RR governing body denies one home plan, amends specific area plan

RIO RANCHO — It was a long evening for the Rio Rancho Governing Nov. 13.

The six-member body held public hearings to consider a liquor license for Defined Pickleball, a zoning amendment for single-family housing and amendments to a plan encompassing 285 acres of land, including Northern and Rainbow boulevards.

The governing body also approved an ordinance providing matching changes to a chapter in the development policy manual.

Zoning amendment request denied

The council unanimously denied a zone map amendment requested by an Albuquerque-based development company that wanted to create a new residential subdivision.

Cielo Bonito Development, LLC — which in August had another development plan denied by the governing body — wanted the zoning amendments approved to build more than 350 homes on 66 acres just north of Cielo Azul Elementary School and City Center.

But council members expressed concerns about the Cielo Bonito’s master plan — a planning document that is typical of most development proposals — and not having 100% ownership of parcels. The ownership issue had been debated and changed last month, when the council made updates to the city’s development process manual.

District 2 Councilor Jeremy Lenentine noted during the meeting that he doesn’t “hate this” plan — which would be built in his district — but “without a master plan, it’s just not what we’re looking for at this time.”

Nicosha Schedlbauer, a representative of Cielo Bonito, responded that her team had worked hard for two years to assemble the land parcels associated with the proposed project. In addition, the land owners are struggling with how long the process has taken to move through the approval process, she said.

With that in mind, Schedlbauer requested the governing body approve the zone map amendment with the condition that the company apply for a master plan or that the condition is done with preliminary platting.

“We’re honestly not trying to get out of it, but we do need this project to move forward with our zone map request,” Schedlbauer said.

Amy Rincon, the city’s development director, confirmed the developer brought this proposal forward as an option, but she said she was concerned because the expectation among developers proposed residential development has always been there be a master plan.

In a statement following the meeting, Cielo Bonito Development called the governing body’s decision “deeply troubling.”

“We have followed specific direction from city staff and the governing body, invested significant funds in this process, and prepared a city staff-requested master plan, only to have that master plan go unsupported,” the company stated. “The governing body cited standards from a new DPM that does not take effect until Jan. 1, effectively applying unwritten and uncodified rules to this application. Developers are now left unsure which standards truly apply and what guidance to follow. This kind of unpredictability makes it extremely difficult to plan development and investment in Rio Rancho.”

Northern/Rainbow specific area plan

Following a public hearing, the council unanimously approved a resolution allowing for amendments to a specific area plan in the area of Northern and Rainbow boulevards.

Westway Homes and AMREP Southwest plan to build more medium- and high-density housing in the area, updating a plan first approved in 2009.

District 1 Councilor Deb Dapson noted people already live in the area and asked the developers’ agent, Albuquerque-based Consensus Planning, “what will happen to them?”

Michael Wright, a representative with Consensus Planning, responded, “nothing negative will happen to them” and the plan will “actually increase their livelihoods with new homes and new residencies.”

In a written public comment to the governing body, the plan had come under criticism for increasing traffic and making roads in the area more dangerous.

Councilors did not mention this during the meeting and focused on access along Rainbow.

Defined PickleballThe council unanimously approved the transfer of Defined Pickleball’s liquor license at 1644 Rio Rancho Blvd. The 18-court facility could be the largest in the state, business owners have said.

Rio Rancho City Clerk Noel Davis explained that the liquor license had to receive local approval before it goes to the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Division.

If approved, Defined Pickleball would only serve liquor on site, Davis said.

Council members and business representatives did not provide comment on this agenda item.