Planning and Zoning Board approves variances and plats, recommends zone-map and site-plan to governing body

The City of Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board on Aug. 12 approved a series of land‑use actions including variances for two residential properties, a roof‑pitch variance for a manufactured home, preliminary and final plat approvals, and sent a zone‑map amendment and a site plan for a 156‑unit apartment project on to the governing body for final review.

Board members voted on eight agenda items during the meeting. Several items generated brief public comment or staff explanation; none of the approvals included conditions that require further Planning and Zoning Board review, though two items (the special‑use site plan and the zone‑map amendment) must receive governing body action before taking effect.

The approved actions included: - Variance to permit a pergola at 2956 Tierra Del Luna Ave. that encroached 10 feet into a 15‑foot rear setback (planning staff recommended denial; motion to approve passed 5–1). The applicant provided 19 neighbor support letters as requested at a prior hearing. The board approved the variance with a roll call showing Vice Chair Galbadone voting no and the remaining members voting yes.

- Variance to allow an existing 6‑foot‑high front fence at 3117 Cascades Trail (staff recommended denial; motion to approve passed unanimously). The applicant submitted a neighbor support letter from Joffrey and Debri Comber saying the fence did not block sight lines.

- Variance to allow a manufactured home roof pitch of 2.0 inches per 12 (required: 2.5 inches per 12) at 317 Northern Blvd. Staff recommended approval, citing practical difficulty because the manufacturer cannot supply the required pitch; the board approved the variance unanimously and staff said engineering and septic approvals were in place.

- Extension of a preliminary plat for Los Diamantes Phase 3 (about 22.63 acres) to allow more time for infrastructure completion; staff recommended approval and the board approved the extension unanimously.

- Final plat approval for Cleveland Estates Phase 1 (approximately 25.64 acres; 123 single‑family lots, 11 tracts, and roughly 4.77 acres of right‑of‑way dedicated to the city); staff recommended approval and the board approved the final plat unanimously.

- Zone‑map amendment request by Cielo Bonito LLC to rezone roughly 52.942 acres from TZ (transitional zoning) to R‑3 (mixed residential). Staff recommended the board forward the request to the governing body with findings and conditions; the board recommended approval (majority vote; Commissioner Hardesty recorded a no vote) and the item will proceed to the governing body for final action.

- Site plan for a 156‑unit apartment complex at 1017 Rosarito Drive SE (5.99 acres; SU special use for multifamily). The project mirrors a prior 2019 approval that lapsed; staff mirrored prior conditions and recommended the board forward the site plan to the governing body for final approval. The board voted unanimously to recommend approval.

Votes at a glance (selected roll calls taken at the meeting): - Item 5 (pergola variance, 2956 Tierra Del Luna Ave.) — Motion to approve: Yes: Chairman Richardson; Commissioners Koster, Hankins, Hardesty, and another commissioner; No: Vice Chair Galbadone. Outcome: Approved (5–1). - Item 6 (front‑yard 6‑ft fence, 3117 Cascades Trail) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Item 7 (manufactured home roof‑pitch variance, 317 Northern Blvd.) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Item 8 (Los Diamantes Phase 3 preliminary plat extension) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Item 9 (Cleveland Estates Phase 1 final plat) — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). - Item 10 (Cielo Bonito zone‑map amendment, ~52.942 acres TZ→R‑3) — Board recommended approval to governing body; recorded vote: majority in favor, Commissioner Hardesty opposed. - Item 11 (site plan, 156‑unit apartment, 1017 Rosarito Dr. SE) — Board recommended approval to governing body; recorded vote: unanimous.

The approvals that forward matters to the governing body are advisory recommendations; the governing body must act on the special‑use site plan and the zone‑map amendment for those measures to become effective. Several staff presenters noted prior approvals or code considerations (for example, the apartment site plan was previously approved in 2019 but that approval expired), and applicants were asked to supply supporting paperwork such as neighbor support letters and updated permit materials where applicable.

The board closed the meeting after a short period of deliberation and additional routine items. The next Planning and Zoning Board meeting was announced as occurring in two weeks.