Doña Ana County DRC backs road-modification for Steel Subdivision; sends SD24015 to PNC

The Doña Ana County Development Review Committee recommended support Feb. 20 for a road-standard modification requested for the proposed Steel Subdivision (Case SD24015) and will forward the case to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration.

The request, presented to the committee as a modification under Article 6 of the county Unified Development Code (UDC), would allow the developer to avoid paving Prairie Dog Road and Arroyo Road. Instead, the applicant proposed applying 5 inches of gravel over 10 inches of compacted native soil per the submitted geotechnical report. The subdivision plat shows four lots: lots fronting Corona Road (paved) and lots 3 and 4 fronting Prairie Dog Road and lot 2 fronting Arroyo Road (both currently unpaved). The parcel is west of Prairie Dog Road between Corona Road and Arroyo Road in a D1 (low-density residential) zone.

Community Development staff summarized the proposal and the role of the DRC as reviewers who recommend whether proposed deviations, modifications or alternative designs meet UDC standards and will not be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare. Steve Peel, an engineer with Borderland Engineers and Surveyor representing the applicant, told the committee the roads serve only local traffic and that "the traffic load is 0 down there," adding that the route has served the area for decades and, in his view, would support emergency and heavy vehicle loads per the cited engineering analysis. Peel said the applicant's intent is to divide the property for family conveyance.

Mike Garza, a committee member, encouraged staff to note for the record that Arroyo Road is shown on the Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) future thoroughfare map as a minor arterial and that the MPO map could require an amendment if the county were to accept a future paved connection. Garza said the existing drainage infrastructure and the physical layout made it unlikely that Arroyo would be connected to distant paved segments, a point he said supported recommending the modification.

An engineering representative on the record expressed a connectivity concern, saying the county's engineering priority is through-connections and that the department "would never advocate to pave that piece right there if it's going to be at a dead end." The committee heard that the private property owners would be responsible for maintaining the unpaved sections; the county does not currently maintain that segment.

A motion to recommend approval of the modification as presented was made by Mike Garza and seconded by Daniel Sembrano. The committee voted by voice; the motion passed and the item will proceed to the Planning and Zoning Commission for action.

The committee closed the agenda item and moved on to staff input before adjourning at 9:14 a.m.