Rio Rancho set to approve 278-home development, $13.7M fire station contract
Rio Rancho's Governing Body meets Thursday to vote on a 278-home development and a $13.7M contract to build a new fire station on the city's south side.
Two significant projects — a 278-home subdivision and a new $13.7 million fire station — come before the Rio Rancho Governing Body Thursday night as the city continues to manage rapid growth in its southern neighborhoods.
The Governing Body will hold a public hearing on the Orchard Park Master Plan, a 43-acre single-family development proposed by AMREP Southwest Inc. near the intersection of Wilpett Drive NE and Progress Boulevard NE. Bounded by existing neighborhoods to the south and the Montoyas Arroyo to the west, the four-phase project includes pocket parks, open space and HOA amenities. The city’s Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 to recommend approval at its March 10 meeting.
At its March 26 meeting, the Governing Body greenlit a 109-unit, multi-family housing development and several infrastructure improvements along Broadmoor Boulevard.
The Orchard Park project has been in the works since at least March 2025, when AMREP first brought it before the Planning and Zoning Board before pulling it to address staff concerns. The revised plan expanded the development boundary north of Progress Boulevard NE to include additional parcels now fully owned by the applicant. Infrastructure plans call for water and sewer extensions along Wilpett Drive NE, a required flood control agreement with the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority and a traffic impact analysis to be completed during engineering review.
Also on Thursday’s agenda, the Governing Body will consider a contract award of $13,666,323 to Enterprise Builders Corporation to construct Fire Station 8 at the corner of Cabezon Blvd. and Veranda Blvd. The 15,461-square-foot facility will include four apparatus bays, 10 bunk rooms and a community room the city says could double as a voting location. The station will add 15 firefighter/EMT positions and is expected to take roughly 15 months to build. State capital outlay funding from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Sen. Craig Brandt, Rep. Joshua Hernandez and Sen. Jay Block covers approximately $5 million of the construction cost; the city funds the remainder through revenue bonds and the general fund.
Get involved
- When: Thursday, April 9, 6 p.m.
- Where: Rio Rancho Council Chambers
- Watch live: rrnm.gov/2303/Watch-and-Download-City-Meetings
- Join via Zoom: Meeting ID 833 3815 7719 | Passcode: 554297
- Public comment: Register in person with the City Clerk at least 15 minutes before the meeting, or submit written comments to the City Clerk by 4 p.m. Thursday.