Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning And Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rio Rancho staff outline changes to Development Services Process Manual, schedule public review
Summary
City staff presented draft changes to the Development Services Process Manual that clarify when site-specific plans and corridor plans are required, expand park amenity definitions, and set irrigation standards for parks; staff and consultants will hold two open houses and seek committee and governing-body review in March–June.
City staff on the Rio Rancho governing body’s work session presented an interim update to the Development Services Process Manual, describing proposed edits to when developers must submit site-specific plans and corridor plans, new definitions and minimum standards for park components, and clarifications to transportation scoping and utility coordination.
The changes matter because they define the timing and content of developer submittals and the city’s minimum park and transportation standards, which affect future development approvals and capital projects across Rio Rancho.
Amir Rincon, director of development services, told the governing body the draft responds to feedback from the Home Builders Association, developers and city staff since the December work session. He said the draft will add the phrase “as required by zoning” to trigger a site-specific plan and will require corridor planning when an arterial is identified in a traffic impact analysis (TIA). Rincon said developers raised questions about when a corridor plan would be triggered and the city proposes triggering it by the TIA requirement, citing the West Side Boulevard study as an example.
Staff also proposed expanding park “activity element” definitions to explicitly include playgrounds, splash pads, sports courts, skate parks, exercise equipment and active-sport systems such as disc golf. For parks larger than 3 acres, staff proposed a minimum of 1 acre of irrigated turf while retaining a path for a variance or waiver to that standard. Transportation changes would add language to road functional classifications and typical sections to ensure scoping meetings consider all adopted plans and that coordination with utility owners remains the developer’s responsibility.
Councilors responded with appreciation and a few substantive points. Councilor Wyman complimented the level of vetting from staff and the consultant. Councilor List thanked staff “for taking my feedback about Splash as an ADA equipment,” stressing accessibility for park amenities. Councilor Datsch thanked staff for availability and one-on-one meetings.
Next steps outlined by Rincon and staff: an open house at City Hall on March 11, an open house at the Decker offices on March 20, a DPM committee review scheduled for April 3, a governing-body work session with the final report on April 15, a 30-day public comment period afterward, Planning and Zoning Board consideration in May, and governing-body action in June. Staff said parallel text amendments to Chapter 155 will follow if ordinance changes are needed.
The presentation included staff and consultant availability for one-on-one follow-up; no formal action or vote was taken during the work session.
City staff will return with a revised draft after the scheduled outreach and committee review.
