Rio Rancho planning and zoning board approves variances, preliminary plats and zone changes

The City of Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board voted to approve a series of variances, preliminary plats and zone map amendments at a regularly scheduled meeting addressing development proposals across the city.

The meeting opened with a unanimous consent calendar. Staff then presented a sequence of land‑use items. For Case 24‑110‑12, municipal planner Sean LaBarbera told the board the applicant sought a variance from the R‑4 side and rear setback requirements to build a deck at a home on Estrella Noche Loop NE and that staff recommended denial. Applicant Chris Fisches argued the municipal code’s decking definition permits paved and wood decking in setback areas and that his proposed decking—less than 12 inches high—should not require a variance. "I don't believe a variance is required per the definition," Fisches said, adding that a roughly 10–11 inch drop in grade creates a practical difficulty for reasonable use of the backyard space. The board asked for clarifications on measured distances, the presence of a neighbor’s support and whether a support letter was in the packet. After discussion the board approved the variance.

The board also approved a variance to allow development on a substandard 50‑foot lot (Case 24‑110‑13). Staff explained the R‑1 minimum lot width is 60 feet and recommended denial with conditions; the applicant (who completed the oath on the record) said other homes in the area had been built on 50‑foot lots and asked why his case was being treated differently. Staff noted some older sections contain 50‑foot lots and that rezoning or overlays can provide different standards, but that this lot is individually owned and not part of a contiguous replat. The board voted to approve the variance.

The board heard two related items from D.R. Horton for the Sandstone Bluffs at Cleveland Heights subdivision. Planner Liz Ruiz Carlos described a preliminary plat for Phase 1 (roughly 44.54 acres, about 124 single‑family lots) and a concurrent subdivision variance that would allow 10‑foot public utility easements (PUEs) along the front of lots in place of 5‑foot side/rear PUEs. Ruiz Carlos said staff recommended approval with findings and conditions; consultant Peter Steen represented the applicant and had no additional comments. The board voted to approve both the variance and the preliminary plat.

Likewise, the board approved a subdivision variance and preliminary plat for Los Diamantes Phase 3 (about 22.63 acres, 141 single‑family lots with R‑3 tracts). Planner Tim Dvorak told the board the request was again to permit front‑facing 10‑foot PUEs instead of standard side/rear 5‑foot PUEs; applicant representative Justin Simonson was present to answer questions. The board approved both the variance and the plat.

On a separate matter, staff presented a zone map amendment requested by SSCAFCA (Southern Sandoval County Flood Control Authority) and agent Community Sciences Corporation to rezone about 87.14 acres of the Black Arroyo area from C‑2 and R‑1 to OS (open space). Planner Chris Benson said the site currently functions as a wildlife park and drainage facility with a multimodal trail and that much of the parcel is not developable because of drainage functions; surveyor Tom Patrick was present to answer technical questions. The board voted to recommend the zone change to the governing body.

The board also recommended approval of a multi‑parcel zone map amendment submitted by AMREP Southwest Inc. to implement the Mountain Hawk West master plan by changing several Unit 25 parcels from TZ (transitional) to R‑4 and one lot to R‑3; AMREP’s Jared Leiker said the applicant agreed with staff findings and conditions and the board approved the recommendation.

Votes at a glance - Item 4 (Case 24‑110‑12): variance for deck setback at Estrella Noche Loop – approved (roll call: Vice Chair Richardson — No; remaining voting members — Yes). - Item 5 (Case 24‑110‑13): variance for substandard 50‑ft lot – approved (unanimous by roll call). - Item 6 (Case 24‑2‑80‑2): subdivision variance for Sandstone Bluffs – approved (roll call). - Item 7: preliminary plat, Sandstone Bluffs Phase 1 – approved (roll call). - Item 8: subdivision variance for Los Diamantes Phase 3 – approved (unanimous by roll call). - Item 9: preliminary plat, Los Diamantes Phase 3 – approved (roll call). - Item 10: zone map amendment, Black Arroyo/Black Arroyo Wildlife Park (SSCAFCA) – recommended for approval to governing body (roll call). - Item 11: zone map amendment, AMREP Southwest Inc. (Unit 25 parcels) – recommended for approval to governing body (roll call).

What it means Most approvals were routine and consistent with staff recommendations; the variance approvals for two substandard lot requests and the deck setback indicate the board is continuing to process infill and subdivision requests in areas with older lot configurations. The open‑space rezoning for Black Arroyo updates zoning to reflect existing flood‑control and wildlife‑park uses and will proceed to the city’s governing body for final action.

Next steps Several items (zone map amendments) were recommended to the governing body for final action. Developers and applicants may proceed with follow‑up permit applications subject to the findings and conditions the board adopted.