maintenance, and the 75% ownership requirement.