Socorro staff withdraws A‑1 zoning amendment for rewrite; commission deletes items 7 and 8 and postpones desalination hearing

City planner Lorraine Quimito told the Planning and Zoning Commission Sept. 2 that proposed changes to Chapter 46 (zoning) to add A‑1 agricultural district regulations require significant revision after meetings with a steering committee and must be republished. "I would like to ask the planning and zoning commission to delete this item," Quimito said, explaining staff will reintroduce an amended proposal for introduction on Sept. 16 and hold a public hearing Oct. 7 after sending notices to A‑1 property owners.

Following Quimito’s request, a commissioner moved to delete items 7 and 8 from the agenda to allow staff to republish. The motion was seconded and carried. Because items 9 and 10 (including a rezoning and a conditional‑use permit for a small‑scale desalination project at 232 S. Nevarez Road) depend on the A‑1 amendment results, commissioners later moved, seconded and voted to postpone items 9 and 10 to the Oct. 7 public hearing.

Quimito said the postponements are procedural and intended to allow staff to present a consolidated, republished amendment and ensure property owners in the A‑1 district receive updated notice. She told commissioners the city will circulate new notifications to A‑1 owners and present the revised ordinance at the Sept. 16 meeting for introduction before the Oct. 7 hearing.