There was plenty to cheer for in a jam-packed Sandoval County Commission meeting on Feb. 28 before the important county business.
Daniel Beaman, the Director of Planning and Zoning for Sandoval County, presented a motion to the Commission to approve and amend the Sandoval County Comprehensive Plan. The Commission unanimously voted to approve the proposed amendments seeking to establish policies for commercial five node areas within the county.
Commercial nodes aim to organize business growth, create economic opportunities and encourage denser residential development.
Four of the five commercial conceptual node areas include; the County Fairgrounds in Cuba, the Town of San Ysidro housing the Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Budaghers – the former site of the New Mexico Outlets Center mall – and Algadones with established commercial zoning.
Rio Rancho Estates Community District
The last commercial node is located in the unfinished portion of Paseo Del Volcan (PDV) in Rio Rancho Estates. An August 22 amendment offered detailed policy guidance for commercial and industrial development near the PDV.
Chairman David Heil said the state is in the process of acquiring the land, slated for completion by 2025. County design and engineering work has already started on the Unser Blvd. to Rainbow Rd. segment, with plans for other segments pending land acquisition.
The Commission also approved another ordinance as part of the PDV project in Rio Rancho Estates. This ordinance was to modify the zoning ordinance to establish multifamily residential uses.
“I think they’re critical, we would move forward as a community to be able to create more jobs, or create an environment to create more jobs and also provide places for the workforce that we would hope would build those jobs closer to the community that has the jobs,” said Heil.
He added the Commission has already approved a pool company and salvage yard for the PDV corridor, even though it is not built yet. The salvage yard is a “pull and pay” style company, slated to open in the next couple of months, as soon as electricity is connected to the site.
“Doing pull and pay in Sandoval County will keep the grocery south and gross receipts tax here instead of chasing them down into Bernalillo County,” Heil said.
In Rio Rancho Estates, the commission also approved a purchase of real estate to provide access to the planned landfill near Encino Road. Although the county commission acquired the land for the landfill in 2012, they overlooked purchasing access to the land at that time.
Community Accolades
The Commission handed out two awards to some deserving recipients and made a proclamation.
Jennifer A. Taylor, the Sandoval County Treasurer, presented Natalia Shiji from Jemez Valley High School and Daniela (Dani) Villatoro from Rio Rancho High awards for completing all the curriculum requirements of the inaugural Sandoval County’s Junior County Treasurer’s program.
During the session, the Commission proclaimed Feb. 28, 2024, Rio Rancho High School Varsity Cheer Team Day.
The varsity cheerleaders were awarded the prestigious recognition for their remarkable achievement — securing second place in the small coed division I at the prestigious Universal Cheerleaders Association National Cheerleading Championships held in Orlando, Florida on February 24.
Then, Sandoval County Sheriff Jesse James Casaus and Chief Deputy Allen Mills presented Detective Sergeant Olga Guymon the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Meritorious Service Award — the highest honor the Sheriff’s office bestows.
“Olga is one of the best investigators I have ever worked with, in my 40 years of policing,” said Mills. “She is what I call one out of ten in the detective’s club, honestly in Olga’s case, she is one out of 50.”