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Planning & Zoning approves SUP to add tobacco sales at 1925 Apollousa Drive
Summary
The Sunland Park Planning & Zoning Commission approved SUP260044 to permit tobacco sales at a retail store at 1925 Apollousa Drive after staff recommended approval with conditions; the applicant, Rachel Rizzo, agreed to staff conditions and the motion passed on roll call.
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted July 8 to approve SUP260044, a special use permit to add tobacco sales as an additional retail use at a store located at 1925 Apollousa Drive in Sunland Park.
City planner Arisa Rivas told the commission the application was accepted June 9, 2026, that the property is zoned commercial and that public notice letters were posted and mailed on or before June 23; staff recommended approval with stated conditions. Rivas also said staff consulted local compliance staff who confirmed tobacco products may be sold but that tobacco and cannabis operations cannot be combined in a single operation and must follow state and local regulations.
The applicant, Rachel Rizzo, appeared, stated she agreed with the staff conditions and answered commission questions that the intended business is retail only, not manufacturing. Commissioners asked how tobacco and cannabis operations would be kept separate; Rizzo and staff said state licensing and operational separation would apply.
Motion and vote: Chairman Robert Artomino moved to approve SUP260044; Commissioner Nestor Martinez seconded. A roll call recorded "Aye" votes from the named commissioners and the motion carried.
What it means: The approval allows the retail sale of tobacco at the specified address subject to conditions in the staff report and applicable state licensing. The commission did not record additional restrictions beyond the staff conditions at the meeting.
Related items: during commission remarks the community development representative said city council had approved a second annexation and asked that the Planning & Zoning Commission prepare written recommendations when the annexation, zone change and SUP return to the commission for review on August 12 (and were again mentioned for August 18). The representative also introduced a new city planner, Claudia Lara.
The commission adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
