Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting - August 13, 2026
Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting - August 13, 2026
The City of Rio Rancho Governing Body met on August 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered public forum comments, approval of two site plans for daycare/preschool facilities, and two appeals of Planning and Zoning Board decisions regarding variances for 50-foot lot widths on Northern Boulevard. The council also approved the consent calendar and heard a city manager report on upcoming events.
Public Forum
- Debbie Bauman, a District 4 resident, requested that dog waste receptacles removed from the Thompson Trail be replaced in convenient locations for elderly and mobility-challenged users. She noted that only three trash cans remain and they are insufficient.
- Grace Kearney presented a petition with approximately 130 signatures from trail users, stating that since a service worker retired in January, trash cans were not emptied, bags were removed, and the area has become littered with dog feces. She urged the city to restore receptacles.
- Stephen Van Horn referred to the 2021 City Source Water Protection Plan and asked the council to consider an update to include a new rocket manufacturing plant near Rio Rancho, citing potential contamination risks to water supply via arroyos.
- Natalie Gregg, representing Explore Academy Rio Rancho, requested establishment of a school zone on Zenith Court and safety improvements on Highway 528. She cited statistics that school zones reduce accidents by 30-40%, and noted 24 accidents and 7 deaths on 528 in the last 18 months, with a fatal accident in April 2026. She asked for reduced speed limits and possible lane additions.
Public Hearings
D47 – Site Plan Approval for a Preschool at Arena Drive
- Director Amy Rincon presented the site plan for La Esperanza Preschool, a 16,000 sq ft facility on four lots near City Center. The plan meets all standards and includes landscaping, stormwater detention, and perimeter walls.
- Owner Ruth Porta stated the preschool has served Rio Rancho since 2008 and the new facility will serve 84 infants/toddlers, 80 preschoolers, and create 38 jobs.
- The architect (name not given) presented design details, including natural light and security features.
- Council discussion: Councilor Lenentine praised the owner’s existing facilities; Councilor Tyler asked about infrastructure improvements on Arena Drive; Councilor Mann commended the inclusion of orchards, raised beds, and a chicken coop.
- Motion to approve was seconded and passed unanimously.
D48 – Site Plan Approval for a Daycare at Plaza Rio, Lot B
- Director Rincon presented the site plan for a daycare at Southern and Golf Course. The property was previously considered for multifamily. Staff recommends approval.
- Councilor List asked about age range; the applicant’s representative did not know the exact range but confirmed it is a preschool.
- Motion to approve was seconded and passed unanimously.
A2 – Appeal of Variance for 50' Lot Width at 700 Northern Blvd NE
- Director Rincon presented background: the lots were platted at 50 feet in 1965, but an overlay ordinance (98-023) deems contiguous lots under common ownership as merged for zoning purposes. The lots were under common ownership from 1973 until December 2025, then sold separately. The applicant sought a variance to build on a 50-foot lot in an R-1 zone requiring 60 feet. The Planning and Zoning Board granted the variance; the neighbor appealed.
- Appellant Rebecca Smith argued: (1) the overlay ordinance’s “deemed merged” provision applies while lots were under common ownership, and separation by deed does not negate the zoning consequences; (2) the builder (Solano Builders) has a history of requesting similar variances, indicating no exceptional hardship; (3) the variance criteria under Section 150.06 require an exceptional physical condition, which is not met by a known 50-foot width.
- Vera Utara, a neighbor, expressed concerns about property character, tax impacts, septic, water runoff, and traffic. She stated the builder could have built on two lots or sold them separately.
- Diana Ramirez (applicant’s representative) stated they did not know about the lot width restriction before purchase, and that the two lots were purchased by separate entities (CLI Properties and Solano Builders) due to budget constraints. She said homes would be custom with perimeter walls.
- Council discussion: Councilor Tyler questioned the hardship; staff clarified that the variance process is used to confirm zoning compliance for financing. Councilor Mann noted that denying the appeal could render many single-ownership lots unbuildable, creating hardship for owners. Councilor List acknowledged the difficulty of interpreting past ordinances.
- Motion to approve the appeal (which would overturn the variance) failed 1-5 (Councilor Dapson voted yes; all others voted no). The variance was upheld.
A3 – Appeal of Variance for 50' Lot Width at 704 Northern Blvd NE
- Similar presentation and public comments as A2. Appellant Smith reiterated concerns about the timing and relationship between purchasers. No additional comments from the property owner.
- Councilor Tyler noted there was no formal merger of lots; they remained two separate legal parcels. Councilor List asked about the sale history; staff confirmed two separate transactions.
- Motion to approve the appeal failed 2-4 (Councilors Dapson and List voted yes; Councilors Mann, Tyler, Lenentine, and Mayor Weimer voted no). The variance was upheld.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously, including resolutions for the fourth quarter DFA report, budget adjustments, and appointments to boards/commissions.
- D47 (Preschool): Approved unanimously.
- D48 (Daycare): Approved unanimously.
- A2 (Appeal for 700 Northern Blvd): Appeal denied (1-5), variance upheld, allowing construction on the 50-foot lot.
- A3 (Appeal for 704 Northern Blvd): Appeal denied (2-4), variance upheld, allowing construction on the 50-foot lot.
- The council did not take action on public forum requests but councilors acknowledged issues and indicated ongoing conversations with the state Department of Transportation regarding 528 safety.
- City Manager Geisel announced upcoming events: Sunday Fun Day at Haynes Park (August 16), a work session on August 18, a Car Seat Clinic on August 29, and the annual Councilor Meet and Greet on September 12.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. As a r as a reminder to everyone in the chambers, please silence all electronic devices while attending the governing body meeting. For the record, I will announce the names of the governing body members. When I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present. Counselor Dabson. Present. Councillor Lennon Time. Present. Counselor Tyler. Councilor Mann. Present. Councillor Culbright has been excused for this evening's meeting. Councilor List. Present. Thank you. Moving on, if there's no objection from the governing body, I'd like to move items D forty-seven and D forty-eight to be heard before A2 and A3. Right. No hearing no objection, we will do that. We have no proclamations and awards of merit this evening. We will move on to public forum next. A reminder, each comment will be limited to two minutes, and no more than two hours in total will be out allotted for public forum comments at any meeting. First up, we've got Debbie Bauman. Ms. Bauman. Good evening, Mayor. Governing Body, thank you for the opportunity to discuss with you this evening something very quick. Uh something that may seem trivial. I am a resident in District 4, so welcome, Council David Mann. I'd like to request that the dog pot receptacles that were removed from the Thompson Trail be replaced in convenient locations for the elderly and people that are physically mobility challenged that may be on the Thompson Trail. It runs from Sarah Meadows area to the far east of the Corrales Heights neighborhood, past uh Trinity Meadows and those subdivisions there, all the way up to Leon Grande. Uh there used to be uh dog waste receptacles along the trail in addition to garbage containers, uh and those have been removed for reasons that parks and recreation has. I'd like to thank Director Peterson for meeting with me out in the field. Uh I appreciated her time to hear concerns that uh residents have of this area. We essentially want to do our part to keep this open space area clean and the trash cans that are out there now. There are three, and they are just not enough, and they are not conveniently located for a lot of people. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Thank you, Ms. Bauman. Next up, uh Grace Kearney, I believe is the right way. Did I say that correctly? Carney. Carney, yes. Again, I thank everybody for listening. Uh Councilman, uh Mayor. Uh I am talking about the same Temp Thompson Fence Line Trail, and um I've been emailing Ms. Peterson for a few months there. Um, and the emails kind of got condescending. I quit doing that, but we gathered 116 and then a couple more signatures, so we've got about 130 signatures of people who walk, and that's just in the morning. Uh people ask me almost on a daily basis what's happening with what they signed.
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