Planning & Zoning Board

Meetings

Second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

The February 14, 2023 meeting has been canceled due to lack of agenda items.

Location

Council Chambers, Rio Rancho City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle

View agendas, minutes and video of meetings.

Members

District 1 - Leonel Gallegos

District 2 - Kevin Kofchur

District 3 - Fred Radosevich

District 4 - Robert Gabaldon

District 5 - Scottie Richardson

District 6 - Cheryl Baker

At-Large - Salvatore Tortorici

Purpose

The Planning and Zoning Board shall have the following responsibilities: 

(a) The Planning and Zoning Board shall promote a comprehensive planning process with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, aesthetically appealing and harmonious development of the city;

(b) The Planning and Zoning Board shall make careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future growth of the city and shall make recommendations on means of protecting and improving the environment;

(c) The Planning and Zoning Board shall prepare for adoption by the Governing Body a master plan for the physical development of the city and the area within the planning, platting, and zoning jurisdiction of the city;

(d) The Planning and Zoning Board shall prepare for adoption by the Governing Body regulations governing the subdivision of land within the planning, platting, and zoning jurisdiction of the city;

(e) The Planning and Zoning Board shall review and approve or disapprove any proposed subdivision platting, re-platting, or vacation of plats, conditional use permits, variance requests, sign exceptions, and appeals taken from decisions or actions of the City Development Department. The Board’s decisions on these matters shall be final, unless appealed. Other decisions of the Board are non-final recommendations to the governing body, as provided in Chapter 154.

(f) The Planning and Zoning Board shall prepare for adoption by the Governing Body zoning ordinances applicable to the territory within the boundaries of the city;

(g) The Planning and Zoning Board may recommend to the Governing Body of the city programs for public improvements and their financing;

(h) The Planning and Zoning Board is authorized to confer with other municipal, county, regional, state, or federal agencies as it deems necessary; and

(i) All appeals of final Board decisions or review of recommended decisions will be decided by the governing body only after a de novo hearing in which any interested person may appear. An interested person does not have to appear before the Board to participate in the Governing Body’s de novo hearing.

Appointment/Qualifications/Terms

The Planning and Zoning Board shall consist of one member from each of the six City Council Districts and one member appointed at-large that will be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. The terms of appointment for the members of the Planning and Zoning Board shall be terms of three years, staggered for overlapping terms.