By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — The Luxe has its zoning. The Rio Rancho City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to rezone a Lomas Encantadas corner and a slice of neighborhood park for 55 apartments and two small shops. Fourteen residents had lined up to ask councilors to kill it.
Councilors David Mann, Karissa Culbreath, Jeremy Lenentine, Deb Dapson and Nicole List voted yes. Bob Tyler, whose District 3 includes the neighborhood, cast the lone no. The project sits at Camino Encantadas and Camino Venada NE. The new zoning takes effect 10 days after adoption.
Why the yes votes
For most of the council, the real question was what could go on the corner instead. The commercial lot has allowed hotels, gas stations, bars and gyms with no hearing at all since 2004, Development Services Director Amy Rincon said. Under the new zoning, any change of more than 10% to the approved site plan has to come back to the council.
“I think we have more control over this process,” Mann said.
List said the developer owns the land and will build something either way. “The building will occur whether we say yes or no,” she said.
Mayor Paul Wymer didn’t need to vote, but he weighed in anyway. “I’m not saying this is ideal. I’m just saying it could be a lot worse,” he said.
Neighbors’ case
Not one speaker backed the project. Residents warned about kids crossing busy streets near schools, lost mountain views and parking spilling onto neighborhood streets. Several took aim at the $17,500 park land sale. Laura Rivera said the city accepted an appraisal “giving away prime park land for pennies.”
City Manager Matt Geisel said the sale was legal and fixed an access problem on a lot too small for a safe driveway. A licensed appraiser did the work, he said. Mann acknowledged the city could have ordered a second appraisal.
Developer’s case
Angela Piarowski of Modulus Architects, the developer’s agent, presented new regional traffic counts. She said they show the road running at about a quarter of its capacity at rush hour, with one reported crash at the intersection from 2020 to 2025. Residents said their own counts were higher. Piarowski reminded the council the vote was a legal judgment, not a popularity contest. “It is not a referendum on whether a proposed development is popular,” she said.
The lone no
Tyler pressed the developer on security, covered parking and a design he said looked like a Motel 6. “What I’m looking for is safety, safety, safety,” he said. Developer Melvin Parker said the owners would discuss security and were open to helping improve the park. Neither committed to specifics.
Tyler told the Rio Rancho Observer after the meeting he voted no because residents were “extremely opposed to this project.” He said neighbors can still influence what gets built.
What’s next for The Luxe
- Read the ordinance and packet: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/riorancho/b08a5b70f0edbc8d978a1051c62415ae0.pdf
- Watch the meeting: rrnm.gov/2303/Watch-and-Download-City-Meetings
- Before construction: The developer must record a plat combining the two lots and get building permits.
- Contact your councilor: District 3 Councilor Bob Tyler, btyler@rrnm.gov. Mayor Paul Wymer, pwymer@rrnm.gov.
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