Planning and zoning team details permits, annexation push and Chamisa Verde affordable housing progress

Town Planning Director Bill Evans and his team presented a series of operational and project updates Aug. 25 covering planning, zoning, code enforcement, annexations and the first phase of town‑sponsored affordable housing.

Evans said staffing changes include a soon‑to‑start administrative assistant and a promoted deputy director to lead planning and zoning. Deputy director Dinah Gonzalez and Long‑Range Planner Nathan Sanchez reviewed permit throughput: in 2025 the department logged dozens of business registrations and hundreds of land‑use and building reviews (Evans reported 45 new business registrations and 43 building permits processed so far in 2025) and highlighted a backlog of incomplete applications the office is working to clear.

Annexations and utilities: Sanchez described five areas designated for possible annexation from the town’s comprehensive plan, noting the town will pursue each area separately and cover the town’s costs so individual landowners can opt in without paying annexation processing fees. He reiterated legal steps under Section 3‑7‑1 NMSA (as cited in the presentation) and said some parcels lack sewer service and that the town will coordinate with property owners and the boundary commission if consensual annexation is not possible. The areas include Camino Medio, Camino Mijello/Chamisa and a portion near Upper Ranchitos, among others; Sanchez noted one previously successful annexation on Los Pandos Road.

Code enforcement and short‑term rentals: Code enforcement officers Antonio Fernandez and Chris Cordova recounted reforms since January 2025, including restoring sworn code officers, implementing a five‑step enforcement procedure (voluntary contact, certified notice, red tag, citation, court package) and increased patrols. They said citations and red tags have been issued for longstanding problem properties and that code staff now handle roughly six to seven complaints per week, up from one to two per month earlier in 2025. Short‑term rental permitting was active: staff reported 72 issued permits with renewals scheduled for October–November.

Affordable housing: Evans and housing project staff provided a status report on Chamisa Verde (phase 1), the town’s 7‑unit demonstration of 3D‑printed homes. Pangea Build is the contractor; Evans said seven foundations are in place, three inspected with no issues and printing delays attributable to shipping damage of a 3D printer part and border/tariff issues for some materials. He said the housing mix is four 3‑bedroom homes (about 1,000 sq ft) and three 2‑bedroom homes (about 900 sq ft) with expected availability in December 2025, and that finance plans rely on a mix of state housing infrastructure funds and capital appropriations (Evans cited $1,000,000 from a state housing infrastructure grant and other appropriations totaling several hundred thousand dollars toward phase 1). Evans described a soft mortgage and an automated lottery for qualified applicants and said more than 50 inquiries had been received for the initial openings.

Why it matters: Planning staff framed annexation and housing as long‑term tools to address septic and service limitations, utility continuity and growth management. A multi‑pronged code enforcement push aims to bring properties into compliance and improve neighborhood conditions. The Chamisa Verde pilot is intended to test lower‑cost construction methods and retain units in an affordable pool through deed restrictions and a potential town right of first refusal.

Next steps: Staff will continue outreach on annexation areas, expect a petition/Boundary Commission path if majority owner consent fails, and will proceed with phase‑2 infrastructure planning for Chamisa Verde. Planning staff told council they will return with further details and legal steps for annexation and with phase‑2 infrastructure timing by October.

Ending: Council thanked staff for the department reorganization and asked staff to continue community outreach on annexations and to keep council updated on the housing timeline and any procurement steps that require council approval.