OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting – September 9, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 9, 2025
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Okay, good evening, everyone, and welcome to September 9th, 2025 Plan and Zoning Board Meeting.

0:10

If you would please stand with me for the pledge of the legions.

0:32

Okay, before we get started, I have a couple of uh housekeeping items that I need to uh review.

0:38

Uh please silence all electronic devices while attending and planning zoning board meetings.

0:44

Um call the role.

0:51

Uh as a call, each member name, please uh acknowledge by your present by send present.

0:57

Kevin Culture Present.

1:01

Present.

1:01

Robert Gabadon, he's excused.

1:05

Uh Andrea Haskins.

1:08

Present.

1:08

Lisa Hardesty.

1:11

Present.

1:12

And Sal Todorici, he's excused as well.

1:16

Okay, continue on with the housekeeping items.

1:18

In-person attendees, please fill out a speaker form if you wish to speak.

1:23

Only individuals who have signed up will be permitted to speak.

1:27

If we have yet to fill out a form, now's the time to do so and provide the recorder to provide information to record to my left.

1:36

Uh virtual attendees, please send a chat message to the host or use a raised hand feature if you want to provide public comment.

1:45

Um, please do so.

1:46

When I will recognize you to speak, you will have the ability to enable audio and video.

1:52

Okay.

1:54

Uh moving on to consent calendar.

1:58

Any questions there?

1:59

If not, uh can I get a motion?

2:01

I'll make a motion to approve the consent calendar.

2:04

I'll second.

2:05

Okay.

2:06

Call the rule.

2:09

Chairman Richardson.

2:11

Yes.

2:11

Commissioner Kopcher.

2:13

Yes.

2:14

Commissioner Radolsevich?

2:15

Yes.

2:16

Commissioner Hankins.

2:17

Yes.

2:18

Commissioner Hardesy.

2:20

Yes.

2:22

Okay.

2:22

So any staff presentation report or any comments.

2:27

If not, then we'll go into public hearings.

2:30

And item number two, the subdivision variants to be presented by Tamara Montinez.

2:41

Good evening, Mr.

2:42

Chairman and members of the board.

2:43

Tamara Martinez, planner with the city of Rio Rancho.

2:46

The items before you are a subdivision variance request and a concurrent preliminary plat final plat.

2:53

The applicant Southwest Elegant Homes, LLC, through their agent, CSI, which is Cartesian Services Inc.

3:02

Surveys Inc.

3:03

is requesting approval of a variance to the required improvements of a subdivision as outlined by Rio Rancho Municipal Code.

3:10

Chapter 155 subdivisions, Section 155.27, required improvements for the installation of sidewalks and water and sewer mains.

3:29

Legally described as unit 17, block 81, lot 20, without improvements.

3:34

The preliminary final plat for this lot split into two lots will be heard concurrently under case number 25-210-4.

3:44

The property is zoned E1, estate residential per ordinance number 32, enactment 94-34, comprises approximately 2.5 acres and is located within this La Barranca specific area plan.

3:59

This case was initially scheduled to be heard at the August 25th meeting.

4:03

However, staff requested a postponement to allow for proper noticing as the applicant failed to post the notice sign in a timely manner.

4:15

New subdivisions require access to city water, sewer, street lighting, and sidewalks.

4:20

This lot, however, does not have sidewalks, street lighting, or access to city sewer or water, and as such, um the split cannot be approved administratively.

4:30

The application the applicant submitted a justification narrative, which is included as an attachment as well as um letters of determination provided by the New Mexico uh environmental department.

4:42

The proposed lot um configuration fails to improve or to provide an improved design and does not meet the requirements of section 155.06A.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████78%
Procedural█████████████22%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting – September 9, 2025

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board met on September 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The board heard four public hearing items: two related to a subdivision variance and plat for a lot at 5601 Iris Road NE, a variance for a carport at 698 10th Street NE, and a preliminary/final plat for the King Boulevard expansion. The board also approved the consent calendar and adjourned after brief comments.

Consent Calendar

  • August 26, 2025 Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously by roll call (members present: Richardson, Kofchur, Radosevich, Hankins, Hardesty; Gabaldon and Tortorici excused).

Public Hearings

Item 2 – Subdivision Variance (5601 Iris Road NE) – Applicant Southwest Elegant Homes LLC, represented by Ryan Mohall of Cartesian Surveys, requested a variance to required improvements (sidewalks, water/sewer mains) to split a 2.5-acre E-1 zoned lot into two lots. Staff (planner Tamarah Martinez) recommended denial, citing lack of infrastructure, no improved design, and reduction of potential horse housing (from 4 to 1). Mohall argued lots are buildable with wells and septic, similar to neighboring properties. Board discussion noted missing infrastructure and horse-count impact. The motion to approve failed (0–5).

Item 3 – Preliminary/Final Plat (5601 Iris Road NE) – Concurrent with Item 2, the plat to subdivide the same lot into two lots. Following denial of the variance, the applicant acknowledged the plat could not proceed. Motion to approve failed (0–5).

Item 4 – Variance for Carport (698 10th Street NE) – Applicant Jennifer Trujillo requested a variance from the 25-foot rear setback to construct a 600 sq ft carport adjacent to an existing garage that encroaches 12 feet into the rear setback. Staff recommended denial, stating ample space exists elsewhere on the 1-acre lot and the justification is based on inconvenience. Trujillo stated the carport would match the existing garage height and she had letters of support from three neighbors. Board members asked about access and height, and noted prior variance for the adjacent garage. Motion to approve passed unanimously (5–0).

Item 5 – Preliminary/Final Plat (King Boulevard Expansion) – Applicant City of Rio Rancho, through Huitt-Zollars, requested approval of a plat to combine properties, dedicate 0.3848 acres of right-of-way, and relocate PUEs for the King Boulevard expansion. Staff (planner Liz Ruiz Carlos) recommended approval; the plat affects NC and O-1 zoned parcels. No public comment. Motion to approve passed unanimously (5–0).

Key Outcomes

  • Subdivision Variance (Item 2) – Denied (0–5).
  • Preliminary/Final Plat at 5601 Iris Road (Item 3) – Denied (0–5).
  • Variance for Carport at 698 10th Street (Item 4) – Approved (5–0).
  • Preliminary/Final Plat for King Boulevard (Item 5) – Approved (5–0).
  • Consent Calendar – Approved (5–0).
  • Adjournment – Motion carried; meeting concluded without additional public forum comments beyond a brief mention of a prior discussion.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good evening, everyone, and welcome to September 9th, 2025 Plan and Zoning Board Meeting. If you would please stand with me for the pledge of the legions. Okay, before we get started, I have a couple of uh housekeeping items that I need to uh review. Uh please silence all electronic devices while attending and planning zoning board meetings. Um call the role. Uh as a call, each member name, please uh acknowledge by your present by send present. Kevin Culture Present. Present. Robert Gabadon, he's excused. Uh Andrea Haskins. Present. Lisa Hardesty. Present. And Sal Todorici, he's excused as well. Okay, continue on with the housekeeping items. In-person attendees, please fill out a speaker form if you wish to speak. Only individuals who have signed up will be permitted to speak. If we have yet to fill out a form, now's the time to do so and provide the recorder to provide information to record to my left. Uh virtual attendees, please send a chat message to the host or use a raised hand feature if you want to provide public comment. Um, please do so. When I will recognize you to speak, you will have the ability to enable audio and video. Okay. Uh moving on to consent calendar. Any questions there? If not, uh can I get a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the consent calendar. I'll second. Okay. Call the rule. Chairman Richardson. Yes. Commissioner Kopcher. Yes. Commissioner Radolsevich? Yes. Commissioner Hankins. Yes. Commissioner Hardesy. Yes. Okay. So any staff presentation report or any comments. If not, then we'll go into public hearings. And item number two, the subdivision variants to be presented by Tamara Montinez. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Tamara Martinez, planner with the city of Rio Rancho. The items before you are a subdivision variance request and a concurrent preliminary plat final plat. The applicant Southwest Elegant Homes, LLC, through their agent, CSI, which is Cartesian Services Inc. Surveys Inc. is requesting approval of a variance to the required improvements of a subdivision as outlined by Rio Rancho Municipal Code.

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