Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zone Change topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends zone change to industrial for former microwave tower site in Rio Rancho Estates
Summary
The Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of ZNCH‑25‑001, a zone map amendment to reclassify a 1.45‑acre former microwave tower site at 801 60th Street NW in Rio Rancho from Rural Residential Agricultural to General Industrial for small‑scale manufacturing.
The Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to forward ZNCH‑25‑001 with a recommendation of approval to the Board of County Commissioners. Dan Beaman, Sandoval County planning and zoning director, presented the application from Jess Pickett, sole member/manager of Ironclad Property LLC, to rezone a 1.45‑acre former microwave tower site at 801 60th Street NW in Rio Rancho from Rural Residential Agricultural (RRA) to General Industrial (I‑1).
Beaman said the site is near an area of increasing utility and industrial activity within the Rio Rancho Estates planning area — including solar energy facilities, an electric switching station and a natural gas compression station — and that prior zone changes in the area had permitted rural commercial uses. He said the applicant intends to use the existing building on site for a small‑scale manufacturing business. "The proposed manufacturing facility will use an existing building that was part of a wireless tower facility but remained vacant for years," Beaman said.
County staff recommended approval subject to six conditions: site plan, landscaping and lighting plans approved by the Planning and Zoning Department; screening for parking lots and dumpster enclosures per the zoning ordinance; a septic system permit from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) prior to zoning compliance review; fulfillment of fire suppression requirements from the Sandoval County Fire Marshal; site grading, drainage, landscaping and site lining approvals prior to building permit submittal to the New Mexico Construction Industries Division; and exterior lining conforming to the zoning ordinance standards.
Commissioners had no questions for staff during the presentation. A motion to approve the staff recommendation was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; the transcript records the ayes prevailing and ZNCH‑25‑001 was approved with the stated conditions. No roll‑call vote count was recorded in the transcript.
The file now proceeds to the Board of County Commissioners for final action; applicants must meet the listed conditions (site plans, NMED septic permit, fire suppression requirements and building‑permit prerequisites) before construction or other regulated development occurs.
