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Planning board overturns city manager to allow small‑scale home wine production to seek permits
Summary
The board ruled April 14 that a small‑scale home winegrower operation can be considered a permissive home occupation on a specific property, allowing the applicant to pursue state and federal licensing; staff had advised against permissive classification citing state winegrower definitions.
The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board voted April 14 to grant an appeal from a resident seeking zoning confirmation that small‑scale home wine production is compatible with Chapter 121 (home occupations). The vote overturned a prior city manager decision and staff interpretation that found a winegrower's license (which can include manufacturing, storing and transporting wine) was not a permissive use in the SU special use residential zone.
Brian Babiak, planning and zoning division manager, explained staff's position: staff reviewed the municipal code and New Mexico statutes and…
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