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Record of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting, City of Rio Rancho - August 25, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 25, 2026
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 27:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Um if you would please silence all of the electronic devices while attending planning is on the board meeting and would please stand with me for pledge of allegiance for which stands one undervisible with diversity okay couple of uh housekeeping items before we start any person attending please fill out the um the speaker form if you wish to speak only individuals who have signed up would be permitted to speak if you have yet to fill out the form now's the time to do so to and submit it to recorder to my left virtual employees please send a chat message to the host or use a raised hand feature if you want to provide public comments when I recognize you to speak.

0:59

You have the ability to enable audio and video okay.

1:05

Uh we'll do the consent calendar.

1:09

Can I get a motion to approve?

1:14

Motion to approve.

1:16

Can I get a second?

1:18

Second.

1:19

Call the roll.

1:24

Chairman Richardson, yes.

1:26

Commissioner Copcher?

1:28

Yes.

1:29

Commissioner Fisher Pedraza.

1:31

Yes.

1:31

Vice Chair Gabbledon.

1:33

Yes.

1:34

Commissioner Hankins?

1:36

Yes.

1:36

Commissioner Hardesey?

1:38

Yes.

1:38

Commissioner Lampson.

1:40

Yes.

1:41

Motion passed.

1:42

Okay, moving on to the next item, which is election of the officers, election of the chair and vice chair.

1:48

Uminations are now open for from the floor to elect plan and zone and board chair.

1:54

Um each member has an option to nominate themselves as well.

1:59

And first nomination for chair would be Scotty Richardson, Commissioner Richardson.

2:05

Um there are any further no motions for or nomination for chair.

2:15

Please call the roll.

2:17

Uh Mr.

2:18

Chair, if we can really quick, we need a second for that motion.

2:21

Okay.

2:21

Um, and or for that nomination, and then we can call the roll after that.

2:24

Second.

2:25

Okay, some reason to say no seconds needed.

2:27

Can I get a second?

2:28

I mean, can I get a first nomination?

2:29

Second first.

2:31

Okay, can I get a second?

2:32

Second.

2:33

Okay.

2:34

All right.

2:35

Uh please call the roll.

2:40

Chairman Richardson.

2:42

Yes.

2:44

Commissioner Copter.

2:45

Yes.

2:46

Commissioner Fisher Petraza.

2:48

Yes.

2:49

Vice Chair Gabbledon.

2:51

Yes.

2:52

Commissioner Hankins.

2:53

Yes.

2:54

Commissioner Hardesty.

2:56

Yes.

2:56

Commissioner Lampsen.

2:58

Yes.

2:58

Motion pass.

3:00

Okay, moving on to Vice Chair.

3:01

I nominate Commissioner Gabadon.

3:04

I'll second that nomination.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████77%
Procedural██████████17%
Engineering And Infrastructure██4%
Personnel Matters█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning and Zoning Board Meeting, City of Rio Rancho - August 25, 2026

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board convened on August 25, 2026, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The board approved a consent calendar, held elections for Chair and Vice-Chair, and unanimously approved all four public hearing items, including variances, a conditional use permit, and a master plan amendment.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the August 11, 2026 Planning and Zoning Board meeting minutes. (Chair Scottie Richardson, Vice Chair Robert Gabaldon, and Commissioners Kevin Kofchur, Melissa Fischer-Pedraza, Andrea Hankins, Lisa Hardisty, and R. Wayne Lampson voted unanimously.)

Election of Officers

  • Commissioner Scottie Richardson was re-elected as Chair.
  • Commissioner Robert Gabaldon was elected as Vice-Chair.
  • Both elections were approved unanimously by the board.

Public Hearings

  • Item 2 – Variance (Above Ground Utility Connection): The applicant, Alfonzo Salazar (represented by Xavier), requested a variance to allow an above-ground electrical utility connection at 3300 Sue Cir SE, deviating from the city's underground installation requirement. Staff planner Tim Dvorak noted the area has exceptional physical conditions due to predominantly overhead utility lines, creating a practical difficulty and unnecessary hardship. The board voted unanimously to approve the variance with conditions.
  • Item 3 – Conditional Use Permit (Auto Sales): All Around Autos LLC, through agent Erica Lucero, requested a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for automotive sales at 912 36th Pl SE in a C-1 zone. Staff planner Michelle Costilla stated the use would be minimal (two display spaces, one office), the parking supply (27 spaces) exceeded the minimum requirement (24 spaces), and no site changes were proposed. The board voted unanimously to approve the CUP.
  • Item 4 – Variance (Lot Width): Applicant Jonathan Quintana requested a variance to build a single-family home on a 50-foot wide R-1 lot at 2735 Box Lake Dr NE, against the required 60-foot minimum. Staff planner Ben Isaacs explained the lot is an antiquated plat from 1968 and the applicant does not own adjacent lots. The board voted unanimously to approve the variance.
  • Item 5 – Master Plan Amendment (Paseo Gateway): AMREP Southwest, through agent Charlene Johnson of Consensus Planning, requested approval of a Master Plan Amendment to the Paseo Gateway Master Plan. Staff planner Liz Ruiz Carlos reported the amendment seeks to expand the plan boundary by approximately 14 acres to the east, update land use and zoning (including tracts 21 and 23, and blocks 204 and 205), and refine open space designations (including a 4.5-acre public park within a 5.9-acre open space tract). The applicant described this as a "cleanup" following the separation of the Cleveland Heights master plan. The board voted unanimously to recommend approval to the Governing Body.

Key Outcomes

  • All four public hearings items (Two variances, a conditional use permit, and a master plan amendment) were approved unanimously by the board (7-0 votes).
  • The Master Plan Amendment was forwarded to the Governing Body with a recommendation for approval.
  • The board recognized and thanked Commissioner Lisa Hardisty for her service as she departs from her position.

Meeting Transcript

Um if you would please silence all of the electronic devices while attending planning is on the board meeting and would please stand with me for pledge of allegiance for which stands one undervisible with diversity okay couple of uh housekeeping items before we start any person attending please fill out the um the speaker form if you wish to speak only individuals who have signed up would be permitted to speak if you have yet to fill out the form now's the time to do so to and submit it to recorder to my left virtual employees please send a chat message to the host or use a raised hand feature if you want to provide public comments when I recognize you to speak. You have the ability to enable audio and video okay. Uh we'll do the consent calendar. Can I get a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Can I get a second? Second. Call the roll. Chairman Richardson, yes. Commissioner Copcher? Yes. Commissioner Fisher Pedraza. Yes. Vice Chair Gabbledon. Yes. Commissioner Hankins? Yes. Commissioner Hardesey? Yes. Commissioner Lampson. Yes. Motion passed. Okay, moving on to the next item, which is election of the officers, election of the chair and vice chair. Uminations are now open for from the floor to elect plan and zone and board chair. Um each member has an option to nominate themselves as well. And first nomination for chair would be Scotty Richardson, Commissioner Richardson. Um there are any further no motions for or nomination for chair. Please call the roll. Uh Mr. Chair, if we can really quick, we need a second for that motion. Okay. Um, and or for that nomination, and then we can call the roll after that. Second. Okay, some reason to say no seconds needed. Can I get a second? I mean, can I get a first nomination? Second first. Okay, can I get a second? Second. Okay. All right. Uh please call the roll. Chairman Richardson. Yes. Commissioner Copter. Yes. Commissioner Fisher Petraza. Yes. Vice Chair Gabbledon. Yes.

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