Board declines to recommend Tampico Development’s request to remove parcels from Tampico North and to rezone for R‑4; public raised drainage and traffic worries

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board rejected the applicant’s request to remove two parcels from the Tampico North Specific Area Plan and to change the parcels’ zoning from SU‑C1 (special‑use retail commercial) to R‑4 single‑family residential.

Ben Isaacs, municipal planner, presented staff’s recommendation to deny both the specific area plan amendments and the zone map amendment. Isaacs said the roughly 26‑acre subject property is currently zoned SU‑C1 (retail commercial) and included in both the Tampico North and La Barranca specific area plans. Staff said removing the parcels from the Tampico North plan would significantly reduce the plan area and would undermine goals of those adopted plans; staff also found the requested zoning change inconsistent with the city comprehensive plan and La Barranca plan policies and recommended denial with findings.

Scooter Haines of Tampico Development, the applicant, appeared and said the parcels have not attracted commercial development as originally envisioned and that rezoning to R‑4 would address local housing demand while retaining the potential for commercial uses at the primary corner along NM‑528. Haines said a master plan requirement at this stage would be overly burdensome and that his justification letter addressed the standards for a zone map amendment.

Two nearby residents spoke in opposition. Megan Betts raised concerns about drainage needs (referencing prior La Barranca drainage projects and estimated 2010 cost figures in the plan packet), wildlife impacts and road maintenance; Josh David, who lives adjacent to the parcels, said the current commercial designation should be retained because commercial development could still occur nearby and he expressed concerns about local roads, schools and emergency services capacity if additional residential development is allowed.

Board discussion included questions about the potential size of a retained commercial corner, the location of any proposed buffer, and whether a master plan should accompany a rezoning. Staff and the applicant discussed options; the board noted that any postponement to further study changes would require reopening public comment at a future meeting.

Action and vote: A motion to recommend approval of the Tampico North specific area plan amendment to the governing body failed on roll call (recorded votes: Commissioner Hardesty — no; Vice Chair Connie Richardson — no; Commissioner Hankins — no; Commissioner Gabaldon — no; Commissioner Koster — no; Chairman Rodosovich — no). A separate motion to approve the zone map amendment (item 10) likewise failed; the roll call recorded no votes in favor and the meeting minutes show the motions were defeated and staff recommendations (denials) stand for transmittal to the governing body.

Details and context: The subject parcels are legally described in the packet as Unit 17, Block 87 Tract A and Entrada De Coronado Tract B (approximately 26.16 acres). Staff noted the area is an intended future growth node along a high‑intensity corridor conceptualized for commercial use in the city comprehensive plan; staff said the applicant had not submitted a master plan for the proposed residential development and that absence limited staff’s ability to verify some of the applicant’s claims.

Next steps: Because the board did not recommend approval, the staff recommendation of denial (with findings) accompanies the item when it is transmitted to the governing body for final action. The applicant may revise materials and return at a future hearing.