OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Summary – August 11, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:00:01
Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening and welcome to the planning zoning board for August 11th 2026.

0:09

Please silence all electronic devices while attending this planning and zoning board meeting.

0:13

If you would please stand up and let's do pledge of allegiance.

0:26

One nation under half.

0:35

Okay, this means then call to order.

0:38

Uh for the record, I would take roll call by calling each plan and zone board member's name.

0:42

Please acknowledge your present by saying present.

0:45

Melissa Fisher Padraza.

0:48

Present.

0:48

Rob Gabadan.

0:49

Present.

0:50

Lisa Hankins.

0:51

I'm Andrea Hankins.

0:52

Present.

0:53

Sorry.

0:53

Lisa Harris, who is excused, and Wayne Lempsom.

0:57

Lampson.

0:58

Okay, thank you.

0:59

A couple of housekeeping items before we start.

1:01

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

1:07

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

1:10

If you have yet to fill out a form, now is the time to do so to record it to my left.

1:16

Virtual employee, virtual attendees, please stand.

1:20

Please send a chat message to host or use the raise hand feature if you want to provide public comment.

1:28

You will have the ability to enable audio and video.

1:37

Okay, let's go to consent calendar.

1:39

Motion to approve consent calendar.

1:43

Motion to approve consent calendar.

1:45

Can I get a second?

1:48

Call to roll.

1:52

Chairman Richardson.

1:54

Yes.

1:55

Commissioner Fisher Petraza.

1:57

Yes.

1:58

Vice Chair Gabbledon.

1:59

Yes.

2:00

Commissioner Hankins?

2:01

Yes.

2:02

Commissioner Hardesty.

2:05

Oh, I'm sorry.

2:06

Commissioner Lambson.

2:07

Yes.

2:08

Motion passed.

2:09

Okay, thank you.

2:10

Moving on to uh public hearings.

2:12

Uh item number two is a final plot.

2:16

Um the staff contact is Liz Rare Carlos and self-recommands approval with finance and conditions.

2:25

Good evening, Mr.

2:26

Chairman and members of the board.

2:28

Ben Isaacs, municipal planner with the city of Rio Rancho.

2:31

I will be presenting this item for you on behalf of my colleague Liz Ruiz Carlos.

2:36

This item is the final plat for the high range five phase two subdivision.

2:51

Okay.

2:55

The applicant LGI Homes New Mexico LLC, through their agent, Co.

2:59

and Van Lu consultants, is requesting approval of a final plat for the high range five phase two subdivision on the property legally described as high range five track two A.

3:09

The subject properties are zoned R4, single family residential, and consist of approximately 33.957 acres.

3:17

They will be platted into 171 lots and 10 tracts.

3:21

The subdivision is located southeast of Montezuma Boulevard Northeast and Excalibur Street Northeast and north of High Range Phase 1.

3:28

The subdivision is approximately one-third of a mile east of Broadmoor Boulevard Northeast.

3:34

The original preliminary plot for this subdivision was heard and approved by the Planning and Zoning Board on June 14th, 2022.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning████████████████████████████████████36%
Economic Development███████████████████19%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Community Engagement████4%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Public Engagement██2%
Public Works██2%
Workforce Development█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Summary – August 11, 2026

The Planning and Zoning Board of Rio Rancho met on August 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The board approved a final plat, a daycare site plan, two variances, and two zoning interpretations. Two related subdivision items were postponed to September 8, 2026. A public forum featured a presentation from the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the July 28, 2026 Planning and Zoning Board meeting minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made on specific agenda items.
  • During the Public Forum, the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce president (identified as Jerry) presented a detailed overview of the chamber's activities, including business retention, workforce development, and advocacy. He requested the city consider a $20,000 MOU for economic development collaboration, emphasizing partnership and measurable outcomes. The presentation lasted approximately 20 minutes with follow-up discussion from council members.

Discussion Items

  • Final Plat – High Range 5, Phase 2 (Item 2): The applicant, LGI Homes, requested approval of a final plat for 171 single-family lots and 10 tracts on 33.957 acres. Staff recommended approval. The board approved the plat unanimously.
  • Subdivision Variance and Preliminary/Final Plat – Diana Reed Trujillo (Items 3 & 4): The applicant sought to split one lot into two for family use. Staff recommended denial due to lack of paved roads, sidewalks, and city wastewater. After discussion, the board voted to postpone both items to the September 8, 2026 meeting to allow the applicant to refine their proposal.
  • Site Plan – Daycare Facility (Item 5): The applicants, Ismael and Laurrel Montano, proposed a daycare on Golf Course Road. Staff recommended approval. The board approved the site plan unanimously, noting enhanced buffering and a one-way drop-off loop.
  • Variance – Carport Setback (Item 6): The applicant, JoAnn Valdez, requested a variance to allow a 15-foot encroachment into the rear setback for an existing carport. Staff recommended denial. The board approved the variance by a vote of 3-2 (Commissioners Lampson and Gabaldon opposed).
  • Variance – Lot Width (Item 7): The applicant, Ismael Arreola, requested a variance for a 50-foot lot width on an antiquated lot. Staff recommended approval. The board approved unanimously.
  • Zoning Interpretation – Vista Montebella Oeste (Item 8): Staff requested interpretation for 20 split-zoned lots. Staff recommended zoning designations per Exhibit A. The board approved the interpretation unanimously.
  • Zoning Interpretation – Montreal Subdivision (Item 9): Staff requested interpretation for two split-zoned lots. Staff recommended R1 for Lot 22 and R4 for Lot 5. The board approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Final Plat (High Range 5, Phase 2), Site Plan (Daycare), Variance (Lot Width), Zoning Interpretations (Vista Montebella Oeste and Montreal).
  • Approved with divided vote: Variance (Carport Setback) – 3 yes, 2 no.
  • Postponed: Subdivision Variance and Preliminary/Final Plat (Diana Reed Trujillo) to September 8, 2026.
  • Public Forum: Chamber presentation noted; no formal action taken.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the planning zoning board for August 11th 2026. Please silence all electronic devices while attending this planning and zoning board meeting. If you would please stand up and let's do pledge of allegiance. One nation under half. Okay, this means then call to order. Uh for the record, I would take roll call by calling each plan and zone board member's name. Please acknowledge your present by saying present. Melissa Fisher Padraza. Present. Rob Gabadan. Present. Lisa Hankins. I'm Andrea Hankins. Present. Sorry. Lisa Harris, who is excused, and Wayne Lempsom. Lampson. Okay, thank you. A couple of housekeeping items before we start. Uh 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 you have yet to fill out a form, now is the time to do so to record it to my left. Virtual employee, virtual attendees, please stand. Please send a chat message to host or use the raise hand feature if you want to provide public comment. You will have the ability to enable audio and video. Okay, let's go to consent calendar. Motion to approve consent calendar. Motion to approve consent calendar. Can I get a second? Call to roll. Chairman Richardson. Yes. Commissioner Fisher Petraza. Yes. Vice Chair Gabbledon. Yes. Commissioner Hankins? Yes. Commissioner Hardesty. Oh, I'm sorry. Commissioner Lambson. Yes. Motion passed. Okay, thank you. Moving on to uh public hearings. Uh item number two is a final plot. Um the staff contact is Liz Rare Carlos and self-recommands approval with finance and conditions. Good evening, Mr. Chairman and members of the board. Ben Isaacs, municipal planner with the city of Rio Rancho.

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