Planning and Zoning Board Meeting - October 14, 2025

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board met on October 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting covered a consent calendar, public hearings on zoning and subdivision matters, and a discussion of updates to the Development Process Manual (DPM) and Chapter 155 of the City Code. Key votes included the denial of DPM and Chapter 155 updates, denial of a zone map amendment for Cielo Bonito, and approval of two final plats.

Consent Calendar

• The September 23, 2025 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Nicosia Schuttelbauer (on behalf of Cielo Bonito, LLC) expressed concerns about proposed master plan requirements (10-acre minimum, 90% ownership), arguing they would slow development and conflict with the city's comprehensive plan. She urged the board not to recommend approval of the DPM update.
• Jared Liker (AMREP Southwest) acknowledged staff's efforts but raised concerns about: (1) cash-in-lieu language for parks, (2) 90% ownership requirement being too rigid, (3) requirement to pave perimeter roads potentially killing small developments, and (4) need for traffic impact analysis to dictate road standards.
• Carrie Plant (809 5th Street NE, Rio Rancho) thanked staff for additional meetings but emphasized that increased costs from new standards are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. She echoed previous speakers' concerns.
• Brian Mozley (applicant for withdrawn item 4) did not speak; item 4 was withdrawn.
• Lannis Middle (Executive Vice President, Home Builders Association) urged caution on changes that could add costs to homes, given the housing crisis.

Discussion Items

Items 8 and 9: Development Process Manual (DPM) Update and Chapter 155 Text Amendment (Presented together)

Amy Rincon (Director of Development Services) presented the proposed updates, which had been postponed from May and August 2025. Key changes included:

• Reorganizing and clarifying the DPM (originally adopted 2010);
• Updating standards to reflect national best practices and SKACA requirements;
• Reducing master plan minimum acreage from 20 to 10 acres, with a slimmed-down process for 10–20 acre proposals;
• Requiring 90% ownership for master plans (up from 75% initially proposed);
• Requiring parks within a half-mile walk of subdivisions, with parks under 3 acres maintained by an HOA;
• Adding a 10-day review period for preliminary plat completeness;
• Creating a waiver process for design standards.

Staff noted that since 2020, the city added over 5,200 new single-family homes (12% of housing stock), and has a pipeline of 7.5 years of lot supply. Staff argued the updates balance development needs with long-term infrastructure quality and resident expectations.

Board members expressed concerns about the language on HOA-maintained parks, the 90% ownership threshold, and the 10-acre master plan requirement. Commissioner Radosevich questioned the mandate for HOA maintenance, while Commissioner Gabaldon noted difficulty achieving high ownership percentages. Commissioner Tortorici praised staff's work but felt some items needed further refinement.

Vote on Item 8 (Chapter 155 Text Amendment): Motion to approve failed 2-3 (Richardson, Hankins yes; Gabaldon, Radosevich, Tortorici no). Vote on Item 9 (DPM Resolution): Motion to approve failed 2-3 (Richardson, Hankins yes; Gabaldon, Radosevich, Tortorici no). Both items will be forwarded to the Governing Body with a recommendation of denial.

Item 5: Final Plat – Los Diamantes Phase III

Tim Dvorak presented the final plat for 141 single-family lots and 6 tracts on 22.63 acres zoned R-3. Staff recommended approval. The applicant (Justin Simonson, Isaacson & Arfman) noted a minor lot line adjustment to accommodate off-site drainage. No public comment. Approved unanimously.

Item 6: Final Plat – Montreal Phase 2

Michelle Costilla presented the final plat for 31 single-family lots and 1 tract on 8.5 acres zoned R-1 and R-4. Staff recommended approval. Applicant Brian Aragon agreed with conditions. No public comment. Approved unanimously.

Item 7: Zone Map Amendment – Cielo Bonito, LLC

Tamarah Martinez presented a request to rezone 53.86 acres from TZ and R-3 to R-4 (single-family residential). Staff recommended denial because the applicant did not submit a master plan, which is required for areas over 50 acres. The applicant (Nicosia Schuttelbauer) noted that the Governing Body previously denied an R-3 request and suggested R-4. He presented a conceptual plan showing 5 phases, with only 3 phases having 100% ownership (overall ownership ~70%). The board discussed the inability to approve only part of the request. The motion to approve failed 2-3 (Hankins, Richardson yes; Gabaldon, Radosevich, Tortorici no). The item will be forwarded to the Governing Body with a recommendation of denial.

Key Outcomes

• Item 4 (Withdrawn): Motion to withdraw approved unanimously.
• Item 8 (Chapter 155 Text Amendment): Motion to recommend approval to Governing Body failed 2-3; recommendation of denial.
• Item 9 (DPM Update): Motion to recommend approval to Governing Body failed 2-3; recommendation of denial.
• Item 5 (Los Diamantes Phase III Final Plat): Approved unanimously.
• Item 6 (Montreal Phase 2 Final Plat): Approved unanimously.
• Item 7 (Cielo Bonito Zone Map Amendment): Motion to recommend approval to Governing Body failed 2-3; recommendation of denial.