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Council clears several development items: church, solar facility, and multiple zoning changes
Summary
The council approved site plans for a new church and an 80‑acre solar facility and adopted multiple zone‑map and master‑plan amendments, including a Plaza Rio zoning change to allow multifamily at limited density.
At a regular meeting, the Rio Rancho City Council approved several planning and zoning items spanning religious, renewable‑energy and residential development.
Director Amy Rincon presented D72, a site plan for a church in the Village area; staff recommended approval and the council voted to approve the application with no public comment.
The council also approved D73, a site plan for an approximately 80‑acre solar generation and storage facility in the Loma Barboné area. Rincon noted staff reviewed a berm and security fencing proposal; the adopted overlay permits barbed wire on top of fencing for utility safety. The motion passed with one councilor recorded as voting no.
On zoning, the council adopted O29, an ordinance amending zoning for Plaza Rio (Lot B) to add multifamily/townhomes as a permissive use under a Special Use (SU). Staff explained density would be capped at 12 units per acre and building height limited to 32 feet under the ordinance. Although the Planning & Zoning Board recommended denial (the applicant hadn’t been present at the P&Z hearing), staff recommended approval after working with the applicant on standards.
Council also approved O30, a map amendment for a property at the former Boys & Girls Club to change C1 to C2 to allow a marketing and design production business; staff said the property is being brought into compliance before permitting and that the site has been monitored by problem‑properties staff and the fire marshal. The council likewise adopted R140 (Papillon master‑plan amendment) and related master‑plan/zone‑map items (R141 and O31) that add lots and adjust phase‑one lot layouts to connect to Broadmoor.
Next steps: applicants will proceed to required administrative reviews and building‑permit processes; site‑specific permit conditions and any required technical corrections will be processed by staff.
