Bernalillo County zoning item deferred to August as applicant, water authority continue talks

The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners deferred a zoning agenda item Tuesday after the applicant requested more time to negotiate with the county’s water authority about whether the proposed development can connect to the authority’s system.

Director Hamm told the board the applicant asked to move the item to the August zoning agenda to continue work with the water authority on a development agreement and on questions of feasibility for connecting to the water system. “They are asking for additional time to continue to work with the water authority,” Director Hamm said.

The county’s planning department recommended supporting the request, and Commissioner Barbara Baca moved to defer. The chair seconded the motion. The board voted 4-0 to approve the deferral.

After the vote, the chair said he had reviewed a letter from Mr. Solomon and thanked Mr. Solomon and Mr. Bohannon for keeping the board informed. He said he had forwarded that letter to the water utility authority and had received a response a few hours earlier that he had not yet fully reviewed. “I really do hope that we can work together to resolve this, by August,” the chair said, adding that he would remain engaged and could facilitate conversations with the utility if needed.

The chair and staff said the additional time was intended to allow the applicant and the water authority to reach an amicable resolution on the development agreement and on the technical and feasibility questions about connecting to the authority’s system. The transcript indicates the requested deferral followed the county’s receipt of a development agreement the previous Thursday.

The board also approved the March 25, 2025, zoning meeting minutes by a 4-0 vote. The next zoning meeting was announced for Tuesday, June 10 at 3 p.m. in the Kent Sanchez Commission Chambers.