Planning commission approves six-lot final plat on Rio Grand Boulevard with technical amendments

The Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved final plat S-26-03 on June 9, authorizing a major subdivision of an approximately 7.8-acre tract on Rio Grand Boulevard into six platted parcels.

Director Schultz told the commission the final plat is the last step in the village subdivision process and that staff’s review showed only technical changes since preliminary approval: new notations showing existing wells on the property and minor edits to documents. Schultz asked the commission to adopt two technical amendments: changing condition 8 to require two proofs of recordation for the village’s files and substituting an updated Subdivision Improvements Agreement (SIA) and Exhibit B to correct document versions and dates.

Steve Hernandez, the applicant and owner of Development Managing Consultants, said construction estimates came from the final construction drawings, that the SIA includes a 125% letter-of-credit/bond multiplier to account for inflation, and that the HOA will maintain the private roadway. Hernandez described the remaining edits as typographical and date changes; he said the documents were ready to be signed and recorded if the commission approved the plat.

Resident Vincent Sanchez raised enforcement concerns during public comment, saying the village has historically applied ordinances inconsistently and describing an unpermitted structure in an irrigation easement that caused bank saturation and a safety hazard. He asked what would prevent future owners from obstructing irrigation easements or building inside setbacks. Hernandez and Director Schultz responded that setbacks and easements are deeded property elements, that the SIA and plat describe responsibilities for infrastructure, and that the planning department will enforce the code going forward, though retroactive enforcement can be difficult.

On the motion to approve S-26-03 (subject to findings 1–2 and conditions 1–8 as amended), the maker and seconder accepted the two staff-proposed amendments on the record. The roll-call vote was unanimous and the chair directed staff and the applicant to finalize signatures and recordings as required in the amended conditions.

The approval authorizes the final plat and associated recorded documents; the file record will reflect the amended condition requiring two proofs of recordation and the substituted SIA and Exhibit B as the final, record-ready package.