Rio Rancho planning board approves three subdivision proposals, variances

The City of Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board on June 1 approved a preliminary-plat extension and a series of preliminary plats and subdivision variances for three residential subdivisions, moving forward developers' plans for roughly 112 net lots across the three projects.

Ben Isaacs, municipal planner with the City of Rio Rancho, told the board the request from Richmond American Homes was for an extension of the Broadmoor Heights Unit 4 preliminary plat, originally approved Oct. 10, 2023. "The subdivision ... is to consist of 53 lots and 3 tracts zoned R4 single family residential. It is approximately 14.46 acres in area," Isaacs said, adding staff recommended approval and that construction began in February 2025. The board approved the extension and set a new approval validity date to May 27, 2026, subject to prior conditions.

The board took up a set of related applications from X2D LLC (agent Community Design Solutions LLC) for the Dos (Dos Sole) subdivision, a special-use (SU) townhome configuration on roughly 2.99 acres described as Rio Rancho Estates Unit 10, Block 7, Lots 1–3. Tim Dvorak, planner with the city, said the proposal "will consist of 42 lots and 2 tracts," with Tract A dedicated to a homeowners association for drainage and Tract B containing internal roadways to be dedicated to the HOA. Dvorak said the applicant requested a variance from the subdivision requirement for 5-foot side- and rear-line public-utility easements, instead proposing 10-foot public-utility easements in front property lines to accommodate attached townhome lots. Staff recommended approval of both the variance and the preliminary plat; the board approved both.

Separately, the board approved an application from Las Vatanas and M, Inc., represented by Hubert Zollars, Inc., for the Broadmoor Hill subdivision. Tim Dvorak said the Broadmoor Hill plat covers about 10.49 acres (Unit 13, Block 118, Lots 1–9 and 16A–20A) and would create 56 lots, two tracts and one parcel, with Parcel A to be dedicated to the City as a regional facility pond and internal roadways proposed as private roads to be maintained by an HOA. Staff recommended approval of two variances to allow dead-end street stubs and the preliminary plat; the board approved the variances and the preliminary plat. During roll call for the Broadmoor Hill variance, the chair asked if the fire department had approved the design and staff confirmed it met fire code requirements.

Votes at the meeting were taken by roll call and recorded for each item. For the Broadmoor Heights Unit 4 extension, and for the subdivision variances and preliminary plats for Dos and Broadmoor Hill, each vote recorded a majority of "yes" votes and the motions passed. Staff warnings and standard conditions attached to approvals require the applicants to adhere to the previously approved conditions and to meet engineering and permitting requirements before final platting.

The approvals allow the applicants to continue construction and engineering work under the city’s subdivision rules and the specific conditions the board attached. No public speakers opposed any of these specific subdivision items during the meeting.

The board also confirmed that the Dos subdivision lots follow R3 attached minimum-lot requirements allowed by the SU ordinance approved at the site-plan level; and that Broadmoor Heights Unit 4’s previously granted amendment (June 25, 2024) had increased lot depth and clarified easements. Staff noted there had been no significant changes to subdivision or zoning codes that would trigger a second plat review for Broadmoor Heights Unit 4.

Planning staff and applicants indicated they will proceed to address remaining engineering and permitting steps required by the Development Process Manual and other city codes before final plat recordation.