Planning and Zoning Board Meeting - July 22, 2025
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Planning and Zoning Board Meeting - July 22, 2025
The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board met on July 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The board approved a consent calendar, multiple development items for the Paseo Gateway/Cleveland Heights area, a final plat, and two postponements. A variance request for a pergola was postponed to August 12, 2025, pending neighbor input. One public hearing comment addressed traffic concerns, and a public forum speaker requested better visualization of city development and water conservation measures.
Consent Calendar
- July 8, 2025 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Minutes — Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jean Gabriel (online) — Speaking on Item 4 (Cleveland Heights Master Plan), expressed concern that the development would add housing without a north-south arterial connection (Loma Colorado Boulevard to Paseo del Volcan), arguing the city cannot handle more traffic without additional arterials.
- Patricia Camp (public forum) — Thanked staff (Michelle Costilla) for responsiveness. Requested a centralized map showing all planned developments, asked about spreading out development to preserve open space, and inquired about water conservation strategies beyond low-flow fixtures. Also thanked the board for their work.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Master Plan Amendment (Paseo Gateway) — Presented by staff (Liz Ruiz Carlos) and applicant (Charlene Johnson, Consensus Planning). Request to separate State Land Office parcels from the existing Paseo Gateway Master Plan to create a new Cleveland Heights Master Plan. The amendment did not change the character of the remaining Paseo Gateway area. Board approved unanimously.
- Item 4 – Cleveland Heights Master Plan — Presented together with items 3 and 5. The new master plan covers 674.7 acres north of Cleveland Heights Road, with design guidelines updated for drainage, transportation, and open space. Board approved unanimously after the public comment.
- Item 5 – Zone Map Amendment (Cleveland Heights) — Request to rezone tracks north of Cleveland Heights Road from R-1, R-2, R-3 to R-4 (single-family residential). Applicant argued R-4 provides flexible medium density and consistent zoning. Board approved unanimously.
- Item 6 – Variance (Pergola at 2956 Tierra del Luna Ave NE) — Applicant (Joe and Teresa Damush, through agent Marc Carger) requested a variance to allow a 168 sq ft pergola 5 feet from the rear property line (15-foot required). The pergola was 98% complete and red-tagged by a building inspector. Staff recommended denial, citing self-imposed hardship (failure to obtain permit). The board discussed neighbor consent; only one adjacent neighbor had been contacted informally, and some lots are undeveloped. Commissioner Fred Radosevich proposed postponing to obtain written neighbor support. Motion to postpone to August 12, 2025, passed unanimously.
- Item 7 – Final Plat (Mariposa East Subdivision) — Proposed 186 R-4 residential lots and 19 tracts on 46.87 acres. Approved unanimously.
- Item 8 – Postponement (Text Amendments to Subdivision Ordinance) — Postponed to October 14, 2025, date certain. Approved unanimously.
- Item 9 – Postponement (Development Process Manual Update) — Postponed to October 14, 2025, date certain. Approved unanimously.
- Item 10 – Preliminary Plat Amendment (Sandstone Bluffs at Cleveland Heights) — DR Horton requested amendment to adjust lots, right-of-way, easements, and reduce lot count from 124 to 123. Staff recommended approval. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Items 3, 4, 5 (Paseo Gateway Master Plan Amendment, Cleveland Heights Master Plan, Zone Map Amendment) — All passed unanimously. The separation of state land parcels and new R-4 zoning will streamline development of 674.7 acres for residential growth.
- Item 6 (Variance) — Postponed to August 12, 2025, to allow the applicant to gather written consent from adjacent property owners (including builders of unoccupied lots). Letters must be submitted to staff by August 4, 2025.
- Item 7 (Final Plat) — Approved, creating 186 lots in Mariposa East.
- Items 8 & 9 (Postponements) — Both postponed to October 14, 2025, to allow staff to address stakeholder comments on text amendments and the Development Process Manual.
- Item 10 (Preliminary Plat Amendment) — Approved, reducing lot count and adjusting easements.
- Public Forum — Staff to follow up with speaker on comprehensive plan and water conservation resources.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good evening, everyone. And welcome to the planning and zoning board July the 8th board meeting. 2025. A couple of housekeeping items. Please silence all electronic devices while attending planning and zoning board meetings. And personal attendees, please fill out a speaker form if you wish to speak on individuals who have signed up will be permitted to speak. If you have yet to fill out a form now is the time to do so and provide it to the record holder to my to my right. When I recognize you to speak, you will have the ability to enable audio and video. I'm going to call the role as I call the role for each planning board member. Please acknowledge your presence by stand present. Kevin Culture. Present. Fred Rodezovich. Present. Robert Gabadon. Present. Andrea Hankins. Present. Lisa Harsey. Present. Sarah Totoricci. Present. Okay, if you can stand with me for the plans with the flag. Okay. Um consent calendar. Is there anything on the consent calendar we need to discuss? Staff presentation, reports, comments. Mr. Chair, so we need to um go ahead and take a motion to approve the consent calendar and vote on it. Okay, motion to approve. Motion to approve the consent calendar as presented. Second. I'll second. Okay. Public hearings. Oh. Vote. Call the role. Chair Richardson. Yes. Commissioner Kaufcher. Yes. Commissioner Radosovich? Yes. Vice Chair Galvadone? Yes. Commissioner Hankins? Yes. Commissioner Hardesty. Yes.
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