Board approves reduced front and rear setbacks to allow new home under future replat on Flor Preciosa Lane

The Socorro City Board of Adjustments approved a variance to allow 20‑foot front and rear setbacks instead of the 25‑foot requirements at 11640 Flor Preciosa Lane to enable construction of a new residence on a future replat.

Staff explained the property, owned by Cesar Colmenero, is zoned R‑1 (single‑family residential) and measures about 26,179.56 square feet. The applicant intends to replat the parcel into two lots; because of the shape of the proposed second lot, the applicant asked to encroach 5 feet on both the front and rear setbacks so a 20‑by‑40 residence footprint will fit within the buildable area. Staff recommended approval, saying literal enforcement of the code would create a hardship and that the request “meets the spirit of the code.”

Staff also told the board the applicant has the option, if denied, to apply to rezone the property to R‑2; R‑2 zoning would set the front and rear setbacks at 20 feet and address the same issue through rezoning.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the existing buildings and the replat; the applicant confirmed the replat would create two lots and that the existing garage and house situation motivated the request.

A motion to approve the variance was made by Tevaro Ropesa and seconded by Albert Lagunas. The motion carried.